Equipment for the production of silicone baits. Biologically decomposable "silicone" with your own hands. What baits can be made in this way

About ten years ago, no one could have imagined that baits would appear from such a soft material as silicone. The bait is so similar to an animated object that the predatory fish does not spit it out, but tries to try it, which gives time for hooking.

What silicone to use for pouring

Effective silicone baits can, of course, be bought. And you can make your own. Especially if the arsenal has a lot of old baits that have suffered during fishing.

Old baits are easy to melt down and make new bait. Besides, it will save you money. And with self-production, you can “play” with color and taste, as well as with shape and size. Among the disadvantages of homemade products, it is logical to note the cost of time.

You can also make silicone baits from purchased material. For example, for injection molding machines. Its advantage, of course, is the quality, only the price is such that the material is not cheap. In addition, most likely, you will have to order silicone and wait for its delivery.

It should be noted that a non-shrinking silicone compound based on a tin catalyst, for example, "Elastolux (TV 25)", has a low viscosity, thereby filling all small parts and it is possible to paint in different colors. The product does not shrink, which can be attributed to its positive properties. Shrinkage product, for example "Petalast 710", "Pentalast 718" - shrinks by 1.5% of the mold volume, which must be remembered during manufacture.

silicone cost

If we compare the costs of making silicone baits, then the conclusion is simple - it is more profitable to make them from old baits. As for the cost of purchased silicone, you will have to fork out here. For example, a two-component non-shrinking product from Elastolux (TV 25) and Elastofor costs from 830 rubles and more. Shrinkage component "Pentalast 710", "Pentalast 718" within 300-400 rubles.


Making silicone baits

Molds for pouring silicone

For the manufacture of silicone baits, first of all, you need a mold for pouring the material. It can also be done on your own. For example, from plaster or plexiglass.

What will be required:

  • Dental or building plaster.
  • Dishes where plaster will be stirred.
  • Tablespoon.
  • Scales.
  • Water.
  • Liquid soap.
  • Sample product to be copied.
  • Dishes, for plaster.

All dishes are used in their pure form, without gypsum residues. The ratio of gypsum and water is exactly maintained: 25 ml of water will require 100 g. powder. The temperature of both ingredients should be 20 degrees. The free-flowing mixture is slowly added to the water and mixed for one minute. Follow the bubbles in the solution, if any, get rid of them by tapping.

There are two types of matrices:

  • unilateral;
  • bilateral;

Consider the first kind of matrix

The material for it is gypsum. You will also need a nozzle sample. It can be made from clay, wood, or use a finished product. The layout should be lubricated with petroleum jelly, grease or silicone grease.

This is done so that the sample does not stick to the plaster. Next, we fill the container with gypsum, the thickness of the fill is taken twice as thick as the sample. The layout is immersed in plaster to a depth of slightly more than half of it. We are waiting for the plaster to dry completely (10 minutes) and remove the sample. The matrix should be covered with building sealant, the one-sided matrix is ​​ready.

Double sided matrix

A double-sided matrix will require a rectangular container. Half of our container is poured with plaster and now the bait model is lowered onto its half. Leave all this for the whole night and only then proceed to pouring the second part of the matrix. So that the forms can be separated into two halves, they should be lubricated, for example, with petroleum jelly. Here the solution is made more liquid, to allow the bubbles to escape.

After pouring, we send again for a day to dry. Then divide the matrices, clear the burrs, pull out the sample. Parts dry for several days. Cover only the place for the layout with construction sealant.

Now you should make air vents and sprues. From the beginning of the sample to the edge of the mold, scratch a groove with a sharp object, which then must be worked out with a drill.

Air vents should be made with a thin knife up to 8 pieces, this is dictated by the complexity of the bait.

Using this mold makes it possible to prepare voluminous baits that are more realistic with live bait. This effect cannot be achieved in a one-sided mold. There are, of course, disadvantages. For example, there are more complex models when you can underfill silicone into some cavities of the prepared mold.


The process of making silicone baits with your own hands

  • The first step is to melt the silicone. To do this, for example, the old parts of the nozzles are folded into a container and melted (on an open fire or in a microwave) or immediately folded into a syringe and sent to the microwave. The first case is convenient when several people are involved in the process and a large amount of material is melted, or there are several prints available.
  • In the second case, the syringe should be filled with waste, close the spout of the syringe and send it to the microwave. The method is beautiful in that there are no fumes.

The color of the future bait

The color of the future nozzle depends on the wishes of each fisherman. You can melt together baits of the same color, you can mix them - then the color will change.
When using ready-made silicone, you can add dye, glitter, for example, Glitter. They are applied as the first layer on the matrix. Food coloring of any color is mixed with the material and sent to the print.

The taste of the bait

To increase the number of bites and increase the result of fishing, the nozzle can also be given taste. To do this, during the manufacture of bait, you can add salt, fish oil, attractant,.

It is worth remembering that if the nozzle is impregnated with an attractant after its manufacture, it loses its properties after the next fishing. It is necessary to additionally smear the nozzle with flavor after catching fish. This is done in the following order: the used product must be washed, dried, put in a bag and an attractant or flavor should be dropped inside. Stir and leave for 3 days in a dark and dry place.

Shape fills

After melting the silicone, pour it into the prepared mold. If a one-sided mold is used, then we pour our product on top, wait a few minutes and remove the finished bait from the impression.

The casting process in double-sided imprints is slightly different. Two halves are used here, which must be interconnected. Then, the hot material is poured into the impression casting channel until the matrix is ​​completely filled. Hold the matrix at an angle.

Removing the bait from the mold

After hardening (about 5 minutes), the rubber products are removed from the molds and sent to a container with water, where you can add ice until it cools completely.

Clipping shape

Ready-made nozzles, if necessary, must be freed from excess silicone: cut off the excess with scissors, giving a complete resemblance to the product with the used sample.

What baits can be made in this way

You can make a lot of nozzles in this way:

  • worms that have many tails and legs;
  • passive vibrotails without ponytails;
  • crayfish with tentacles;
  • double twisters.

Additional elements expressively move when retrieving and create a hydrodynamic trail, to which predatory fish actively react.

Safety precautions for self-manufacturing of baits

In the process of casting baits, do not forget about safety:

  • Test the syringe for heat resistance if this melting method is chosen.
  • Wear gloves.
  • The syringe should be wrapped with electrical tape.
  • It is not necessary to draw a lot of material into the syringe.
  • When melting on an open flame, it is better to use a respirator or work in a well-ventilated area.
  • The matrix should be larger than the sample on the sides and in volume.
  • For a double-sided matrix, use the correct plaster consistency. So that the sample cannot be strongly immersed in the solution under its own weight, it must be clearly half. Too thick a batch can provoke a chipping of the matrix.
  • Waste should be crushed as finely as possible, this is the key to rapid melting.
  • Don't ignore safety precautions.

To date, lures made of silicone are very popular with both experienced anglers and beginners who are just beginning to learn the basics of fishing. When used correctly, they will have good catchability and a long service life.

The main advantage of silicone products is the ability to make changes to the design of the bait yourself. Silicone is a very soft material, so the product is quite easy to make more mobile, change its shape or color.

We must also not forget about their shortcomings:

  • Any kind of silicone will need careful handling., since with any inaccurate movement they can be torn or otherwise damaged; in addition, it is undesirable to store all such baits together with each other;
  • The resulting damage is not too easy to repair, you often have to throw away the silicone bait if the prey managed to harm it;
  • For the effective use of these baits will have to practice;
  • Among the models on the market there are quite a few products that are not of good quality, so it will be very difficult to catch at least something on it.

Most Popular Models

Today, it is not too difficult to acquire molds designed for casting silicone lures. In particular, they are presented in a fairly large number in the virtual network.

  • rock vibe;
  • Swing Impact Fat;
  • Tioga;
  • Saturn;
  • Mosia;
  • Crazy Flapper;
  • SL Remix;
  • Micro Nymph;

A number of other products can be found in stores, however, the products mentioned are really tested and allow you to hunt a large number of different predatory fish.

Molds for casting Slando silicone lures

The forms produced by this manufacturer are distinguished by a good level of strength, able to serve for the longest possible period of time. Their front side is covered with a thin layer of tin, under which there is a strong gypsum with special additives. They protect it from crumbling over time.

It turns out that such a form will be able to serve as a template for the manufacture of more than one hundred baits, which can be used for catching pike, perch, trout, as well as a number of other carnivorous fish species.

Centrifugal molds for casting silicone lures

Such products are of much higher quality, because with their help you can get a lure that not only looks good and plays well in the water, but also quickly rotates around its axis during the game, which allows you to achieve even more interest from the fish.

There are quite a few companies involved in the production of centrifugal molds, but the most acceptable products are made only by the following companies:

  • Pontoon;
  • Keitech;
  • imakatsu;
  • Tsunekichi;
  • Gary;
  • LJ Tioga and some others.

Prices

Depending on what material the form is made of, its cost will seriously change. For example, gypsum products are not of very high quality, besides, it is almost impossible to get a perfectly smooth shape, respectively, it will be much worse to play in water.

For these reasons, plaster molds are not too expensive - you can buy them for 2-2.5 thousand rubles.

Tin molds or molds made of polymeric materials have a perfectly smooth surface, which makes it possible to get the final bait also very smooth. The cost of such forms will already be much higher - in ordinary stores with goods for fishing, its price can even reach 8-10 thousand rubles.

Where can I buy?

Forms designed for the production of silicone baits are not rare, so they can be found in almost every fishing shop . However, the price of molds in the store is quite high.

If you want to save money on the purchase of such products, you can go to the official website of the mold manufacturer and look for the most suitable product there.

It is better to do this in advance, before the start of the fishing season, since for a certain time you will have to wait until the product arrives by mail.

Making molds for casting silicone lures

Self-production of silicone baits allows you to make a product of any shape, color, and so on. For this, you will have to spend quite a lot of time, since such work is quite painstaking.

To start the production of silicone baits at home, you need to use one of the polymeric materials from which the bait will ultimately be made. Experienced anglers recommend using the so-called thermoplastic. This is a very high quality material, its cost is very high.

If there is not enough money for such expensive raw materials or it is a pity to spend them, you can buy the source material cheaper - for example, it is perfect "Elastolux (TV 25)", which has a slight viscosity, which allows filling even the smallest details of the form during the manufacturing process of the bait, painting them in the required color scheme.

In the production of silicone baits, it must be taken into account that the manufacturing technology does not imply shrinkage. To make a bait mold at home, you must first consider what it will be made of. It is most convenient to use gypsum or plexiglass.

Both of these materials are easy to process and, if desired, allow you to get quite strong and durable products.

You must have the following tools and materials at hand:


Before kneading gypsum, you should make sure that the dishes are absolutely clean, there are not the slightest traces of dry gypsum left on its walls. Knead in a ratio of 1 to 4, that is, for 25 ml of water, you will need to take about 100 grams of gypsum. The temperature of water and dry gypsum should be at least 20 degrees.

In order for gypsum to be dissolved in water without lumps, it is carefully mixed in water for about a minute. If air bubbles suddenly begin to form, then they must be immediately disposed of.

The bait is immersed in the gypsum that has not hardened, kept there for about one or two minutes, taken out and slightly corrected in shape to make it as similar as possible to the extracted product.

Many craftsmen produce a double-sided type:

  1. Dissolved gypsum must be carefully divided into two parts, each of which should be a neat parallelepiped.
  2. Now you need to take the bait itself, remove a small amount of gypsum between the blanks and place it in the resulting space, pressing it quite strongly. Excess gypsum will protrude from the sides of the blanks. They must be removed immediately.

This form can be made using another technology:

  1. Take a rectangular or square container, which is half filled with a gypsum mortar, the bait is immersed there and left for several hours, allowing the solution to harden well.
  2. Then the established surface is lubricated with grease, petroleum jelly or other lubricant, and pour plaster to the brim. The bait, immersed in plaster, does not need to be removed, it will also have to be lubricated. Lubrication is necessary here to obtain detachable parts of the structure.

As a result, a pretty good silicone mold is formed, which will practically not differ from a professional one.

Today, fishing has become not only a very popular way of spending time, but also quite expensive. And in this vein, it is very relevant to make some baits and lures with your own hands, for example, a simple silicone bait for fishing.

What is the advantage of silicone bait?

Silicone, as a material for making bait, is quite soft and plastic, and therefore I am a bait so popular for independent experiments. Thanks to silicone lures and baits, with the correct execution of wiring maneuvers, you can easily catch fish:

  • in shallow water;
  • on the transitions.

One of the important rules for such fishing is the competent installation of the bait, which during the wiring should sway slightly, creating the most natural game of natural live bait.

As experience shows, making such a bait at home is not difficult, you just need to strictly follow all the advice and recommendations of experienced anglers and specialists.

What kind of silicone can be used to fill molds?

Of course, any bait can be purchased at fishing stores, specialized centers and just small fisherman's shops, but it's much better: more efficient and cheaper, to make silicone baits with your own hands.

This is especially true for those anglers who, over many years of “hunting for fish”, have left various silicone lures with some defects and wear, as they can be melted down at home to make brand new ones. Such events will significantly save on fishing accessories.

Making your own silicone bait makes it possible to make it in any color, shape or size, and not be content with what the store assortment offers.


However, there is one drawback, namely, a large waste of time, which actually stops many from such a long and painstaking task as making silicone bait with their own hands.

To make silicone baits at home, you can use one of the materials offered in stores, for example, from thermoplastic. The advantage of injection molding machines is undoubtedly the high quality of the source material, and the disadvantage is the high pricing policy.

But along with expensive ones, there are also materials that can please with a more acceptable cost, for example, "Elastolux (TV 25)", which is characterized by a low viscosity of the mass, which allows you to fill in any elements, even the smallest ones, at the time of use and actually paint them afterwards in the right color.

In addition, the technology for manufacturing silicone bait from this material does not shrink, as a result, unlike materials such as Pentalast 718 or Pentalast 710, which are also fairly common for casting silicone baits. But such important characteristics should be taken into account when making your own fishing tackle.

The cost of silicone for pouring bait molds

When choosing a material for pouring molds, you should pay attention to the cost of silicone, which is why many turn to the method of remelting from old spoiled silicone baits. Because, at the moment, the most common materials cost more than 800 rubles, which not everyone can afford:

  • "Eleplast (TV 25)";
  • "Pentalast 710";
  • Pentalast 718.

How to make a mold for pouring silicone yourself?

The first thing to think about when making silicone lures at home is a mold for pouring, which can also be done at home. Such molds can mainly be made from the following materials:

  • Gypsum;
  • Plexiglas.

In order to start making a mold with your own hands at home, you will need to stock up on some equipment:

  • Construction or dental plaster;
  • Bowl, for kneading plaster;
  • Large spoon or spatula for stirring;
  • Kitchen scales;
  • Water;
  • Soap, it is better to choose liquid;
  • An example of the end product that will be imprinted.


The utensils that will be used for kneading must be exceptionally clean and dry, without any gypsum residues.
It is necessary to choose the right ratio of gypsum and water, it is recommended to stop at 25 ml of water and 100 gypsum. But it is necessary to pay special attention to the fact that the temperature of all components must be at least 20 degrees.

In order for the gypsum to dissolve as much as possible in the water without lumps, it is necessary to slowly and carefully mix it into the water for 60 seconds. If bubbles suddenly appear - they urgently need to be tapped and get rid of them.

The main types of matrices for casting bait molds

To date, there are only two main types of matrices:

  • Unilateral.
  • Bilateral.

One-sided matrices are a construction made of gypsum, which, following the advice and recommendations, can also be made independently. For this, a sample of the nozzle is required.

Such a sample is most often made of wood or clay; a ready-made layout must be lubricated with petroleum jelly to better lag the source. The technology for making a mold using a matrix is ​​quite simple - it is necessary to pour a matrix with a ready-made mixture, 2 times thicker than the sample.

First of all, you need to carefully immerse the model, and the plaster to a depth that will be slightly more than half of it, and wait for some time until it dries completely and slowly remove the sample, leaving a cast. After the matrix is ​​covered with a sealant used in construction work, a one-sided matrix will be completely ready.

For the manufacture of double-sided matrix with your own hands you will need, to start with a container, it is best to choose a rectangular or square shape. The selected form must be filled with gypsum by about half and only after that the bait layout should be lowered halfway inside.

For maximum solidification, you need to leave the layout in the container for about 10-12 hours, and only after that you can start filling the second half of the matrix. In this case, it is necessary to pay special attention to the fact that the half of the double-sided matrix must be lubricated with grease or petroleum jelly, so that they can subsequently be easily separated.

It is recommended to make the solution thin enough so that the formed bubbles can be removed. After the second part of the double-sided matrix is ​​already placed in the container, it is worth, just like the first time, to give time for complete drying.

After that, separate the matrices and be sure to pay attention to the presence of burrs, which (if any) should be removed without fail by cleaning the matrices.

After pulling out the sample, it is necessary to give a few days for all the elements to dry and set well. When applying building sealant, it is necessary to take into account the fact that they will need to cover only one part of the matrix.

After all that has been done, you can with full confidence take up the implementation of air vents and sprues. To do this, use a knife or any sharp object that is available to make a small groove from the edge of the mold to the sample itself.

Subsequently, such a groove will need to be processed with a drill. In total, there should be about 8 air vents in the double-sided matrix, which makes it possible, when used, to make bulk baits at home. Such baits will resemble a live fish as much as possible, which, unfortunately, cannot be achieved using a one-sided matrix.

Instructions for making silicone lures with your own hands

To begin with, the first step is to melt the original silicone to make the bait. To do this, you need to take all the old and worn baits, place in a bowl or selected container and put on an open fire to melt (or in a microwave oven).

The open fire option is most often used, if we are talking about large, one might even say, industrial scales, when not one, but several people participate in the melt, and the melt takes place for a large amount of source material.

The second option with a microwave oven is more acceptable for home conditions. It is necessary to put waste into the syringe, close the spout so that nothing leaks out and place it in the working space of the microwave oven.

The color of the bait that is being worked on may depend on the personal preferences of the author, and this fact can be attributed to the undeniable advantages of making your own bait. You can do an original and extravagant experiment and mix all the old baits and see what kind of color the result will be - maybe it will be something innovative and original.

If purchased silicone is used to make homemade baits, you should use dye, you can add some sparkles or small balls, which will glare in the water, attracting the catch.

In order for the "hunt" for the fish to be successful, you can add a little flavor enhancer or any flavor additive, for example, garlic, fish oil or salt, into the mass when kneading.

But if any attractant is added as a flavor enhancer, special attention must be paid to the fact that after the first fishing the bait will lose this property. In order to make up for the lost quality, you can specially lubricate the bait after each fishing and do it in the right order.

So, take the bait used for catching fish, rinse it with running water and dry or blot with a towel (napkin), put all the used baits in one bag and pour a little flavor, then knead and mix everything in the bag and leave for 2-3 days in a cool and dark place.

In order to properly fill the molds for silicone baits, it is necessary to melt the pre-prepared silicone on the fire and pour it into the mold made earlier (or purchased).

If the technology uses a one-sided mold, then after pouring it with silicone and after a few minutes, you can get the finished mold from the layout.

This is a fairly simple method, unlike a double-sided matrix casting, which uses two halves that are interconnected. The previously molten silicone is poured into the groove (which was described earlier) until the matrix is ​​completely filled to the brim.

When solidifying, it is recommended to hold the matrix or place it at a certain angle. After the time during which the silicone hardens in the matrix, you can pull the bait out of the mold slowly and carefully so as not to damage small elements.

It is recommended to wait about 3-5 minutes before hardening, depending on the viscosity of the silicone. After that, the finished bait must be put into water, and in order to speed up the cooling process, add a few ice cubes to the container.

Then, when the finished bait has completely cooled down, it will be necessary to adjust the shape a little, namely, cut the shape and thereby remove the remaining silicone. With a sharp, small knife, cut off the excess parts of the silicone, trying to make the bait as realistic as possible.

Types of baits that can be made using silicone

Thanks to this simple method, you can make a lot of lures for fishing, for example:

  • bait worms, which look like a centipede, baits with a lot of legs and tails;
  • Can be made from silicone big vibrotails, but which do not have tails, in the form of a patch;
  • Crayfish with tentacles can also be made of silicone, at home;
  • Double sided tweeters.

Such additional items and elements are practically indispensable if it is required to perform wiring, as they create a visual effect of the movement of live fish and leave behind a special hydraulic trail.

Silicone Mold Making Safety


In the manufacture of silicone baits at home, you must be extremely careful and precise. comply with all safety regulations and requirements:

  • When melting silicone, stands first, check the syringe for heat resistance and for cracks or breakage.
  • Mandatory apply gloves, do not remove them when working with hot silicone.
  • Recommended wrap the syringe with insulated tape.
  • Initially, you should not draw a lot of starting material into the syringe so that it does not leak out and cause any damage.
  • When melting old baits, be sure to put on a respirator and open the windows or turn on the air conditioner to keep the room ventilated.

In order for the plan to come true and the whole process to be effective, it is necessary to follow the advice and recommendations of experts exactly, especially for beginners in this matter:

  • self-executed matrix necessarily should be larger on both sides.
  • If the technology involves the use of a two-sided matrix, special attention must be paid to the consistency of the gypsum.
  • In order for the sample of the bait under gravity not to be completely included in the solution, it must be filled in exactly half, as indicated in the technology.
  • It is necessary to knead the gypsum solution strictly in proportions, so that there is no chipping of the matrix during use.
  • Old and spoiled baits must be crushed very carefully, thus, the contents of the syringe will melt faster.
  • In no case do not neglect the rules and safety requirements in the manufacture of silicone molds and baits at home.

Silicone has long won the love of fishermen because of their catchability and availability. However, they are still quite expensive today and remain a dream for many spinners. But there is a way out, and he suggests making silicone baits with his own hands, as other popular spinning baits are made.

The advantage of silicone baits

The main advantage of silicones, which is noticeable to everyone who has ever visited a point of sale of spinning baits, is their small (relatively, of course) price. In addition, the effectiveness of catching predatory fish makes them popular, and any other bait can “envy” their diversity on the market.

These products are also easily upgraded. It’s easy to make them more mobile, change their shape, colors. In addition, manufacturers are constantly doing the same, supplying the market with new silicone models with unique properties and capabilities.

Despite the fact that many fishermen speak of silicones as the most advanced and versatile baits, one should not forget about their shortcomings:

  • - silicones of any kind require careful handling: firstly, they are easy to tear; secondly, they are not recommended to be stored together;
  • - they are difficult to restore after damage; often just have to be thrown away;
  • - some practice is needed to effectively catch a predator with silicones;
  • - among the many offers on the market, there are a lot of low-quality products that have to be finished at home.

What kind of silicone is used to make do-it-yourself baits

Even with their relatively low price, branded silicone lures remain expensive for most anglers. There is a way out - to make them yourself. Wherein:

  • - baits will definitely be cheaper;
  • - you can make those nozzles that really differ in catchability and are often not available for sale;
  • - to give products any color, shape, size, which are not in the lines of silicones produced by manufacturers.

This, of course, requires silicone. You can use those silicones that you have accumulated over the years of fishing and are not used due to damage, defects, wear. They are melted down and used for casting new products.

If there is no specified stock of a semi-finished product or it is not enough, you can cast silicone baits with your own hands from construction silicone or buy in a store, for example, thermoplastic. As a result, you will get high-quality material, but it is quite expensive, which will affect the overall costs.

There are materials for sale and cheaper. For example, "Elastolux (TV25)". It has a low viscosity, which is convenient for filling forms, including those with many small chambers. This material, after setting, does not change volume, in which respect it differs from Pentalast (710 and 719), which are often used in the technology of making silicones at home.

The price of the material for the manufacture of silicone lures do it yourself

The most common materials for silicone molding (see above) cost about 800 rubles. For many anglers, the price is not budgetary, therefore it is better to find an opportunity and use the remelted remnants of silicone nozzles. Each of the spinningists collects a lot of them over time - the main thing is not to throw them away.

To give color, dyes are used - pigments of various shades. You can not buy everything, but use their mixtures.

Matrices for casting

Molds that are designed for casting silicones can be purchased at the store, on the Internet. They are made of a variety of materials: metal, gypsum, sealant, artificial stone, plexiglass, alabaster.

In addition, for casting baits of different shapes, matrices can be one- or two-sided. There are also those in which one silicone differs or several at once.

Stone and metal forms are considered the best, but they are expensive.

Making molds for silicone baits with your own hands

Most often, gypsum matrices are used at home. To receive the product, you will need:

  • - directly gypsum (astringent);
  • - water for mixing binder;
  • - a container in which gypsum is mixed with water;
  • - a spatula or a large spoon for mixing gypsum when it is mixed;
  • - kitchen scales;
  • - a sample of the bait for which the matrix is ​​being prepared; it is pre-made using clay, wood; it must be tough.

The container for mixing gypsum must be dry, clean, without any solid residues on the walls, bottom. To mix 100 g of binder, 25 ml of water is usually used. With this ratio of components, a sufficiently mobile binder solution is obtained, the setting time of which is sufficient to perform all the operations necessary for preparing the mold.

Making a one-sided matrix

To make such a matrix, you will need some kind of container into which gypsum will be poured. It can be, for example, a plastic box. Its dimensions in terms of should exceed the dimensions of the bait; height - at least 2 times the thickness of the latter.

Sequence of operations:

  • - gypsum is mixed with water, mixed to a homogeneous consistency;
  • - pour (spread) gypsum into a box; spoon (shovel) level its surface;
  • - take a sample of the bait and immerse it in the thickness of the gypsum; do it to a depth slightly greater than the thickness of the layout;
  • - after the gypsum has set, the bait sample is carefully removed;
  • - carefully clean the resulting matrix and cover it with a thin layer of building sealant; after drying, it is ready for casting silicone nozzles.

Making a double-sided matrix

This type of matrix represents two one-sided molds made using the technology described above. The difference is that the bait sample is immersed in gypsum in each matrix by different sides. As a result, if two matrices are put together, a cavity will be obtained inside them, which is similar in outline to the entire bait.

The manufacture of matrices must be done so that when they are folded, the recesses overlap one another without shifting. In addition, the mating planes of the molds are lubricated, for example, with vaseline, grease. The latter is necessary so that in the future there are no problems when they are disconnected.

In addition to what is described in the obtained forms, sprues and air ducts are arranged. Through the first, molten silicone is poured into the cavity; the latter serve as ways for the air to escape when it is squeezed out by the poured material. The presence of these elements excludes the receipt of products with flaws and defects.

Air ducts, sprues are ordinary grooves that start from the cavity in the matrix and go to its outer surface. You can make them by cutting through the plaster, for example, with a knife, or by drilling it with a thin drill. There is usually one sprue in the mold, there are about eight air ducts.

DIY silicone bait making step by step

Melting silicone

After making molds for casting proceed directly to the casting. To do this, melt the silicone. Do it on an open fire or using a microwave oven.

The first option is preferable for large volumes of cast products. The material is placed in a container (for example, in a tin can), put on a stove, turn on the fire and bring to a fluid state.

However, this method has a number of disadvantages: the silicone in the jar often burns; when melted, smoke is observed; silicone changes its color, and if it burns, it will generally turn black.

The second is more for home conditions: silicone waste is placed, for example, in the cavity of a syringe, its spout is closed and placed vertically in the microwave working space, using, for example, a mug. You should not immediately remove the syringe after melting - you need to let the container stand inside the microwave for another 2 ... 3 minutes. The latter will allow the containers to warm up well, which ensures the liquid state of the silicone for a longer time.

If you use old silicones for casting baits, you will get a certain color as a result; it will depend on the color of the mixed residues. If you use purchased silicone, then during the melting period, pigments are added to it, which determines the final color of the bait. It is possible at this stage to introduce glitter, balls into the composition, which can improve the attractiveness of future silicones for predators.

Casting silicone lures

The most popular silicone colors are those in which there is a red and yellow tint. At the same time, the latter should be bright and preferably with a greenish tint.

The silicone casting process is as follows:

Form preparation;

  • - silicone melt; at this stage, it (if necessary) is given the desired color, balls, sparkles are introduced into it;
  • - pouring molten silicone into the matrix;
  • - cooling of the material;
  • - extraction of the cast bait from the mold;

Keeping the bait in the water.

The usual cooling time for silicone is 5…10 min. After, carefully removing it from the matrix, the cast bait is immediately lowered into the water. This procedure is required. It provides plasticity to the material. If you skip it, then the silicone will remain soft, which is unacceptable for the bait.

At the final stage, the resulting product must be brought into proper form. To do this, use a sharp knife, scissors. Cut off excess silicone, its smudges. At the same time, they try to give the silicone a maximum realistic look.

Types of baits that can be made using silicone

At home, using silicone, you can make spinning soft lures of any kind, shape, color. It all depends on the desire, perseverance, resourcefulness of the fisherman. The main and, probably, the most difficult thing in the whole process is to make the right matrix (mould) for casting silicone.

Safety precautions in the manufacture of silicone baits

At any stage of silicone casting, safety precautions must be observed during operations. Specifically, it all depends on the material used, tools, equipment.

If you heat silicone in a tin, it should be removed from the stove with a mittened hand or a rag. Failure to do so may result in skin burns.

When using a syringe to melt silicone, the latter must be heat-resistant. It does not allow the presence of cracks, any damage.

All work with silicone must be carried out, protecting hands with gloves. This is especially true for hot material. The syringe, for greater safety, can be wrapped with electrical tape.

The melting of old silicone residues is accompanied by the release of harmful fumes. It does not hurt to put on a respirator, arrange airing of the room, for example, open a window, turn on the air conditioner.

Video of making silicone baits for pike and pike with your own hands

Silicone spinning baits come in simple and complex shapes. The first ones to make with your own hands are quite simple. But the latter require certain knowledge and skills. Especially in the manufacture of molds for casting baits.

About all this, using the example of the most complex silicones, in this video.

Everything is well filmed, everything is explained in detail, each operation is shown in detail. It tells about the nuances of the process, for example, about the selection of colors.

A real spinning player tries to make any fishing tackle with his own hands. Therefore, molds for silicone baits for such enthusiasts are a well-known material.

For some, silicone baits made in such forms are even better and more catchy than store products.

True, many are pushed to self-production and relatively high cost of quality industrial baits, not every fisherman can afford expensive gear. Therefore, the question arises: how, and with what forms, you can make a good bait at home.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-manufacturing baits

So, you decide to start making silicone lures yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are driven to this lack of funds, the desire for experiments, or someone enthusiastically told you that such gear is more catchy. They are indeed more catchy, only if they are made correctly. Then such a process will have certain advantages:

  • you can produce exactly those products that you consider the most effective;
  • there are situations when there are no products of the right size in stores, home-made lures have no size restrictions;
  • often store products do not differ in a variety of colors, home production gives vent to imagination;
  • the same goes for fragrances;
  • not only that, as already noted, independent production significantly saves your money, many craftsmen put it on stream after a while and make good money on it.

True, there may be certain disadvantages:

  • the first prototypes, as a rule, are not of very high quality and do not come out the way you think they are;
  • a product can render unusable only one, even a small, component, for example, an incorrectly selected flavor;
  • low costs are good, but still it is much easier to buy a ready-made bait, and the purchase will not require from you the amount of time that it takes to manufacture.

Safety precautions when casting silicone lures

The process of casting baits, like any work at high temperatures, requires compliance with certain safety conditions:

  • mandatory use of gloves;
  • a syringe for the manufacture of silicone baits before use must be checked for cracks and chips, and also pass a heat resistance test;
  • if you make baits by melting old ones, do not forget about a respirator - it is not known what chemical composition of dyes they were processed with;
  • for ultimate safety, it is recommended to wrap the syringe with electrical tape and not fill it with the maximum amount of the composition.

Make your own or buy from a store

Molds for casting baits at home are made from the following materials:

  • gypsum; home craftsmen, as a rule, use this particular material - affordable and cheap;
  • alabaster; approximately the same;
  • metal;
  • fake diamond;
  • plexiglass;
  • sealant;
  • rubber.

If you have already decided to follow the path of completely independent production, do not change yourself and, forgetting about the store, proceed, say, to the processing of gypsum. True, such forms will have their drawbacks:

  • they are fragile;
  • it is difficult to preserve small details in them;
  • dry for a long time; an insufficiently dried product will contribute to the formation of bubbles on the bait.

Shop forms do not have such shortcomings, but, we repeat, you will pour bait into them no longer according to your own plan.

Cost of finished molds

The industry today produces a huge number of such products. They are divided into 2 types:

  • single;
  • sets.

plaster

Single ones are designed for the manufacture of one type of artificial fish or worm, and in the central cities of Russia they can be bought even from 100 rubles to several thousand rubles, depending on the quality of the material and the required bait. Sets cost from about 300 rubles, where several forms are selected at once in one design.

From other materials

Plexiglas products are stronger, but they also cost 2-3 times more than gypsum. Artificial stone will be even more expensive.

Step by step manufacturing

Plaster mold

One-sided

The simplest manufacturing process looks like this:

  1. Gypsum is diluted with water to the desired consistency, which is similar to sour cream.
  2. The mass is poured into a container, it can be plastic or cardboard.
  3. An artificial fish simulant is carefully placed in the mass.
  4. Freezing time - about 1.5 hours.
  5. After hardening, the bait is carefully removed.
  6. The mold is ready to be filled with hot silicone.
  7. The finished form should be left for about a day for the final hardening in an open place and only after that it should be used.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Important! The imitator is usually made from clay. It is easy, to the details, molded and hardens relatively quickly.

double sided

It is not uncommon for a lure you are planning to make that does not plan to make both sides the same, or that the bait is made with a curve. In this case, a two-sided matrix is ​​prepared:

  1. First, the container for pouring is prepared, it should be, best of all, rectangular.
  2. To make the lower part of the matrix, the gypsum mass is poured halfway into the container.
  3. A clay imitation fish is placed there, so that it is half submerged.
  4. The form is allowed to harden for 10-12 hours.
  5. Lubricate its edges with petroleum jelly so that both halves can be easily separated.
  6. Fill in the top.

How to cast lures

Which silicone to choose

The most reliable, durable and flexible after manufacturing is the starting material from thermoplastic. It has an increased quality, but there is one minus in this raw material - the cost of thermoplastic is still high, and it can hardly be considered budgetary.

Less costly mass "Elastolux (TV 25)", its low viscosity makes it possible to fill any small elements of the form without problems. The most budgetary materials for casting can be considered "Pentalast 718" and "Pentalast 710", but they have the property of shrinking after cooling. This must be taken into account when determining the size of future gear.

But the cheapest production, of course, is making from old melted baits. Experienced fishermen always have a lot of such material, over time, such artificial fish acquire defects, cracks, chips, it is better not to throw them away, but send them for remelting, such material itself does not lose its properties over time.

silicone cost

In the central cities of Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg, a relatively high-quality silicone bait costs from 300 rubles. About the same amount you will spend buying medium quality silicone to make this 500 ml tackle.

For example, if an average bait weighs 5 g, you can cast about 100 products from this volume of silicone. Consider the benefit yourself.

Choosing colors and flavors

With regard to these components, they can be used entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer. You can add any dyes, mix the remains of old artificial fish, add sparkles and glass beads to silicone, their reflections in the water are very attractive to fish.

Flavorings can be fish oil, garlic, anise, honey and much more.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am a professional fisherman.

Important! After several fishing trips, the taste and smell of such flavors is weakened, or even completely disappears. To restore it, put the baits in a plastic bag, in which add a few drops of flavoring. Keep the baits in such a bag for several hours, and their attractiveness to fish will be restored.

True, in this case the main thing is not to overdo it. Fish do not like strong odors.

Manufacturing

First, the silicone must be melted. You can do this on an open fire, even at home on a gas stove in a tin, but keep in mind that during the procedure, the silicone may suddenly smoke and darken. It is best to warm it up in a sealed glass syringe in the microwave, or in a thermo mug, stirring constantly.

The syringe is then filled with liquid silicone molds. When using a one-sided mold with silicone, simply fill it to the brim.

The double-sided form is used like this. The two halves are put together and carefully filled through a special groove. Just keep the mold at an angle, otherwise the silicone will run out.

Silicone hardens quickly, 5 minutes is enough.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am a professional fisherman.

Important! After cooling, the bait must be put in cold water, otherwise they will be too soft.

artificial worms

They have different lengths and thicknesses and do not imitate any active movements. They can be made in separate forms. Or you can use the twister tail by cutting it into small ribbons.

Large vibrotails

This is the name of the lure, in which the design of the tail allows it to vibrate, hence the name.

Double-sided twisters

These baits are thin in the tail area and do not move well from the mold, the cast is too rough for them. In this case, it is recommended to cover the plaster mold with epoxy resin as well.

Crayfish with tentacles

They are successfully obtained in both one-sided and two-sided forms. You should not only make the tentacles too thin, they can sag in the water.

Common rookie mistakes

Avoiding them is easy, but they still happen sometimes:

  • you can’t take a plastic syringe, you only need glass or fluoroplastic, it will not melt;
  • if the old baits are not greatly crushed, the melting process will drag on for a long time;
  • if the container for gypsum is filled to the brim, the clay sample bait will sink completely, and you will not get it without destroying the mold, fill the container to half the height of the bait;
  • on an open fire, be careful: overheated blackened silicone will make the bait almost useless;
  • it is necessary to knead the gypsum mortar, strictly observing the proportions, they are indicated on the product packaging.

Tackle installation

Most often, during installation, the method of fixing the jig head is used. The weight and length of the hook depends on the parameters of the bait and the depth of the reservoir. For reliability, the connection is also fixed by many fishermen with glue.

Sometimes silicone baits are equipped with a double hook. In this case, one of the hooks is completely in the body of the bait.

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. Graduated from Leningrad State University named after Zhdanov, Faculty of Biology and Soil. I am a professional fisherman.

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