The E core

[2XL]

Musky, Yes. That's all there is to it. I've only tried it with the three molds and each one is a little different. The pins lay nicely in the Flippin Zip mold without any grinding. I had to put a fairly extreme taper on the pin for the Thump Grub and I ground flat surfaces on both ends of the pins for the Swim Shad mold. They don't line up PERFECTLY but they line up good enough for me. That may change as I do more baits down the road but I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

For clarification, I'm using a solid rod not a tube. You can get that at Ace , Menards etc.  I already had some laying around for dipping tube baits.

LOL efish. The Flippin Zip was the easiest of the three to do for me. I knew strait away after looking at the gate  that the Thump Grub pin would need an extreme taper. I got lucky with my first try but I think I can do better making a more user friendly pin. The Swim Shad was tough as there is some play no matter how I laid the pin in there. By play I mean the pin can slide top to bottom a little bit. I'm guessing a guy could mess around and grind the ends of the pins down to the point where the mold holds them in place when it closes but I'll leave that sleeping dog lay I think as I'm happy with my results.

I'm just glad you came up with the idea of laying a pin in these molds as I'm not too keen on the idea of drilling holes in my molds  = FOR SURE I would screw them up.

[Muskygary]

Thanks guys, This is something really new that will make great baits! Going to have to buy a couple more Flippin Zip molds so I can shoot a few at a time!

[efishnc]

I'm not too keen on the idea of drilling holes in my molds  = FOR SURE I would screw them up.

That's why I was reluctant to touch my mold with either of the two methods I mentioned above.


Other than length, the pin you made for the Thump Grub should pretty much be a match for the Ring-It mold as well... (I'm betting the sprue opening and cavity diameter are nearly identical)... so, if you have the Ring-it, well, you know what to do.

[Muskygary]

I'm sure that different molds will take different size rods. Something to play with. I shoot a lot of crappie baits (for my own use) in clear plastic with glitter. I'm thinking a smaller size rod would work with them to give it a core and tail shot. The important thing seems to be , you want a tight fit in the tail section to hold the rod up in the middle of the bait.

[ctom]

I'm thinking a smaller size rod would work with them to give it a core and tail shot. The important thing seems to be , you want a tight fit in the tail section to hold the rod up in the middle of the bait.

I have some nails laid out to try on a couple molds later on.

[2XL]

"The important thing seems to be , you want a tight fit in the tail section to hold the rod up in the middle of the bait."

Yes, that would be ideal if you want a perfectly centered core shot but I really don't think that matters ( a perfectly centered core shot ) with the larger baits. That being said, It may be an issue with smaller crappie sized baits. I am curious to see how thin a core hole a guy can get away with on the smaller baits.

"I'm sure that different molds will take different size rods"

I had to do some grinding on the pins to make them fit well enough to let the plastic flow on two of the three molds I tried the E core method with. In my case , I used 1/8" brass rod but I think you could go with a larger diameter rod if you wanted a larger core. You would have to pay close attention on how you ground the ends of those pins if you wanted a perfectly centered core color but it wouldn't take much ( less precise )grinding if you can settle for good enough centering of your core color.

I am enjoying figuring this process out .... so far. LOL 

[2XL]

I messed around with the Flippin Zip and Ring It molds this afternoon. This was the only bait that turned out nice.



I shot 8 baits 4 Flippin Zips and 4 Ring It worms to do core shots with. I only tried to do a core shot with two of each bait this afternoon. The Fliipn Zip that failed was my fault ( It got pinched in the mold ) or else I would have had two decent baits instead of the one pictured.

I ended up making a set of pins for the ring It mold. I thought maybe I could use the pins I made for the Thump Grub but that idea was a no go. The pins I made for the Ring It worked out great. They left me with 4 nice hollowed baits . Unfortunately, my E core shots on the two I tried were complete fails. I have a pretty good idea where I went wrong so hopefully I'll have better luck next time.

[efishnc]

Gary/Tom - any news on your experiments with the smaller baits? 

I like the nail idea, but I can also see the core becoming too small (as 2XL alluded to) and not pass the plastic through to the tail depending on the nail size... maybe the color drop method will remain the best for the smaller baits.  (I'm looking forward to doing some tinkering with this method on the Thumper Fry next time I'm in the garage, but I really doubt it will be this weekend for sure).



2XL - too bad about your troubles this afternoon, especially with the Ring-It... I do hope your intuition on the problem is correct because I am looking forward to seeing a shot with that.   Was the pin for the Ring-It ground any different than the one for the  Thump Grub (aside from being longer)? 

[ctom]

I trimmed and shined up 5 6penny stainless trim nails but they are still too thick and fill the gate on the 1.5" thump-it. I have some 3 and 4 penny nails laid out to do the same with as soon as this latest bout of A-Fib takes a hike. I spent about five total hours outside clearing snow today taking a three hour break half way thru. After putting blower and shovels away for the day I grabbed the news paper and sat down and read it. Just as I laid the last section down the A-Fib nailed me big time so I have been pretty quite since 3:50. Played with the new molds for an hour but that was low key. Just have to wait it out. When it decides to vacate my old frame I'll get back to the nails and thump-it mold.

[efishnc]

I'm curious to see how those might turn out, but first take care of yourself so the only fibbing you do on a regular basis is over the size of your fish. 

On a side note, have you located any of those old Aqua Glow baits?

[ctom]

Nada on the aqua glows E. They're probably history and I just don't know it yet.

[efishnc]

Oh well, they were probably getting stale anyhow.

[2XL]

I took and bought some 1/16" brass rod to try on the little Thump its and some other small baits. I never got around to messing with those molds yesterday as I was having bubbles issues that really put me in the wrong frame of mind to continue = cheesed me off big time. I have an idea the 1/16 will end up being too thin diameter wise = wait and see I guess.

efish, I don't have a problem with the failed baits. A little disappointed, Yes, but even a bad result is an opportunity to learn and I am totally good with that. I know what I will do differently next time.
Yes, I've made pins for 4 different molds now and they are all a little different. 

[efishnc]

I don't have a problem with the failed baits. A little disappointed, Yes, but even a bad result is an opportunity to learn and I am totally good with that. I know what I will do differently next time.

That's the right attitude to have otherwise a fella can carry on and really ruin things in the shop... I have three general piles (light, medium & dark) of misfits or used plastics that go into a re-melt pile for craws and/or creature baits for bass.  I would always prefer to see perfection in my work, but lucky for me the swamp trout are not as picky.

[2XL]

Add the Thumper Swim Fry and the 3 inch Skinny Carrot to the E core list. I should have used a solid color to show the core color a little better in these baits/pictures = DOH !