Any tips pouring hollow tube jibs and obtaining colors?

[1morecast]

I have been looking fruitlessly for a certain hollow tube. It is impossible to find so far as I can tell, so I am going to make my own. I've looked at Cabela's, I've looked at BPS, I've looked in-person, online, in the mailer catalogs, and I've determined I'll just pour my own. Maybe some readers know of other sources, but I am at the point of doing myself. I found some advice on the web as far as making the mold I'll need, but I am wondering where is a good place to locate the coloring I'll need for the plastic? I am wanting to make jigs that are cream or off-white, baby blue, and pastel pink. I am wanting to make a tri-color tube; head one-color, middle another, and tail another. Any advice as far as obtaining those colors I mentioned, and also, any tips on pouring so the colors don't run? I am also wanting to make a few different lures in milky salt and pepper as a solid body color, so any tips there might help, too.

[wardsmit]

barlowstackle and jannsnetcraft come to mind for supplies. I am sure there are many for plastics. I have not poured plastics for a few years now so there may be some new items out there. Another place to ask would be on tackleunderground.com On there you have all kinds of anglers making their own and to sell also.

[fish_4_all]

Tough request there. Everything I have been able to find on tube jigs is you use an injection molder. They are injected into the molds to make sure you get a nice clean jig out of them. Pouring them can be tough to get the legs to all come out right and to get the jig hallow. As far as coloring them, all I have seen to get tricolor tubes was to pour them white or off white and us jig dips to color them.

http://www.barlowstackle.com/acb/sho...1965&CATID=112

Quantity of a color will give you the darkness of the color so they have the colors you want. If you are pouring them then getting the colors to stay in place is simple but time consuming if you pour by hand. First, get some of the jigs poured in one color that you want to use as the middle color. Then cut off the head and tail where you want them. Now place the middle section in the mold and then pour the head and tail sections. Best way to do it to save time in the process. The cut away parts can be remolded to make more middle sections. You might see a tiny bit of color bleeding but it will not run that way if you keep the middle section tight in the mold. There might be an issue with the section not wanting to stick together. If this happens then simply take a lighter to the end you are pouring onto just before you pour the next color or touch it with a hot knife.

Remember, Always melt/pour them in a well ventilated area! Do not melt them around kids. They are noxious and can knock you on your arse if you inhale too much of the gases from the melting! First time I did I got severely light headed and then had a headache for hours afterwords. I now only melt outside or in a room that has a fan running to draw out all the vapors.

Do you have a picture of the jig you are trying to get/make?

[1aB]

Dave Weiser in PA is a tube master. Pic below of a custom tri-color horizontal lam olive pearl, white pearl, orange blush. He could prob make what you want.
eBay Store - DAVES CRAPPIE-BASS LURE TACKLE SHOP: CRAPPIE TUBES, ICE FISHING LURES-BAITS-JIGS, CRAPPIE-BASS-MAGGOTS AND GRUBS

For soft plastic supplies:
Fishing Lure Making Products, Soft Plastics, Lead Molds, Hooks and more! - LureCraft

[LedHed]

A pic would help to see what you are looking for - another way to make tube jigs is dipping a rod into hot plastic then cut your tails with a multi blade cutter. Dip a rod into your primary color once or twice, then mid way for your 2nd color, and just the head in your last color.

You can make swimbaits using this method also.

Lurecraft is a real good place for palstics and coloring, plastics, and molds.

[Fatman]

You might want to post what your looking for over at Tackleunderground Home

in soft plastic section. Those guys make some great plastic baits!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll have to register as a regular member but it's worth it, and if you decide to go and pour your own the advice you'll get there is priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fatman

[LedHed]

Tacklemaking.com is a really good web site for a lot of FREE information. Luremaking.com is another site with a bunch of lure crafting info.

[JSC]

Contact "Bojon"
He has a CD with all the information you need to know on horizontal Tube dipping
Kocron@comcast.net

Tell him I sent you

Check out the other places as per "Ledhed" & etc.

JSC

[1morecast]

Thanks for all your good advice!