Jump to content
A-Mac

bubbles in featherlite

Recommended Posts

Yup... thats right, yet another featherlite question. So I've been trying to pour up a swimbait (about 5" long) but I'm running into troubles w/ bubbles/craters in the casted sections. I try to be as careful as possible to not inject bubbles (which is a challenge w/in itself) and have tried different techniques to try and get rid of them. However, my options are starting to run thin. Any ideas? Also, is there anything that I can fill in the holes w/ so I don't waste a lure? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A-mac

I pour a the mold a quarter full then tilt the mold in all directions till i see some in the vent holes them i pour the rest in the mold this should take care of your problem otherwise you need better vent holes

When i pour another blank i take a toothpick with the left over plastic that's in the cup and fill any holes

K.C.

Edited by K.C.K.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The best way to remove the bubbles is a vacuum chamber.

I did not own such a beasty, so what I did was to spread the mix up the sides of the mixing cup, with a regular butter knife or spatula, rotating the cup as I go. This thins out the mixture and exposes all the air bubbles.

Because my mix was very thick, I then transferred the mix to an icing syringe and injected into the mold.

This method did not get rid of all the bubbles, but did greatly reduce them.

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks guys. i'm gonna give that quarter full deal a shot. I had a feeling it would just be one of those things that takes a lot of time and a paycheck worth of guess-n-test to get the technique down. Since my bait has 2 hinges and is only 5" long (including a hinged tail) there are a couple narrow areas, especially around areas that are slotted for microfibetts (which is where my bubble problems are poppin up). I'm gonna do a couple pours over the next few days... I'll make a post if something seems to work well.

Plan on making a trip to illinois to fish a powerplant lake this weekend! Bad thing is, its suppose to be -12 tonight at Purdue! Its all good though, I hear there hittin' trick worms :yeah: and maybe a proto gill bait ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going to be going through all these learning curves myself soon and your thread has been very helpful. I want to be able to make my own baits as well as having Danny make them. God forbid if anything happened where he was unable to make me baits I'd be screwed without being able to do them myself too! :eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For all you guys using featherlite

You might want to give aluminite a try with micro balloons. with a 1 to 1

mix 100% resin to 100% MB it is still very flluid and pours well. gives you great floater baits. 125% to 75% gives you a nice slow sink and 150% to 50% a sinker all with the same ballast mixing in the MB is not as bad as you might think I just pour behind a fan and I get no exposure to the MB it is so light any drift gets sucked thru the fan Just a thought it might solve some of your problems

K.C.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

should be by volume, due to the usage of MB :)

A-Mac

if you post a pic of your castings (showing the bubble area) and mold as well mybe we can tell better.

is it a two part mold or cuttet block mold?

btw: if the mold is rotated during casting, often you will have a bubble free surface, but the lure might not be "solid", cause some bubbles can get caught beneath the thin layer of resin on the surface.

Edited by dramone
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i never tryed to heat the mold, but i guess featherlite will get warm or even hot when it cures...at least the pu-resin i use does (exotherm reaction). so a heated mold could speed up the curing process, witch does not help to get rid of bubbles.

to extend the pot life of pu-resin, try a retarder, but it does not make the mix more fluid, or "breather" (sorry, dont know the english terminus technicus) to gain more time to "move" the mold, if you have a ventilation problem.

(a small amount of mix will not kick off as fast as a huge pot)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a "vibrating table" could help a litte, but as far as i found out during the past years, a bubble free resin casting depends more on, air vent placement, mold sprue placement, mold angel while casting etc. (cause its in some way a "closed system" exept for vent an sprue)

if air has no chance to escape due to "sharp" mold "angels" where air can be traped, vibrating does not help.

Edited by dramone
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...


×
×
  • Create New...
Top