Patterns?

For those that turn plugs by hand, not with a duplicator....
Do you use a pattern to guide you / check the profile? And if so, what do they look like? Is there a shoulder on the ends of the pattern?
I'm not looking for specific plug profiles, just the design of the pattern itself.
I made up a few today for some styles I plan to turn, but after finishing the patterns I'm not sure they're gonna work.

This is a good question. I am interested in what other people do. Me I struggled a lot with that I used a caliper and made a few wood jigs that never worked real well. It did not take me long to go out and buy a duplicator. I am sure some people have a good eye for it with a lot of practice.

When I do free hand, I just take a few measurments..length ,head and tail, the rest I do by eye.


Bluesfish :..............

Do everything freehand, that's the fun of it, never know how it will end up ???? Some of the plugs I like the best are mistakes, messed up trying to dupe some other plug.

I TURN FREE HAND FOR NOW USE ONLY CALIPERS WHAT'S IS .015 OR .020 IN WEIGHT THE FISH DON'T KNOW .( POPPY )

freehand for me and by eye

freehand turning......use your imagination to guide your tools to shape a certain profile. It's what makes it more challenging and lots of fun, To me, the best part of blug building is the shaping of the lure bodies by freehand turning, whether it be pikies, dannies, poppers...etc.

I'm an engineer. Engineers are basically control freaks. Minimum I would be using a profile plate, but duplicator all the way for me.

Dave