GB GONE

I can't find a way to delete my PMs, just conversations. Email is working fine but sent you a PM. I will try to make contact with Spike It today for any ideas as I can't believe they would not test a hand pour product in the microwave prior to putting it out there. I tried another microwave with settings last night also. Lowered setting to low, cooked at 20 second intervals, BUBBLES.... Pot is the only way for this stuff. Jim

Has nothing to do with being in a hurry for sure. I cooked at 30 second intervals to get it clear. Tell me how to go any slower and still be able to get things done??? I have used only 3 brands since I started pouring. Calhoun's because I didn't know any better, then M-F and LC. With the later 2, I don't have to adjust my process to the plastic, it adjusts to my system. Pricing and service is extremely attractive and that is why I looked at it. It will cost more in time to use so savings is not there. PS The first time I bought the de-aired, there were so many bubbles it was beyond belief. I was called some pretty interesting names. Was told it was this and I didn't know what I was doing, etc. Come to find out (or at least this is the story), the stuff I got was filled with air as the person at the factory had the machine on backwards. Pumped air into the plastic according to the story. Now that was bubbles.... Jim

Received my "hard" pourasol..... To say I am FRUSTRATED, UNHAPPY with the process of heating this plastisol is an understatement. I have heated this stuff in 30 second increments and in a long increment to clear stage. Both equal MILLIONS of micro bubbles. I am wasting about 10 minutes per cup, just getting to the usable state (most microbubbles gone). I guess this stuff is not for the microwave. 5 gallons hard and 5 gallons medium for sale....... cheap.... Jim

Sorry to say I only tested the medium and not soft. Just from judging, I would say that the Lureworks pourasol soft is going to be the closest in softness to M-F ss. Lurecraft's super super soft is not as soft for sure as the M-F ss. Chemionics if soft as well but the baits took a little to long to set up for my liking. If we could get a complete list of the shore of each type of plastisol, we might be able to judge from that rating. Not sure if all the manufacturers will give this or have it readily available. I can tell you this: From Bruce @ Lureworks..... "Medium has a shore 00 of 27 and soft is 20." Jim

OK, I ordered my 5 gallons of medium Pourasol on Tuesday and it was at the shop by Wednesday!!! WOW!!! Cannot beat that! I cooked 8oz last night and will cook more tonight. I will need to add some hardener to mine as it is a little soft compared to both LC 502 and M-F medium. Cooked a cup in the microwave for 2 mins 8 secs as I do all others. Plastic is about the same in smoke generated as LC or M-F, fumes are similar to LC, less than M-F. There were thousands of micro bubbels however and that is not good for my production needs with a microwave as my primary heat source. They may have been from the shipping though so I will cook another cup or 2 tonight. I really like the 2.5 gallon jugs. There was a thin layer of "soft pack" that was easily mixed from a quick scraping. Resulting baits do have more of a "plastic" odor than that of LC or M-F. Very low oil of resulting baits after left on paper towel overnight. Also, baits set up real well right out of the molds. No stickyness at all. For the money, I doubt this plastisol can be beat. I am sure that I will want to add some hardener for my flipping and swim baits or blend the medium and hard. I also think that when I use my pot, the micro bubble issue will not occur. When I cook my cups tonight, I will try shortening the heating cycle but for production purposes, I don't want to have to toy with it. As to the hardness question, the shore can always be compared however this medium pourasol feels like it is between LC's 502 (soft as they call it) and 536 (super-soft as they call it). Hope this helps!!! Jim

With all the frustrations being heard, I still think the mold selection and service is good. Like both Dave and Bob mentioned, if you don't outline what you expect, you are going to be dissapointed as the other party has no idea of your expectations. This includes molds, designs, files, etc. Don't expect people to be mind readers. I have dealt with all the mold makers available, except Jacob's, and have been happy with the products I have received and the time frame I have received them. I have never expected to go to a mold maker with an idea or sketch and hoped to come away with a large, multi-cavity mold for $100. We all get paid for our expertise in our areas and should expect to pay these guys. Additionally, I don't expect a ccustom mold to be in my hands in a week. 4-6 weeks sounds more reasonable. Just like with custom baits being made, you aren't the only person looking for something custom. The line forms and you get in it or not. Also, be flexible with your design. Some things can be done but may add hundreds on to the mold cost. Eliminating or slightly changing the design can reduce machine time and reduce the costs. I can speak for one mold maker that I have talked with on pricing. He tries to place the bait in the mold several ways and then runs the mold several way to help reduce the machine costs. He absorbs all these costs on the front end prior to putting the mold out there. You probably will pay for that with another individual. Good luck going out there and find others but to me, having the relationship with a local person or a trusted source is worth a few extra bucks for me. I know what I am going to get when I order from Del, Kevin, Bob, Jason, etc.... Jim

Hope the medium is not like soft as that will be to soft... Might have to get hardner then.... Darn!!!! My 5 gallons is on the way! I just don't see hardener as an option to buy seperate. Hmmm. Hope I don't have to custome blend medium and hard as an "LC soft" won't cut it for swimbaits. Jim

He may not be but you may be able to shop the project around and someone will be interested. my ovriding point was that it will not be cost prohibitive for you to get molds in your bait design unless it is just over the top. More like hundreds vs thousands. I would get "in-line" now though as these guys make money by staying busy. They don't plan for free time. Jim

I don't think it was very expensive at all. I had a bait idea and sent it off to Kevin @ Basstackle.com. Got a prototype and many 2 cavity molds. Molds were around $120 each. Thing might have changed since last year but unless you are looking at a very large mold, I doubt you will get into the thousands. You can add molds to your collection as you can afford them once the design has been established. Jim

Ditto!!!!! I agree 100%. I am not interested in wholesale or lowering my pricing. The margins are very low right now. Why sell your products for less if you can get full price???!!!!!!! Jim

Yes, congrats!!!! Good to see a fellow peer get recogonized!!!! Keep up the great work and thanks for the super service every time! Jim

If you do as Frank described, you will get the desired effect. Just that simple..... Jim

Nope..... I can't change signature lines either.... Jim

Just my thoughts but you should not have to stand on your head, spin around three times and all that to get your plastic heated without micro bubbling. Waiting for bubbles or cooking slower affects production adversely. Jim

Good to know as I am in GA as well. That would be a BIG plus for me!!!! On the pigment side, they supply the base for all the pigments that others are selling out there. Going to the source makes sense. Jim

I also would suggest you try M-F and Lurecraft if you are testing all plastisol products. Spike It/Lureworks has good pricing and lots of things in the works. I am keeping a good eye on their website. Jim

Depends.... If you are going to do laminates, reduce the # of cavities and go with 2-3 cavity molds. You laminates will be more consitent with the fewer cavities. If you are going for a single color everytime, go with the larger mold. Jim

Keep in mind that whatever comes out will have to be able to do just 2 colors, with the option of 3 or 4. Otherwise, it will not sell in my opinion. I am like minded with Frank on this. 80-90% of the baits I make with injection are 2 color laminates with 5% 3 colors and 5% single colors. 3 colors are starting to advance now though. The market may not support the time it takes to make the product. I am going about it in a completely different manner. Jim

I do on my baits but I have seen PLENTY out on the market that don't care. Fish definitely don't care though. Same goes with curled glitter and burned smelling baits from high heat hand injection. Quality can come from either technique when care is taken. Without question hand pouring can do 3, 4 and more colors easily and reliably. Also you can alter the "head" color of a bait without opening the mold and cutting the bait and then re-injecting the bait. To time consuming when you can do it all at once with hand pouring. All the tougher stuff takes time to learn and practice though and most want a quick and easy way. Nothing wrong with that but very hard for most to comment on the hand pouring side if you have not been successful at the tough pours. Inserts can help on the molds as that is a far more simple solution. Stayed tuned as I know there are more things in the works. Fish may not care at all though...... Jim

As I expected Frank. I have several easy solutions to the issue right now rather than stacking blending block on blending block. Still time consuming but less moving parts. My other brain (10 yr old son) looked at it months ago and told me how to do it. I am working on it in resin now and then will move to aluminum with any success. Then to mold maker for all to use.... Just can't shake loose from all the orders to get any playing around. Jim

Also, you would face the issue of how to get plastic into the injectors if they are so close together. Jim

Yeah my point ws that it could be done but is it really something you are going to do everyday and are you going to do it without getting burned or a blending block dropped on your foot. Moving from mold to mold is a bugger!!!!! Also, repeating the bait reliably is tough. I can see getting a few off this way but run 500-1000 and see what kind of four letter words you have. A 3 channel block with a center injector of a small bore would be a nice addition as that could be the "vein" color and if made to inject at the same time but made of a smaller bore, the vein size would be small compared to the outside colors.... Kevin???? Jim

So possible but not really a production consideration at its current state. I would LOVE to see that video being made in a similar fashion that Frank has done. Something like 300 3 or 4 color baits made with the multiple blending block set-up. Then a good picture with the resulting baits. Jim

2 colors are made easy with the Basstackle.com blending block and corresponding injectors. Really makes laminates a no brainer. The injectors are attached so if you depress one side, the other is depressing as well. Gives 99% successful results. It is also easy to manipulate as the injectors are attached together as one piece. Jim