Pop Posted April 23, 2005 Report Share Posted April 23, 2005 I use MF plastic which is very soft. If I use hardner, will it be the same as using saltwater plastic or is saltwater plastic different and better to use for saltwater baits. Thanks, Pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siebler_custom_baits Posted April 23, 2005 Report Share Posted April 23, 2005 shoulde be the same. using saltwater plastic is a prefference, i use calhorn with hardner for swims Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 Pop, You can also try the "Formula #500" from Lurecraft. With this plastic, no hardener is needed. Try the link below and click on the "Plastics" button: http://www.lurecraft.com/catalog.htm Has anyone tried Del's new tube plastic which is supposed to be harder than the regular soft-hand plastic? Any thoughts about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbass1 Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 I've got some of Del's tube plastic. It is much tougher than regular plastic. The only problem I've had with it is it scorches real easy, if you don't watch it close. But it does pour a good tough bait, I use if for my flippin' baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 That's what I've discovered about most of the harder plastics. If you're used to cooking a more softened plastic (as I am), it's easy to burn the stuff because you expect it to thin out just as quickly. It takes more time and patience (something I lack considerably ). You also need to stir a little more, and a touch of heat stabilizer doesn't hurt either. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbass1 Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 Patience what is that? Is it a California thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 Patience what is that? Is it a California thing? I learned how to live without patience when I moved to California. You'll never make it in this state with patience. :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbass1 Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 I thought that everyone in Cali were real laid back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted April 25, 2005 Report Share Posted April 25, 2005 I thought that everyone in Cali were real laid back! Texasbass1, You are getting confused with Arizona! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Don't forget there are 2 Californias as well. The south got all the impatient people, the north got all the layed back people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigZ Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 We haven't completed our secession from LA yet...LoL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 I decided to give Calhoun's tube plastic a try and ordered a 5-gallon bucket from Del in order to avoid the cost of buying hardener with the regular Calhoun hand pour plastic. Even though I still had some regular plastic left, I had no hardener. After reading some comments about how tough this plastic was and that it was even compared by Del as being the same as LC's Formula #500 for salt water (which I have tried before), I was a bit concerned that my plastics would be too hard and that they would scorch easily too. I had already in my possession a gallon of softener from some time ago which I prefer to use than hardener, and about 3/4 of a gallon of stabilizer, so I thought I was set and ready for whatever plastic order came my way. Just a couple days ago I received an order for 200 sweet beaver-type baits which I should finish today after work, so I thought this was a great opportunity to test the new tube plastic. I went to Home Depot and bought the "squirrel mixer" to make sure that my plastic was thoroughly mixed, and with this new tool I would get rid of any doubts as to whether it was my fault for the plastic being too hard or too soft due to not mixing it properly, and I have to say that I really mixed the *#&*%$# of out that bucket for about 10 minutes and proceeded to distribute the plastic to smaller, more manageable containers, BELIEVE ME, after having struggle for about 10 minutes to take the lid off there was no way I was going to seal that bucket again to open it up later on another day and get another unwanted workout. I would keep mixing the plastic after every distribution was made until the entire bucket was empty so I'm sure that the plastic was really mixed. My first impression was that the plastic was not as thick as the formula #500 from LC and that I probably did not need softener after all, so I decided to risk two cups of plastics and make my first 50 baits of the order. I did add stabilizer for piece of mind though. The results were favorable. The tube plastic is just a bit tougher than the regular "hand pour" plastic to where I was content with the end result. No hardener is needed to make flipping baits in my opinion, but it isn't nearly as tough as LC's formula #500. In conclusion, the tube plastic is great to make baits a bit tougher than the regular Calhoun, but if you are into making baits for salt-water fishing or if you want tougher baits, my opinion is that hardener is still in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Us kayakers think alike Will! I ordered a one gallon bucket of tube plastic a few weeks ago and poured a number of swimbaits. I love the tube plastic and I think it is perfect for my personal use. If I was pouring for customers I might add a little hardener but I think it is fine without it. I am pouring a bunch of swimbaits for a friend this weekend and I will probably just pour them straight up, nothing added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Did you make your own swim bait molds? Pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Pop, I made some molds from some swimbaits I had around. I am working on a new tail design but it is not finished yet. Swimbaits are great to pour and mold, nice and flat on one side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 sj_bill, Glad to find another Kayaker. Could you post some pics of your swimbaits? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Sure I am pouring some this week and will snap a few pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
