rixon529

I have a gallon of LureCraft 60/40 blend plastic (#548) about 6 years old that was part of a 5gal bucket I broke down to 1gal jugs. Its been in my unheated garage since I got it, through temp ranges of -5F to 100F. When I broke it down I put a patch of plastic wrap over the mouth of the jug before tightly screwing on the cap. Anyone have experience using old LC plastic? Should I expect a yellowing issue if I use this next spring? Thanks in advance for any info. Rick

Here's a little more info on various materials available for mold making. Maybe old news for some, but may help others. https://hirstarts.com/casting/us.html Rick SE CT

Lm22 - a fan is a good idea. Doesn't need to be blowing 100mph AT you and your work area. I agree with Seakarp's suggestion to have a fan close to your work but PULLING air from work area and blowing AWAY from you. Also - the mask in your link should be fine. When you go for replacement cartridges, be sure to get ones for organic vapor /acid gas. Rick

It's a damn shame, but Covidiots are everywhere...

I found this helpful when I got started about 15 years ago. I understand that some things may not be as current any more, but by and large I think it's still reasonably correct and hope it offers food for thought and may help others understand things a little better. The formatting got a little messed up in spots. I tried to edit it, but it's still a little long. Sorry. Rick SAFETY There exists substantial literature from reliable sources that the basis of plastisol (PVC and phthalates) constitute significant health hazards. Usually, exposure levels are much higher in persons directly involved in the manufacturing process of PVC and related industries, but this author, in good conscience, cannot overlook or omit mention of the health concerns associated with these components. This is more than a superficial warning about the use of the basic plastic product used in this venture. By virtue of the fact that this material is used by home hobbyists in a non-industrial, unregulated, uninspectable small scale environment does not mean that it is without its risks, hazards, and cautions. PLASTISOL The material that goes into the making of a soft plastic fishing lure is called plastisol. What exactly is plastisol? The widely available plastisol used in the making of soft plastic lures is essentially polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin particles suspended in plasticizers called phthalates. The plasticizers give the PVC a high degree of flexibility. Roughly half the weight of the plastisol is the volume of phthalates used. This dispersion of PVC resin in a plasticizer forms a liquid that gels when heated then returns to a liquid state and when removed from a heat source cools and cures to a soft flexible plastic. WHY WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED Note: Center for Disease Control (CDC) Phthalates Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/Phthalates_FactSheet.html A little bad news about plastisol (PVC and phthalates). Testing and studies are currently underway for many phthalates to further define their positive and negative characteristics and whether they pose any human health risk. This is what has been defined so far: 1. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that have been linked with birth defects, reproductive problems, liver and thyroid damage and other health problems. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that some phthalates may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen. EPA has determined that some phthalates are probable human carcinogens. 2. Phthalate residues remain on the hands even after hand washing. 3. Phthalates pose a unique health threat to pregnant women – some phthalates can cross the placenta and may cause harm to the developing fetus. 4. Plastisol that is inadvertently burned due to overheating will release highly toxic chlorine gas due to the breakdown of the PVC. When chlorine gas comes in contact with moisture, it becomes hydrochloric acid! If the moisture source is wet human tissue such as your eyes, your nasal passages, or your lungs, you may contract chemical pneumonia within a matter of hours of exposure. (On a side note, the above also pertains to some polymer clays used to create mold masters. Some of these clays also contain PVC in plasticizers – usually phthalates. Always read your material packaging for details. Contact manufacturer if unclear.) PROTECT YOURSELF It is important that heating of plastisol be done in a well ventilated area. You should have a means of exhausting the air surrounding your immediate work area and a steady supply of clean fresh air. It is highly recommended that a properly fitted respirator with cartridge filters for organic gas / acid vapor be worn. WHAT WE ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM The heating of plastisol used in the manufacture of soft plastic fishing lures releases some otherwise inert chemicals in the form of vapors/fumes/gases while being heated. Typical by-products of heating are generally considered to be carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, various hydrocarbons, and small quantities of hydrogen chloride. It is these vapors/fumes/gases from which we must protect ourselves. The following excerpts are for information purposes to enable you – through education – to protect yourself and those around you from possible negative effects of the routine use of plastisol. VINYL CHLORIDE The following EPA bulletin details vinyl chloride which is a component used in the manufacture of PVC. Source: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/vinylchl.html United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Bulletin 75-01-4. Hazard Summary – Created April 1992, Revised January 2000. Most vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vinyl products. Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of vinyl chloride in air has resulted in central nervous system effects (CNS), such as dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches in humans. Chronic (long-term) exposure to vinyl chloride through inhalation and oral exposure in humans has resulted in liver damage. Cancer is a major concern from exposure to vinyl chloride via inhalation, as vinyl chloride exposure has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer in humans. EPA has classified vinyl chloride as a Group A human carcinogen. Sources and Potential Exposure Occupational exposure to vinyl chloride may occur in those workers concerned with the production, use, transport, storage, and disposal of the chemical. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997 and 1990.) Health Hazard Information Acute Effects: Acute exposure of humans to high levels of vinyl chloride via inhalation in humans has resulted in effects on the CNS (central nervous system), such as dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, and giddiness. Vinyl chloride is reported to be slightly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract in humans. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997 and 1990.) Acute exposure to extremely high levels of vinyl chloride has caused loss of consciousness, lung and kidney irritation, and inhibition of blood clotting in humans and cardiac arrhythmias in animals. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997 and 1990.) Chronic Effects (Noncancer): Liver damage may result in humans from chronic exposure to vinyl chloride, through both inhalation and oral exposure. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997 and 1990.) CNS (central nervous system) effects (including dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, visual and/or hearing disturbances, memory loss, and sleep disturbances) as well as peripheral nervous system symptoms (peripheral neuropathy, tingling, numbness, weakness, and pain in fingers) have also been reported in workers exposed to vinyl chloride. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services, Atlanta, GA. 1997.) Cancer Risk: Inhaled vinyl chloride has been shown to increase the risk of a rare form of liver cancer (angiosarcoma of the liver) in humans. (Documented by Public Health Service studies, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 1997 and 1990. Also by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hazardous Substances Data Bank, National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.) [Author’s note: The argument has been made that although vinyl chloride is a part of the making of PVC, it is not made free (airborne) during the heating process. Again, not being a chemical engineer, I cannot state absolutely that this is or is not true, but I would MUCH rather err on the side of caution than take chances and risk such huge health hazards. According to the EPA, "vinyl chloride emissions from polyvinyl chloride (PVC)… plants cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to result in an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness. Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen that causes a rare cancer of the liver."] DIOXINS Another important consideration is the fact that large quantities of dioxins have been proven to result from the incineration (burning) of PVC plastic. Since the plastisol for this hobby is often heated close to its burning point, I personally believe that some potentially hazardous chemicals are being released - such as dioxins. For this reason, the following quotes are provided from a reliable source concerning these compounds. Source: http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=12 U.S National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 DIOXINS Dioxin is a highly toxic and persistent chemical that can cause cancer. The term “dioxins” refers to a group of dioxin-like chemical compounds that share similar chemical structures. [Author's note: the “group” reference encompasses hundreds of compounds.] Most dioxins are produced through burning and other industrial activities. Major sources of dioxin emissions are incineration of waste, chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper, copper smelting, chemical manufacturing, cement kiln burning, coal-fired electricity generation, wood burning, forest fires, and backyard burning of household trash. Exposure to low levels of all dioxins can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat; headache; dizziness; fatigue; blurred vision; urinary tract disorders; muscle and joint pain; impaired muscle coordination; nausea; and vomiting. [Author's note: many of these symptoms at one time or another have been described by numerous persons involved in the heating of plastisol...] FULL VENTILATION Presuming you will be doing this activity more or less indoors (such as in a garage, or basement or in an out-building such as a shed or barn) and not year-round outside on your deck or porch, this is the first step in your personal protection. You should have a means of exhausting the air surrounding your immediate work area and a steady supply of clean fresh air. A fan blowing toward your work area is simply not enough. Be sure to have an opening of some sort in the work space area if enclosed that will allow replacement of that volume of air removed by the exhaust fan with clean fresh air. As your first line of defense, this will not only help protect you, but also those around you such as: - your wife (who may be pregnant – and may not even know it!). - your children. - your pets. (Yeah, them too!) RESPIRATOR A properly fitted (half or full facepiece) respirator with cartridge filters for organic vapor / acid gas with a P95 particulate filter should be worn. Half facepiece respirators start around $20. Be sure to get a cartridge type rated for organic vapor / acid gas. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for periodic replacement of the cartridges. Replace after a predetermined period of use (usually rated in hours) or if odors can be detected during use. Replacement cartridges are usually in the $10 range. When not in use, respirators should be stored in a reclosable (i.e. Zip-Loc®) bag. Respirators and replacement cartridges are available at many home hardware and improvement centers such as Home Depot or Lowe's, safety supply outlets such as Grainger's or McMaster-Carr, and some specialty outlets that deal in paints and chemical products. Note: A full facepiece mask will also protect your eyes. FOR GREATEST EFFECTIVENESS For the sake of the greatest effectiveness and maximum safety regarding air quality in your workplace environment, you should really consider using both full ventilation (such as a range hood vented to the outside) and a properly fitted full facepiece respirator with organic gas / acid vapor cartridges. WHY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN? Please take a minute to re-read the section quoting from the EPA Bulletin and the U.S. National Library of Medicine excerpts. Do you want to risk these health effects in yourself or in your family members (or pets)? Irritation to the eyes. Irritation to the respiratory tract (including nosebleeds and sinus infections). Dizziness. Drowsiness. Fatigue. Headache. Nausea. Vomiting. Visual disturbances. Hearing disturbances. Memory loss. Sleep disturbances. Tingling, numbness, weakness, and pain in fingers. Muscle and joint pain. Impaired muscle coordination. Loss of consciousness. Lung irritation. Kidney irritation. Urinary tract disorders. Inhibition of blood clotting. Liver damage. Liver Cancer. Granted, there are those who have poured their own soft plastics (some for many, many years) without the use of ventilation or a respirator and they SEEM to suffer no ill effects. But when you consider the long list of possibilities above, don't you think its well worth the investment of a few dollars to protect yourself - and your family?

www.del-mart.com

An individual's likes and dislikes will determine their opinion of "what brands to buy and what to stay away from".

Back to the original topic: "List of life mold companies" - fatguysfishing.com.

Not identical, but close. https://www.btsmolds.com/swim-bait/608-swim-bait https://www.btsmolds.com/swim-bait/609-swim-bait https://www.btsmolds.com/swim-bait/7-swim-bait-2-cavity

This is why I encourage members to go back and read old posts. Using a meat grinder to recycle plastics was first mentioned (according to a quick search) back in 2008 by a hobbyist turned commercial baitmaker. Rick

Nice baits, Wil. Wish my first ones looked that good. Welcome to the addiction! Rick

Hope everyone had a great Xmas & wish everyone & their families a healthy, safe, happy new year! Rick

Erick - If you go back to the original thread where JSC announced the passing of Bojon (www.tackleunderground.com/community/topic/27857-bojon), among the replies, two members said they had a copy of Bojon's DVD: Smallmouthaholic and trfishin. Maybe reach out to them? I don't know how much effort you've put into this search, but you might try researching old threads to see who Bojon communicated with and see if anyone else might have gotten a copy. It'll be time consuming, but I guess it depends on how badly you really want it... And there's no guarantee you're going to find anything. Good luck. Rick