Mercury

Personaly I still leave the weekend for family, But durring the week Im working like a dog. If you cant take a break, like skeeter said your work suffers. I feel lucky that I have a 2nd shift job, I do most of my pouring when I get home and its not as hot, usualy the humidity is lower as well. But not always.

I would recomend working with the plastics in a well ventalated area. Using a microwave is better than using a burner/stove. If you are only going to pour 5-6 baits, the silicone mold would do well for that. And wont take you verry long.

SR, Do you have a print shop do the labels or do you get the stock for it then print it yourself? I havent seen clear labels, So just curious. Jeff

The thing is I was rigging my craws with a doubble hook, I was thinking of doing the same thing with the frog/ mouse. The mats here in IL are getting thick and I know are holding bass. several lakes nearby are holding lillypads in the coves. I was looking for some killer action this way. Chris, were you using a hollow bait?

Well a safe bet would be bubblegum, 6 oz plastic, 5 drops red, 10 white, and mix well. Turn this into cotton candy by adding red and blue glitter. .....

Nice to have someone around that builds rods. we do have questions now and again on this. Welcome........

Who here makes a mouse/frog that they use for weed mats/lillypads? Im looking at starting a mouse/frog tube that still floats, is weedless for the bass in the deep mats.

Yes, but some of us have colors that we wouldnt part with. But we do have some affects that we think look cool. 6 oz of 536, 10 drops of motor oil, add medium black flakes, and fine red and fine blue flakes. Killer drop shot worms,

ITs like 7/8th round. verry thin flat spot. Thats why I am not using it. I bought del's 112.00 5.25" sinko mold. So to me its of no use.

just stay away from sea salts, and your going to be ok, Use a blender or food processor, it makes it more fine and will stay suspended longer,

DEL- is the only one that has good 2 part molds, but the L-C molds are one piece. I have a 4" senko mold for sale from L-C. 7.00, used only once..... If starting out, this is a cheeper way than spending 80.00+ for a senko mold.

Microwave is faster, Just use a pyrex cup. Burners a: take longer, b: need aluminum pans for best operation, c: seem to scourch the plastics faster if not attended to. You really have to baby sit the burners. Oops, almost forgot, D: SMOKES a ton!

Dyes wont go bad really, They settle, and need to be mixed, But as long as it does not evaporate its fine. With Lure Crafts dye, you can add worm oil to it to replace the carrier in it, or thin down the dye if need me. Chuck would not state a price and said they would be carying it for resale soon. But a gallon would keep all of the plastics guys going for quite a while.

Calhoun will also be dealing with dyes shortly. But you have to buy it by the gallon. Price, unknown. But its somthing to look forward to.

If your lucky enough to have one (or more ) of dels molds watch the top pour hole. The liquid plastic will sink into the bait as it cools. When you see it starting to lower just top it off. After you pour several baits. Stir the plastic again, This will keep the salts from setteling. If you are using a hot pot watch for fire ball's post. He should have eitehr plans or the actual device for stirring the plasitc/salt mix while pouring.

I dont remembeer if I put it here or not, but the krylon "fusion" plastic paint that "bonds" to the plastic will not "bond" to our plastics. It does well on the plastic lawn chairs, but it will not cure on our plastics. Tis a shame too, they have tons of purdy colures.......

Back to Calhouns plastics. The ONLY drawback that I have found is that when fully cooked it is not as thin as lure crafts. I have some smaller baits to pour and with lurecrafts 536 it pours well when hot into the small detailed areas of the mold. Calhouns did not. But Chris and I are working this bit out. A side by side test of 356 and calhouns hand poured show verry little diffrence in action. But the actual softer bait was the 536. Going to add softener to the mix here shortly and see if that will thin it down to get into the smaller cavitys. Other than that the plastic does not smell anything like LC's, is cost effective, and good value. Oh one other thing. It is also clearest plastic I have used so far. With out scents applied, the pearl whites are brighter as well as the florescent colors than lure crafts plastics.

Hey FBL, Looks like Chris and I will be going "head to head" so to speak. We are both in review for next months issue. ........ BTW, anything happen with new orders popping up?

Soft plastic, salt, color, and somthing to cook it with, I perfer a microwave and pyrex cup, but others do use pots. Cook the salt and plastic, then add color, and pour. Thats about it. Just pour slow and on one side of the mold. It will fill to the top with no trapped air (bubbles) Takes a little bit to get used to, but does well. Jeff

His review was in the newsletter. Good article. Even said it was a s good as yamamoto's and had more flexability!.

The M-F plastics also have molds, But they usualy are 2 per mold. Lure craft has they all the way up to 6 per mold. This way you can crank out more of them at a faster rate.

I have sold both the 4.25 and 5.25" THe 4.25 is used more often in the midwest and is requested more thean the larget baits. I have even had requests for them clost to 2". (dont ask me why) I would go for the 4.25. Less people buy the BIG baits, But they are nce to have too. Dels workmanship is A+, even his other molds made out of aluminum are killer. THe reaper also does well.

http://www.fishingworld.com/M-F-Manufacturing/ (for pop) Oh hey Chris, I need to talk to you for a few. PM me and let me have your PH# please. got a few Q for ya. I have to go to work today, So can I call you tomorrow? As for Lori. Hmmm, couldnt tell ya. I dont care for dave myself, Too much of a smart a$$, But when I talk to lori things seem to get done and done correctly. Jeff

yeah, after cooking your plastic dont get it on your skin. It will peel off( your skin that is) and make you say some not so nice words........ The microwave is super fast for cooking the plastic, get a pyrex cup. 1 cup does well. wal mart had more microwaves for 30.00. I now use automotive work gloves to protect my hands from any heat or mis haps with plastics. Lure craft has better molds in my opinion , but for a few $$ more Del-Mart also has worm and creature molds that will not wear out. He is also one of the nicest guys to deal with even if things dont go right. He makes it right and treats you with respect. I will say that lure craft did the same thing. lori re sent the molds that I ordered over a week ago after they mailed them to a wrong address. I personaly like working with Lori better than dave. She lets you know what is out of stock right when you order it. Talk to Chuck at Calhouns, Really nice guy and handles the accounts for hand pouring. most people here will point you in the right direction. Not many attitudes here.

The metal plates being fitted together and matching the cavity as well as his fits even with a single cavity it wouldnt drop the price much. I think lure craft might have a bigger one, But i wont guarantee it. They also have a online catalog too, you can look in the mold list their. Jeff