Making 3D Printed Open Pour Molds for Soft Plastic Lures (The Reaper/Crayfish)

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

0:41 - Skip the Intro 1:21 - Skip to the Cad Design 9:23 - Skip to the Print Settings 10:15 - Skip to the Actual Bait Pouring 17:23 - Skip to the Crayfish

[@AKDragonFish3D]

Always great to see another 3d Printer making soft bait molds :) Well done good sir :)

[@rachels209]

These are great looking moulds. A little hint for your imbedded hook / weighted craws is to coat the lead with a thin layer of epoxy and letting it cure before you pour the plastisol around the jig head. This will stop the lead from reacting with the plastisol as time goes by and deteriorating into a pale mushy toxic goo.

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Thanks for the time. They definitely reacted over time.

[@markdalton3834]

Thanks for producing these videos Steve!

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Thanks for watching.

[@AirgunEvolution]

Have you thought to have 1.5 mm thick x 1.5 mm high outline go the bait stick up above your mold. Chamfer the outside edge of the outline lip to a point, almost like a cookie cutter, once you have over pored your mold the only thing you would need to do to remove or cut off the flashing is to turn the mold over and press it against something like dense foam ext... this would in essence trim all the flashing off for you...

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

It's worth looking into thanks for the tip.

[@richperrott1573]

Hello! Nice vid. I have been experimenting with machined and printed molds for a few years, do you use a release agent with the PLA? Or any other materials? Thanks!

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

I do not use any kind of release agent and mainly print in PLA+. I will use a little worm oil if I have enclosed areas like protruding fins though just to help them pull out. I've have tried other high temp filaments like EPC but plastisol stuck to the molds like glue so now its just PLA because it just works.

[@larrywigmore1243]

Hello there Steve. Watched one of your videos and found it very interesting. It showed a soft plastic bait with a hook poured in it. I've been trying to find someone to possibly build me a couple molds of an old bait of a goby. I'm down to my last four. Was wondering if you were interested in maybe making a couple of them for me. If there is a chance I could send you one so you could copy it or send pics of it. I'm only asking for this mold for myself. It gives me a slight edge over the guys in my club. Need all the help I can get with these sticks. Lol Thanks Larry

[@PNWFishingAndy]

If you have lures you want to melt down but there all different colors can you melt them together?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Yes but depending on the colors you may just get some muddy final color but it all depends on what you start with. I usually just throw all my old stuff in one cup, melt it down, and add more coloring (like a brown or orange) just to get something usable. If you are melting store bought plastic though it might not be all the same plastic so be careful... some of that stuff can stink pretty bad too from what I hear. Check out Worlds Worst Fishing, he's done a few remelt videos.

[@mikemike87650]

Where to download the crawfish 3d template?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

cults3d.com/en/users/sthone/3d-models

[@henniewiese4387]

love your handy work my friend, is your design downloadable? Have you ever tried designing a zoom super fluke?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Thanks... I haven't released anything yet when I put out lure files like this I tend to get more complaints (over thanks) from the people that didn't go about making the bait correctly or know how to tune lures so I try to make sure everything works perfect before I publish the files so can avoid most of those types of emails/comments. A super fluke looks like it would be pretty easy to do I'll put in on the list of things to try.

[@henniewiese4387]

Would love to see the other baits you made

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

@@henniewiese4387 I have a lot on my site and my most recent stuff hits my instagram first. instagram.com/theneverendingprojectslist

[@lizardhunter21]

Hi what size jighead I ordered some and they don't fit the mold. Thanks

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Sorry I really don't know the exact size ones I used. I think they are around 3/16 oz with maybe a 4/0 hook. It would probably be best to print the mold and bring it to the store to match it up. If the hooks you have are close you could always try heating the hook up and pressing it into the mold so it melts enough to fit... just an idea.

[@lizardhunter21]

@@TheNeverendingProjectsList thank you 😬

[@Jaro97PL]

Is PLA fine for mold printing? What is the temperature of the plastisol?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Yes I use PLA and keep my plastisol temps around 300°

[@craiggutoskie]

What do you use for layer height? They look very smooth. I’m guessing around .1mm ?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Yeah .10 layers

[@desireepaez]

Hello, what 3D machine do you use and also what material you use to to make the actual pour mold ?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

I use Makergear M2's and the molds are printed out of PLA.

[@desireepaez]

Thank you very much

[@vborgnet]

Hi, share the cray fish lure mold files ?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

I just uploaded it to my Cults3d page. ( cults3d.com/en/users/sthone/creations )

[@goovaerg]

Greate vids. I'm also designing and printing lures on my prusa. You were talking about creating an injection mold. Is that vid coming soon? I also want my finished baits look more shiny. Thinking about sanding the mold and applying a layer of epoxy to it.

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

I did a video on a 3d printed injection mold for tube baits (just see my other videos) I do have some more videos along the same lines coming I just need to find the time to edit and upload them. I heard if you paint the molds with high temp spray paint the finished baits will come out shinny but I haven't tried it just yet.

[@goovaerg]

Ok let's try that.bthx

[@THX..1138]

Ok I think I have an idea to improve your baits...Why not print skeletons you can imbed in the baits? I was thinking the claws of the crayfish would be all the better if they had a little reinforcement . I was thinking a really thin Y shaped piece that would give just a little bit of riggity to the claws.

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

You actually want the claws to move... it's all part of the action of the lure and what attracts the fish to bite.

[@THX..1138]

@@TheNeverendingProjectsList Yeah I agree, but I was thinking along the lines of just making them move more naturally. The claws shouldn't undulate or move too close to or far from the body. If you were to print a skeleton you would want it to be pretty thin and flexible so the claws still move just that they don't move like a piece of jelly.

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Maybe some pieces of flexible filament would do the trick I'll have to give it a try if I make more.

[@333xebec]

So, what exactly is the product you are using to pour? What kind of soft plastic?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

The baits are made from Plastisol and the brand I use is from www.deadonplastixllc.com/

[@henniewiese4387]

I cant access you webpage

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

It would help if I knew how to spell my own site address (I fixed the link) thanks for pointing it out.

[@fishingsauce]

Another reason to get a 3D printer!

[@kwfishing8310]

How many inch is the crawfish?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

The body is about 2.25" and its 3.5" with the claws.

[@kwfishing8310]

sthone do you make smaller ones ? Like 2 inch all together ?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

@@kwfishing8310 Yes I made this into a smaller Ned Rig style too that's right around 2". It's on my website and Instagram but I haven't uploaded the files yet... soon though.

[@anglerspursuit1a2a]

Would you be interested in making some custom molds?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Sorry... unfortunately I just don't have the spare time right now to do projects for other people I barely have time to finish my own never ending projects list.

[@gabmaisonneuve3398]

PLA works fine?

[@TheNeverendingProjectsList]

Been working fine for me... just have to be careful of your temps that's all. I try to pour around 300° just to play it safe. Maybe a little hotter if I'm blending colors but just remember it is a plastic mold.

[@Ionevenknow361]

Love the videos but I would take the extra steps to teach all lessons of bait making 😂 I’m new and would love to know everything there is to designing But great video and appreciate you spending the time to do these types of videos sir #Tightlines

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

Loose the photo. Just freehand it.