Tubeman

I agree on the CNC molds... great detail, finish and strength. I have casted many resin type molds and have found that epoxy resins have produced the best results. They too can be dropped and won't chip or crack. I believe Repli Cast out of California makes a good resin product. Nice thing about the epoxy resins is many of them create very little exotherm when setting. I have had great success pinning baits in a large styrofoam meat tray, sprayed with a mold release agent. These resins are as expensive as hi temp silicones. The one thing I can see that this gentleman has got going for him...he can do a great job making a resin mold, that will save novices alot of time and money...and swearing. As for SR, I've only talked to him a couple of times and he's been nothing but helpful...on a sadder note the Toronto Maple Leafs choked tonight ! Oh well there always bass fishing soon !!

If you can, just mix enough for the molds you have, that will help...then again thats why I have so many Del Mart & Bobs Tackle Shack molds. The more you reheat, the more glitter bleed, gas bubbles, thickening & general discoloration will occur. Thats why hot pots reign supreme, contant temperature is the secret....and enough molds of course. Anyway, your lures looks awesome Tex. Keep it up and you'll begin to wonder about your day time job

I have a gallon of Calhouns version left. Your right about powder pigments, thats all you can use other than fine glitters. It can't be microwaved, has to be hot potted and needs to be heated to around 400 degrees to melt it down from its solid state. From there you can drop it down to 300 degrees to allow for the addition of glitters. Its pours like plastisol, you dont need injection equipment. If anyone wants the last gallon, 25 bucks + shipping will take it.

I think Bob's Tackle Shack carries a 4" lizard, email him and he will let you know if there is a 6"

You can order them with a heated valve from Rite Hete, as for the others I believe the same would apply. I would ask SR plastics for info on Sta- Warm as he pours with that brand of pot.

Spend the extra money and buy a high quality pot. Life is too short to be swearing at those Lee "Lava Making" Pots. There are a few good ones like Rite Hete, Sta-Warm Electric and Wenesco, these will last you forever. Like a good pair of waders, you'll soon forget the cost when your not thinking about leaks and getting cold feet.

Alby, its either the baits are handpoured in Cali with some serious detailing vs mass production injection baits. As far as I can figure, if those baits come from Cali, thats were the swimbait craze started because of the bass/trout forage relationship...I get stocked, therefore I get eaten ...poor trouties... Seriously though, I think if you live in the area and have fished those lakes, you know what kind of bait it takes to catch a 18-20 lb bass and guys are willing to pay big dollars. As for the rest of us, we have heard about those swimbaits and would like to try them. Not for that kind of money, thats why Storm and the other bigger companies are cashing in on the newest trend in soft plastics....swimbaits are not that new really....just a trend and they will come and go like many others.

Hide, the fellows that sold me the filters said that once you can start to really smell the plastisol, its time to change the cartridges. As you said they are inexpensive...about $10-15. I replace them every 2-3 months and I pour almost every day for 2-3 hours. I found adding the air tube/ snorkel pick ups that put the cartridges behind you make a world of differance. Most times I can't smell the odor at all. As for the monomer being filtered out while you can still smell the odor, I have no idea if they are related. I wonder what gases are released when you add salt ?? that seems to be the worst time for smogging the basement.

I agree stick with a small pot. I have a 5 gallon capacity pot and only use it for dipping tubes. As for a stirrer, I use a cordless drill and a paint mixer....you have to with 4 gallons / 1/2 gallon of salt....or you would have to be the plastisol hulk to stir it by hand

Hide, thats more info than Calhoun supplyed, thanks!!. As far as smelling a bit of the plastisol, it could be the fit of the mask around your nose...I know as it happens to me and I have to re-adjust it occasionally. I got the snorkle type fitting to run around my neck to my upper back so the cartridges would pick up fresher air. Thats makes them last longer and it is easier to breath with less air contamination. The filters can only do so much, especially when you are breathing in direct from above your work.

Glad I could help. Funny thing, its only the vapours that are harmful. Once its set, no problem.

I have the MSDS on file from Calhoun Chem Co. You guys should be aware that plastisols contain Poly Vinyl Chloride...a cancer causing agent. Although it is found in small amounts its not worth it to find 10 years down the road you got lung cancer and dont smoke . I use a twin cartridge respirator that picks up air from behind me ( this one is used by welders) Is 100 bucks worth good health yup. Also make sure you buy cartridges to filter out Organic Vapours.

oops, your right , email me at mmnabulsi@sympatico.ca. Mike.

Lurecraft # 434 is an excellent copy.

I agree, don't sell yourself short. I would ball park for 33 -35 % as thats seems to be average mark up in tackle stores for plastic. If you can create something different and promote it that way, it will give you an edge. If your using Del-Mart molds and you know how to pour correct salt ratios/plastic softness, you can be just as good as GYBC. If they dont want it, there is always someone else that will sell your product. Pick one good retailer and start with that for a year, then decide if its worth your efforts. You will have to work harder and longer to make the same dollars, but the anglers will start to recognize your label/product and likely purchase direct from you when the store runs low on stock or if they want to buy another color ect ..then you are the master of the universe

jabbtack, ck your pm. I may be able to help.

I use .62 mixed with .15 in 90 % of the baits I make. It gives the bait more color depth. Hows the glitter enterprize coming along ??

Yes, thats it....I was also putting in a shamefull plug to sell off some of my excess molds and xxx plastic Mike

Hummmm....how do I go about this without Jerry slapping me too hard....Its a great new addition for you to sell excess equipment, check it out.... Ok I did bend the rules, but hey I plugged a new section of the site Thanks, Mike

Great work Rick, theres nothing like fishermen in a buying frenzy to get you going !. Love that Brown color as well !

Clemmy, it wont get hot enough. I have gone through many ideas/trial and error. If you want to dip tubes on a small scale, get yourself a good sized microwave and a few 8 cup pyrex style bowls with the handle. You can do 30-40 tubes out of one bowl when its topped up. As salt goes you can use any you like, the finer the grain the better. We use non iodized salt as it smokes less when you first add it in. You must stir after every dip to get good salt content in the tubes. I generally reheat the bowl after every run of 40 as it gets to thick and your tubes will get too thick as well. We use Calhoun plastisols as they suspend salt a lot longer that LC. The process is quite easy, although labourious at times....we did 1200 crappie tubes last night, I was glad to see the last one done

To get your LC motor oil an actual brown color so it looks like used motor oil add LC purple and you get the actual color...you might add a bit of red after that to get a reddish tint to it.

Durometer...a durable thermometer ?? oh that was bad I have mixed my own hard/soft formulas using a base plastic (ie Calhoun Tube) then kept track in terms of how much softner is needed to create a plastic suitable for worms/jerkbaits/chunks/quiver sticks...I think I have 4 formulas set so that the bait in question always has the hardness/softness I require. This takes some time and effort as well as precise measurements, otherwise...you look like this

Sam, do you mean it will turn goopy when you remelt it or when your using it for the first time ? I have never had that happen yet. As for the softness aspect, I think it depends on the Hardener/Softner ratio. I have derived 4 different hardnesses for all the styles I make. I find my custom tube plastic is excellent for large swimbait handpours, which is what Finlander might want to consider using for those large toothly critters.