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Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 9:57 am
by Caja
1)What is the preferred mold making material and thickness used around a master lure when using Alumifoam casting a two piece lure like jerkbait, crankbaits and topwater, belly is super plastic and body is Alumifoam. I have pound of quick set, rtv 3, and mold putty on hand. The master lure does not not need any detail or undercuts. Goal is to cut down flash and finish time sanding. I have prototype molds of lures using mold putty but there's a lot of Alumifoam flash at joint and around lip. In the past had small air bubbles in Rtv 3, would pressure pot help with joint flash and small air bubbles in making molds?

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 1:08 pm
by RhettWheeler
I like quickset for alumifoam. I use painters tape to bind it up really well after pouring the mold roughly 50% full of alumifoam. 3/8" for thickness is more than enough if you bind it. Depending on the size of lure you can probably get away w less thickness.

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 3:33 pm
by Caja

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:25 am
by RhettWheeler
Nice! Those look great.

You can also sand it in rough areas just like the white casting resin- with alimifoam I like to sand my rough spots then coat all of the alumifoam areas with super glue using nitrile gloves and a sacrificial cheap brush- it dries very quickly and seals some small pockets of air- once that’s dried I take some like 150 or higher grit sand paper and just give it a light scuff and tack off the dust so the paint holds well. Then you’re ready for your final epoxy coat.

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:26 am
by RhettWheeler
But Judging by your final product I think you have it under control :lol:

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:53 pm
by Mike - Alumilite
Caja ... Nice work! How do these run? Do you have a weight or percentage of AlumiRes that you put in the bottom or do you vary them? Can you post a pic of your mold?

thx,
Mike

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:59 pm
by aka anglinarcher
Looks good Caja, looks really good.

We could sure use your help on TackleUnderground.com when we discuss working with Alumifoam.

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:33 pm
by Caja
Thanks, high strength 3 for the bottom mold allows you to use different size and shape of bills. The top mold of quick set is firm enough to control the expansion of Alumifoam flash. I usually cast bottom mold up to lip with super plastic and top mold with Alumifoam. Light sanding 200 grit and cleaning of eyelets. The Jigskinz product large and x-larger works great for quick easy finishing, usually can finish 2 crankbaits with one Jigskinz cut in half, just add eyes to second lure.
Mike all of the crankbaits run true except for unfinished lures in previous post, need to reshape lip to squarebill. The line tie for longer round bill needs to be 2/3 to 1/2 from end of bill/lip. The line tie eyelet height position for squarebill is key for best vibration and wandering action. November was great PB smallmouth and spotted bass. December was going good for numbers on squarebills. Been tinkering with 20+ feet Magnum suspending crankbait and 5" to 7" suspending jerkbaits. None of the high end jerkbait on the market will suspend with 2x and 3x trebles and xstrong split rings. Jerkbaits and crankbaits made with make lure products will suspend with upgraded hooks and split rings.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PFdIi ... f7hKAbtLTG
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mro5bR ... p=drivesdk

Re: Molds and Alumifoam

PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:03 am
by RhettWheeler
You definitely have something good going on here- great to see a lot of tinkering w the hard resins! I’m a fan of your work.