From what I have seen lying on the floor in my buddies boat, the o-ring starts to dig into the stick and looks like it will cut it in half. I don't know if there is a reaction between the o-ring and the plastic bait or if the tension of the stretched o-ring starts to compress the plastic but it was necking it down quiet a bit.
From what I can see, it is a paint roller frame with the shaft diameter modified to go into the hole in the center of the blade. Washers space the blades apart. Check it out in this thread.
http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10112&highlight=tail+cutter
If it bothers you, you can try to control it by careful monitoring of temperature. I found MF plastic to get to my preferred level of "thinness" at a lower temperature than Calhoun or Lurecraft so I can pour at a lower temp.
Elmer's glue-all is what has been discussed on this forum. I use it mixed with about 1/3 water. 50/50 has been popping up in recent posts and I am going to try that next.
I mixed a 2 0z batch and put 1/4 teaspoon of coffee in it at the same time as my color. Heated it to 300, added glitter and continued to 340. It worked fine.
How hot did you get it?
MF Manufacturing has a mold similar to what you are looking for. It may be easier for you to buy a mold and pour your own.
http://www.fishingworld.com/M-F-Manufacturing/Details.tmpl?ID=981847157125699&Cart=120207999835220431&SKU=ST
I would think if you dip it in clear, over the "paint", it would hold in the PVC glue taste or scent.
I have been thinking of using PVC glue in the same manner and I can see adding acetone but what is the purpose adding the MEK?
I think .035 is probably the most common but something like watermelon red is poured with multiple sizes like .035 black and .015 red. The beauty of pouring your own is you don't have to go with what is popular. Experiment and you find you can make some interesting looking baits.
I poured some glitter in the mold when I poured a jet black worm. I wanted to reduce the amount of glitter hidden by the black color. I didn't like the glitter stuck to the surface - it was rough instead of smooth because some of the glitter was not flat.
Looking back on it, maybe a dip in clear afterwards would have been good.
Read this post - Jmik26 has it all laid out for you.
http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?p=76622#post76622
Once you try it, you will see there was no need to be nervous.
Nice bait - you seem to have figured out the painting mystery.
The guys on this forum have really come up with some nice swim baits/tubes over the last couple of months.
I use pieces of plexiglass I scavanged from work. They are 1/2 inch thick and various sizes and shapes. They are broken windows from the gearcases of our machines. I would think thinner sections would work too.
The flat side of the bait sticks to the smooth surface of the plexiglass. I put one end down on the plexiglass and extend the bait out straight. I was going to say stretch the bait out straight but you have to be careful not to pull too hard or you will elongate the bait. I don't use any oil.
The plexiglass cleans very nicely with windex.