Richard Prager

The powder will burn and turn brown. It will discolor your plastic. You might find some pure Anise Oil locally if you can't get scent. That has been used for a long time and works well.

If you are looking for an alternative to powder because of cost, then read this. There is inexpensive powder paint available. http://www.tackleund...int-hey-cadman/

I think that's a great idea. Would make for some great floaters too!

Glad you posted that. Mine says the same and everybody likes me! He must have pushed the wrong button

If you absolutely have to use salt as opposed to another means in achieving sink rate, try flouring the salt in a blender. This will help with keeping the salt suspended better. The downsize is, the baits will be opaque. With such a small bait, if it's possible find another method to get the bait to sink and not use any salt at all would make pouring the bait easier. The M-F sinking soft really doesn't sink too much. Don't get me wrong, it's a great plastic which I used for sticks and flukes. It just doesn't float. It is a denser plastic that requires about 30-40% less salt you would normally use for making sticks.

I am very new at jig making but have been fooling around with the flake myself. I found the same hit or miss results with the pre-mixed pro-tec flake/powder. I think the mixed results is either because the flake is heavier than the powder or it just doesn't mix very well or evenly. Along the same thoughts as why it is hard to mix two color powders and get consistent results. I tried sprinkling on some .015 flake I had from my soft plastics and then 'flicked" some clear over it and it came out just fine. I want to try some smaller flake like .008 and see how that works. The flake I used took the heat very well. It did not discolor or curl even after curing in the oven for 20 minutes at 325 degrees. TJ's does have a clear powder without flake.

I think the only way to solve this is to have enough molds to pour out in first heating. When I was doing 4 inch swimbaits, two color pours, I'd heat 4oz each of the two colors at the same time. Pour as many bellies as I could, then top off the mold with the second color. Now these were RTV molds which are cheaper than aluminum so I had many. If you only have one mold, heat up less plastic and use the remainder to pour out into other type molds. The bottom line is, you're always going to have left over plastic and not enough molds.

Shoot Kim from Lurecraft an e-mail with a picture of that worm. I just googled a picture of it, and I'm pretty sure they have it.

Are you letting them set up for a day or two before bagging?

Most use a "medium" plastic for swimbaits Here's a link to suppliers that are members of this site http://www.tackleund...ksdb?category=1

Any automotive store.....Bondo Brand Fiberglass Resin

Sometimes you have to try different keywords when searching. Type in basstrix There are 7 pages of threads

Squigster gave you excellent advice. If you don't want to buy a new one for the house, just go to a yard sale or thrift shop and pick up a used one for a few bucks.

I think when it comes to production, it doesn't matter which or who's method of making the baits you use. Hand pour, hand inject with any of them out now...........you will still need someone to de-mold and set the molds up for you. With the molds that have the wing nuts.........all you have to do is remove them and clamp the molds together. Group hug, guys?

That's a great idea, Reef! I also know that if you can use a bit of those micro-spheres, trying calling M-F. They have a ton of that stuff they are trying to get rid of and they will make a pretty good deal!

You shouldn't have to add anything to the plastic in order for your bait to "stand up straight off the bottom". DO NOT add any salt or a ton of flake. If the bait will float without a hook, then with a hook the tail will stand straight up off the bottom. That's how I've always wanted my baits to be with the exception being sticks.

If you like, e-mail me the picture, I'll re-size it and send it back. Then you can post it. richard@152ndstreetbaits.com

As far as using pigments other than what is available from the "soft plastics" suppliers you can use: Oil pastels crayons pigment blocks for candle making (available on e-bay)

Nice job, Frank!

The remaining molds have been moved to e-bay. Thanks to everyone who have purchased from me!

Last couple of items Stirring System w/4 blade Stainless Steel paddle $140 shipped This is for the original Presto Pot not the new smaller diameter model that recently came out Reduced to $120 shipped .40 Caliber Stick Molds These are 5.25” custom made molds These hand poured molds are one of a kind and make a totally smooth stick. Each cavity had to be hand polished. I have one mold which was the prototype. This is a 7 cavity mold I have 3-4cavity molds. The 4 cavity molds have 152baits.com in each cavity. The writing isn’t that noticeable, but still there nonetheless. I’m sure they can be filled with JB Weld if you don’t want the writing to show on the baits. 7-cavity $120 shipped reduced to $100 shipped 4-cavity $85 shipped reduced to $75 shipped

The way I make Copper Penny is 5 drops M-F Brown Watermelon (1 cup plastic)about 1/8 tsp of Copper Pearl Powder, 1/8tsp .035 black flake and 1/8 tsp gold holographic flake

I've used it right out of the box for quite some time with excellent results.

I'm just getting into wire baits and have been reading all the threads like I did when I started pouring soft plastics. I read about this tool here and heard it was no longer available I did a search and found the website for the Skirtmaster tool. I ordered one and it arrived shortly after. http://www.drfun.com/SkirtMaster/ Pamela contacted me asking where I heard about it and I replied TU and suggested she post something letting people know that it is available. This was her reply: I have tried to post there, but I guess I just don't understand how to do it! This is my fathers invention. He had trouble getting it produced. We redesigned the tool, better quality and I found a manufacturer, so we have about 2500 ready to go. He is elderly now, and I didn't want to let his dream die before it got the chance to take off. My goal is to generate enough money to send him fishing once or twice a year! So, please, if you would or can post I would really appreciate it! Pamala Dorsey SkirtMaster Pro 707-485-0666 Phone

I use Morton's Pickling/Canning Salt right out of the (green) box.