[cavu]

I am sure you "old timers" can give me a quick heads up on pouring the melted plastic for soft baits. I know it will take time to develop a smooth technique, but I seem to be having a particularly difficult time. Here is what I am doing to practice:

Melting old worms I have to 325 degrees using a thick bottomed SS 2 quart pot. Pot has a pouring spout.

The molds I am using are resin molds produced by M.F. Manufacturing Co., 2.5 & 3.5 shrimp baits.

Do you all pour from a pot this large? I seem to be having a hard time "staying between the lines"!

Although pouring soft baits is new to me, "Making stuff" is not. I,m 57 years olds, have been tying flies and bass bugs all my adult life. I make rods, pour lead things and build about anything I need to. I usually find that with anything new I try, there are always a few tricks that make it easier.

Any advise, or tips on equipment you all have will be appreciated.

Thanks, Capt Mike

ps: Do large amounts of Tequlia effect one's ability to pour hot plastic?

[deadlystreamer]

Hey cavu,
I don't pour hot plastic myself, but the plastic would be better if you mixed the Tequlia in it. You just might have have yourself a best seller in the plastic business. Everyone will buy your plastic..

I can see it now.. Tequlia flavored worm

[kidlizard]

Although I think you may be onto something with the Tequila thing, lets try to get you going a little easier.

First off, starting with old worms can be more difficult than starting with new plastisol. I would suggest you pick up a gallon to start out with even if you are not going to get any dye. The reason is adding just a little bit to your plastic chunks makes the melting go more smoothly. Kinda gets it wet and eazy to mix. (you could pick up a gallon from Del)

Now, I started out with a burner and pots, but this can be very tricky. The metal and heat can be hard to control. So I quickly switched to pyrex cups and a microwave!!! This makes things alot easier. Start with a cup crammed full of old worms (clean worms) and use 1 minute increments until you are melted. A popsickle stick or something wooden works best for stirring because it doesnet conduct heat. This should bring you to al little over half a cup of melted plastic (or half the container size) Never go over half the container size because it makes controlling the flow of plastic more difficult. This should help you stay between the lines. Before you know it, you will have the hang of it and addicted to it until you have purchased every freaking color and flake imaginable. Then you start making your own molds, go crazy and try to start your own business...etc etc etc.......(well at least thats what happened to me).

All joking aside, the people here can help you with just about anything. Alot of these guys do really awesome work and we are glad you have joined the plastic making gang here. Welcome and good luck!

John

[dtrs5kprs]

I think tequila is flammable, but I really don't remember.

[cavu]

John, thanks for the advise. I'm going to go upstairs and swipe one of my bride's pyrex cups and give it a try. I bought a gallon of plastic when I ordered the molds, so I'm good there. Let you know if it helps.

And Dave, your right. Tequilia is flamable, thats why I mix it with fresh squeezed orange juice. Makes it less volitile, and it gives the plastic a swell texture with all the little pieces of orange pulp mixed in!

(after all the mixing, there is always a little left, so.......................)

Capt Mike

[Senkosam]

Kidlizard has given you the same advice I'd have given about using the microwave. When it comes to heating up any plastic, zap in short bursts (20 seconds on high power) until it pours like half & half and stir well with a popsicle stick, otherwise you'll get clumps.

Go to a supermarket or a kitchen suppy store (Lechmere's) and pick up the smallest pyrex cup you can find(i.e. 1 cup). It's easier to pour from and keep the plastic hot with. Later you can go larger if you have many molds to pour into. A Lee Production pot is the ultimate device to pour many worms of the same color, but it has it's difficulties.

If the plastic you got in the gal. is cheap (Lurecraft or 3-g) be careful about searing the stuff. The smoke and smell is horrendous and the color will be amber tinted rather than pure. Also, small black chunks will form and look like hell, as well as causing inconsistent texture. If it happens, throw it out and start again.

Remelting old plastic is fine except all the salt or sand will settle quickly to the bottom for old worms that contain either. There are sooo many lures that contain either substance, that if you pour the remelted plastic without adding a few drops of hardener, the plastic will be 50% softer. It's very difficult to keep the salt suspended, especially if the lure company used coarser salt versus powdered salt.(i.e Zoom)

Heat stabilizer works great and really does insure brighter florescent colors at higher temps (you don't need much). (Note: Never use the glitter sold in the craft stores, unless it is metal glitter - it'll melt and the color will streak.) The metal glitter Lurecraft sells is fine for microwaves and of good quality, plus economical versus M-F.

Important to remember: the more fluid the heated plastic, the thinner a curly tail or other fine details and the less likely to get air bubbles when pouring a 2-part mold. My Fat Alberts came out great two days ago and caught bass and picks yesterday in Zoom's new color, Margarita. Use them on a long shank jig and hold on!

Sam

[Mattlures]

when you pour have your molds on a counter about belly level and have your left forearm slide across the edge of the counter holding your right rist as you hold the cup and pour with your right hand.
also the softer the plastic the easier it pours.
and I prefer a pyrex cup about the size of a coffie cup, the little ones dont stay hot long enough
Matt

[cavu]

I thank everyone for the info. I have found just about everything you have said is true.

I have managed to pour a few nice shrimp baits in two different sizes, ands even added glitter to a batch.

Just when I thought I was getting the hang of it, I think I scorched some plastic. I knew something was up when my nice green color kept getting darker, and finally brown. Now for shirmp, thats not so bad, but I was trying to control the green color.

It looks like an 8 oz pyrex cup is going to be about right for me, but with the old microwave I have, it is difficult to heat the plastic to 325 decrees without over cooking it.

I'm going to purchase a few additives next. Maybe the heat stabalizer will help.

[cavu]

Just a quick note. I read somewhere on one of the forums that someone was using Johnsons baby oil for worm oil, so while at WalMart last nite I picked up a bottle. I just noticed that when I pour a shrimp (only molds I have) that has had the mold inside coated with oil, the plastic flows into the mold and up into the shallow end of the mold much better!