lure making materials

[B_E_N]

just had a great idea for a lure but what i want is to make/pour it out of a clearish epoxy. now i dont know much about this sorta stuff but my old man used to make alot of lures and his own clear bibs. but im not sure if this stuff would float as its fairly heavy.
im trying to make a smallish (50mm) lure that is clearish and will float.
what materials are needed to pour/make this?

[B_E_N]

sorry i should add i know the process involved roughly just want to see if anyone has had experience and knows where the best place to buy and the best product, cheers

[oldboot]

there is a dude over on the peninsular... kiparing i think that specilises in casting resins for prostetics and modeling.

he has everything from hard resins thru to soft rubbery stuff, and all the stuff to colour it.

I'll ask a couple of mates & find out.

You could tru ctraight clear acrillic from bunnings bit I think it would be a bit heavy, as would most of the hard epoxies.


for a rough and ready have you thaught of clear silicon sealer...... may not float either, but it wont sink like a stone

cheers

[DR]

i think you would somehow need to make them in 2 pcs & glue together so they are hollow.

[Noelm]

DR is correct, unless you are using something like a very light Timber, then floating lures need to be hollow, they will be some materials around that will sort of float, but to truly float, hollow, two parts and glue will be you answer

[B_E_N]

yes they are moulded in two parts but a few online shops sell small hollow prefab tubes, some with ball bearings in for a rattle, so thats what i can use to make them float. they also sell casting plastic but not sure what can get into the country in regards with that sorto stuff but will look into it this week maybe. some of the sites have some helpful info on what plastics to use and their attributes but not sure on what stuff to get as of yet

[oldboot]

Now here's an interesting thing.

Bothe jaycar and altronics have these beads of hot water meltable casting plastic that is intended for prototyping..... aparantly has a nylonish nature.

uou melt it in a double boiler & cast it like you would wax.... it can be drilled or machined...... the waste or the prototype can then be melted down and used again......

could be worth checking out.


on the subject of floating woods........ the wood doesn't need to be all that light to float.......most of the softer woods will float...... like meranti, pine, durian, silky oak...... finding a wood that floats isnt too much of a problem at all.

Finding a wood that sinks like a stone on the other hand is a little harder.

cheers

[Noelm]

that is correct OB, what I was referring to, was to not use (say) some very dense (like me) Hardwoods, they will still float, but not as good as Balsa and other very light Timbers!

[krazyfisher]

When you pour the resein you add a powder that is very fine foam that will make it float. you can buy the kits with all that you will need.