Chloe Zhang
Soft plastic worm molds are used to make soft plastic baits for fishing lures. They are available in a variety of materials, including aluminum, silicone rubber, and plastic. The Do-It Essential series offers sand cast aluminum molds that provide similar resolution to CNC machined molds at a lower cost. Barlow's Tackle also offers CNC milled, injection, and open-pour molds made from solid blocks of aluminum, which produce soft baits with exceptional detail and smooth finishes. RTV Silicone Rubber Molds are another option that is durable, user-friendly, and affordable. These molds are available from various retailers, including online stores like Amazon and specialist websites like Bugmolds and Barlow's Tackle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mold Type | Soft plastic injection molds |
| Material | Sand cast aluminum, RTV silicone rubber |
| Detail | CNC machined molds offer the highest resolution, but sand cast and RTV silicone molds also offer good detail |
| Cost | CNC machined molds are the most expensive, followed by Do-It Essentials molds, with RTV silicone molds offering the best value |
| Ease of Use | RTV silicone molds are user-friendly and durable |
| Finish | CNC injection and open pour molds produce a glass-smooth finish |
| Molds | Do-It and Bugmolds offer a range of mold types, including multi-cavity, curly tail, slug, and swimbait |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastic bait moulds
Do-It CNC Milled Worm Moulds:
These moulds are milled from solid blocks of aluminum, producing soft plastic baits with exceptional detail and glass-smooth finishes. They are known for their unmatched quality, but they come at a higher price point compared to other options. However, if you prioritise quality and durability, these moulds are well worth the investment.
Do-It Essentials Cast Injection Moulds:
The Do-It Essentials series offers a more cost-effective alternative. These moulds are sand cast in aluminum, providing almost the same level of detail as CNC milled moulds but at a lower price. They are injection moulds, meaning they produce fully round baits and require a liquid plastic injector for use. This option is perfect for those new to injection moulding or those who want to experiment without breaking the bank.
RTV Silicone Rubber Moulds:
RTV silicone moulds are a great choice if you're looking for durability and ease of use. They produce worms with great detail and exceptional user-friendliness. The silicone material ensures that your baits cool quickly and can be easily removed from the mould. These moulds offer the best value in open-pour worm moulds and can withstand repeated use with minimal wear.
When choosing a soft plastic bait mould, consider your budget, the level of detail desired, and the ease of use. Whether you select a CNC milled, cast injection, or silicone mould, you'll be able to create customised fishing lures that suit your specific needs and preferences. So, get creative and start crafting your own soft plastic baits!
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CNC injection and open pour moulds
Do-it CNC injection and open pour moulds are milled from solid blocks of aluminium. The soft baits produced by these moulds are known for their incredible detail and smooth finishes. Do-it CNC moulds are expensive, but they are worth the cost if you are seeking unmatched quality.
If you are looking for a more affordable option, Do-It Essentials Cast Injection Worm Moulds are a great alternative. These moulds are sand cast in aluminium, providing a similar level of detail as CNC moulds but at a lower price. These moulds are a fantastic option if you want to try injection moulding without breaking the bank.
Another option for open-pour moulds is RTV silicone rubber moulds. These moulds are durable, user-friendly, and produce worms with great detail. The baits created with these moulds cool quickly and are easy to remove.
Creating your own moulds can be challenging, especially if you are new to CNC machining. It requires careful selection of tooling, toolpaths, and work holding. Additionally, you will need to follow up with manual post-processing to achieve a high-quality surface finish. Designing and machining moulds are skilled manufacturing fields that require a strong understanding of math and simulation.
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Injection moulds
Do-It Essentials moulds are a good option if you want to try injection moulding but don't want to spend a lot of money. They offer most of the resolution of a CNC machined mould at a fraction of the cost. All the moulds make fully round baits, and many models have multiple cavities.
If you are looking for unmatched quality, Do-It CNC Milled Worm Moulds are the best option. These moulds are milled from solid blocks of aluminium and produce soft baits with incredible detail and a glass-smooth finish. While they are expensive, they are worth the investment if you are looking for the highest quality.
Another option for injection moulds is RTV Silicone Rubber Moulds. These moulds are durable, produce worms with great detail, and are user-friendly. The poured baits cool quickly and are easy to remove from the mould. Silicone moulds are also very durable, with some users reporting little to no wear even after hundreds of uses.
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RTV Silicone Rubber Moulds
When it comes to "do-it-yourself" plastic worm moulds, one option available to you is to use room temperature vulcanization (RTV) silicone rubber moulds. RTV silicone moulds are durable, user-friendly, and can produce worms with great detail. They are also known for being the best value in open-pour worm moulds.
RTV silicone is a two-component material, with Part A and Part B being mixed together at a 10:1 ratio. After mixing, you have roughly 45 minutes to pour the mixture before it cures. The curing process takes 12 hours.
To create an RTV silicone mould, you will need the following items:
- Digital gram or postage scale
- Mixing containers
- Stir sticks
- Latex or nitrile gloves
Additionally, you can find various RTV silicone moulding kits online, which include all the necessary materials and tools. These kits are ideal for beginners and can help streamline the mould-making process.
Overall, RTV silicone rubber moulds offer a cost-effective and detailed option for creating your own plastic worm moulds, providing a fun and affordable way to achieve the exact lure you desire.
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DIY soft plastic lure moulds
Creating your own DIY soft plastic lure moulds can be a fun and affordable way to get the exact lure you want. There are several methods and materials you can use to create your moulds, depending on your budget and the level of detail you desire. Here are some options to consider:
Silicone Moulds
Silicone is a popular choice for DIY lure moulds due to its low cost and ease of use. It is also durable and can produce worms with great detail. However, silicone tends to move around, so you might not get a perfect pour every time. You can find silicone moulds on Amazon and eBay, or you can make your own.
CNC Milled Aluminium Moulds
If you're looking for unmatched quality, CNC milled aluminium moulds are the way to go. These moulds produce soft baits with incredible detail and a glass-smooth finish. However, they are more expensive than other options. If you're planning on selling your lures, aluminium is a better choice due to its longer lifespan.
Sand Cast Aluminium Moulds
Sand cast aluminium moulds, such as the Do-It Essential series, offer a more affordable alternative to CNC machined moulds while still providing a high level of detail. These moulds are injection moulds, meaning they produce fully round baits and require a liquid plastic injector for use.
Wood and Clay Moulds
For a truly handmade approach, you can create a master out of wood and then make a silicon open-pour mould from that. Alternatively, you can shape the lures you want to copy out of clay, pour a mixture over them that will harden to metal, and even create your own injection port and air channels within the mould.
No matter which method you choose, creating your own DIY soft plastic lure moulds can be a rewarding experience that allows you to customise your fishing experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Some companies that sell DIY plastic worm molds include Barlow's Tackle, Do-It Molds, and Bugmolds.
DIY plastic worm molds can be made from materials such as sand cast aluminum, CNC-milled aluminum, and RTV silicone rubber.
Using a DIY plastic worm mold allows you to create custom soft plastic baits that are tailored to your specific needs and preferences. It can be a fun, affordable, and rewarding experience for anglers who want to make their own lures.
There are various types of DIY plastic worm molds available, including injection molds, open-pour molds, CNC molds, and cast injection molds. Each type offers different levels of detail, durability, and affordability.
In addition to the mold, you will need a liquid plastic injector and other materials such as plastic, pigments, glitter, and attractants.
