njrfishing

I use this type of gloves the fit tight to your hands, and when some plastic comes in contact you feel some heat but it doesn't burn your skin,all I do is wipe the plastic off with a cloth.

I've only made a few plaster molds and I do the sanding or finishing touches when the mold is completely cured and harden because I find it's too brittle and easer for the plaster to break when it's not completely cured.

they look great, I only wish I was able to take a close up photo like yours, How did you set up the camera used.

They look the same but have a different heat elements inside, if you use a lead pot to heat plastic you will end up burning your plastic creating a lot of smoke and a really bad smell.

Sorry I haven't replied back but I seem to be haveing a hard time navigating throught this site, it takes sometime like 3 minutes just to pick a thread to read it and then 3min to go back to the main menu. I don't know if it's my computer but doesn't seem to happen on other site(seems to work faster when less people are on this site) I'm sorry my picture makes it difficult to make it out(I suck at takeing up close photos).But what I did was mix the pop in a container and poured it into a smaller container and then I pushed the baits into the plaster.The small(Goby type) is just over 2in that I carved out after the plaster was cured with my dremel and some fine sand paper. I use that mold to pour into and then remove the plastic baits out of it.

Thanks for the positve coments.Nova you are correct when I took it out still warm and layed it straight it remained straight.(didn't have a bigger container) Also played with this one,what do you think? Hope the smallies at St.Clair love it.

These are some picks from my first pop mold.I'll have to remember that it hardens very quick. Still need some practice.

Be carfull when melting plastic bates if your not sure of the type of plastic in them they may give off toxic fumes, you should try to find out what type of chemicals are in them first, some baits are made from a rubber type compound and are very difficult to remelt. Make sure your in a well ventallated area and a good resperator wouldn't hurt. Safety First.

I was thinking of modifying a silicone mold I have by filling the areas with clay that I didn't want the plastic to flow into but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

I get the same problem, I find that if I get a hot thin stream and pour it along the side of the metal rod then I get a better % of good tubes But I've haven't mastered it yet. Good luck I hope this helps, let us know if it does.

I finally had a chance to take some pictures of the clay molds i'm working on,unfortunatlly it broke when I tried to sand it to shape next time I will try to shape it when it's still soft.I hope these come through ok. The paddle tail is 6inch and the small one is about 2inch. Also I have a question? can you pour your plastic into or onto someting thats made of clay? will it take the heat of the plastic?

Thanks for the info, I spent some more time with the clay mold last night and again was getting frusterated but I think I'll try working on smaller sections and putting them together to complete what I need for my sample.The only problem now is to find some time so I can complete it and try to get some pictures on here. Thanks again for all your help,(practice makes perfect),should have payed more attention in art class. Back to the drawing boards.

First off thanks to all for the info on pop molds I've spent several hours reading the info, unfortunatly some of the older threads lost the pictures including some of the tutorials. What I'm trying to make first is a clay sample of the bait that I will use to make into the pop mold(I'm trying to make this bait from a drawing. I made it similar to a bait a friend had about 10 years ago that he said its not pruduced any more).I'm having a problem completing the details on the clay mold, I tried to sanding it when it was dry,and use some tools to try and carve it into shape but it all ways breaks on me. Is it better to put all the details while the clay is soft? Is there any other way to make this clay sample? How many others here have done this? Its been frustrating trying to make this bait from scratch.Any tips would greatly help???

I use Hyflex foam gloves they fit snug and have the finger tips and pawm of the glove are dipped in a rubber type product. They have saved my hands from burns all I do is wipe off any plastic with a cloth or rag. I hope the picture comes out ok.

Lee makes 2 types of melting pots one for lead and one for plastic, if you use the lead one to melt plastic you'll burn your the plastic because it has a different heat element inside that creates more heat. I use a lee pot and mix the plastic with a thin metal spoon upside down but I have to stirr very often when using salt and or glitter.