Balsa=Frustration

Hey Guys
As some may know, i've been experimenting with lure making.
I have basically just made the common shapes and mix and matched to my own requirements.
I'm having problems with Bouyancy. The balsa is so bouyant that pausing will not induce strikes while fishing, but worse still, it is so bouyant that it makes it hard to get the bib to make the lure dive.
Perhaps the balance is out, need more weight at the front of the lure?, or the bib angle is not right?
Paul (Deception) is there any chance of some tips mate?
Also, Paul,how do you make each lure the same if you don't use mould like with plastics. Is it a matter of practise makes perfect?
I'll post pics of my lures i've made so far!
Thanx guys
Dave

[pw-bream]

Kingpin,
You could use heavier wire for rigging, or more of it.
Maybe a single length of stainless wire that runs the length of the lure and emerges from the front as a towing eye, emerges in the middle for the front/middle treble and from the rear for the rear treble. You could cut a slot under the body and slip the preformed wire in then epoxy it in to fill the slot. If that was still too bouyant maybe some sheet lead could be stuffed in the slot too?

[LakeConjolaFish]

Another suggestion would be to use a harder, denser thus heavier timber, although of course it won't have the ease of use that characterises Balsa.

[deception]

Yeah I would stick with the balsa and try to add weight as suggested by using stainless steel wire all the through the body of the lure.Heavy TIG welding wire is good for this. As for making every one the same? Ten years of sleepless nights and a lot of hard work and Bob's your uncle( while daddy's out fishing). Good luck. Post some of your lures and maybe I can point out any problems.
Paul

Hey thanx guys.
Unfortunately i'm already using the methods of building you describe. I have not recieved my bibs which i ordered from the US, so i can't explain the lures in proper detail as the bib is such an important part of the lure.
I have put a bib in one of my lures and i can say that the Action is awesome. It is has a very tight action, but the bouyancy is not right. It also is a very shallow diver!
I think i'm goin to have problems with my Centre of gravity points on some of my others aswell!:mad:
I'll put some pics up now.

Dave

Ok.
Here are the two i'm having CofG problems with.

The top lure is the good one.
The middle is yet to be tested
The bottom is a shocker. Itjust doesn't dive with the bib i'm using.
It seems to just wobble on the surface!:mad:

[geoff_abrams]

this might sound silly but it works for me, just get a small sinker and hammer it flat and break the bits off with pliers so you get small spaghetti shaped weights and drive them into the front or the back and above or below the towing point depending on where you need the weight . you cold also drill a small hole in it and put a small splitshot or ball sinker in place and fill the hole with a cap made of balsa and araldite its works so i hope that helps:D

[Craig_S]

Dave, I'm assuming there's no copywright problems with thos colour combos either:D

Yeah i hope so.
Technically i don't think i'm in trouble as i am not selling!:D
At least i hope so. I am doing law and legal studies at uni so i can find out.
Paul, do you personally mind if someone makes there own copy of your lure and lure colours. I know it is lost business, but if the person isn't selling, does it bother you?
I've been meaning to ask!:D


Dave

[Nick Cuccovia]

Here are some Lures I have made and in the process of making, as far as bouyancy goes I stick small stainless steel balls or very small pieces of lead inside the lure, and getting them to swim right takes a little time and patience, I have found that the lures with the tow point located on the bib are easy to get to swim right I just alter the towing point either closer to the lure or further away it's amazing how much the swiming action changes with only a minimal distance change.:)

Cheers Nick

[mike_mad_fisho]

gday
they r some nice looking lures, when my dad used to go popper fishing the poopers always used to sit flat in the water so he drilled a hole in the tail end of the popper so it would sit slighty haevier in the bottom which would give it a great action.
michael

[deception]

No I don't mind people making copies of our lures for themselves in their shed but start selling them and I will kill you, your family, your cousins and all your pets.
Kindest Regards Paul.
ps: There looks to be too much wood on those lures? Try thinning them out a bit.

Ok thanx Paul. I figured there was too much wood on there. I'm so busy now with uni, that i hardly get a chance to do any work on them!!!

Hey nick, where to you get your bibs from? yours look real good, and they look like they'd go well on my lures.

Thanx Guys


Dave

[Nick Cuccovia]

Hi Kingpin, the bibs are a mixture of old bibs from broken lures and bibs I have cut from sheets of plastic, clear cd's! and aluminium. Cheers Nick

[mike_mad_fisho]

gday guys
if u have any of the stumjumper lures in the smaes size they come with extra bibs try those and see if they work.
michael

[tim osgerby]

To get a smother surface on balsa lures try useing a mixture of talcum powder and dope. You can buy the dope from model shops, they use it for stretching tisue paper over wings on model gliders. Then sand it after it has dried or maybe try some epoxy, this would add a little more weight aswell. I think you can also buy little tiny lead balls from model stores that you could add into a drilled hole.