bass100

I agree Bob that It could have been worded better on the packaging and we would not be having this post and could focus more on what is really causing the problem. The company has stated there is no chalk in their epoxy and never will be. Since they do not have pre tinted D2T if it looks like you have white chalk in it then, according to the company, it is from crystalization. I hope this clears up any confusion about chalk in D2T and we can focus more on what is really causing this problem.

No where on the label does it say there is chalk in the product but it does say that it may be tinted with chalk or pigment. In other words if you don't want to tint it then don't add any chalk or pigment. I agree they could have stated it on the package a little different but that is what they meant and they will tell you that if you call them. As stated in the phone call I had with them and the email which I posted they have not added chalk to the D2T epoxy and never will. The 5 min epoxy is just what I had here to show everyone what crystalization looks like and how to fix it. You can call them at the # I listed earlier. I don't care if you use D2T or not but there is thousands of people that come to Tacke Underground to learn and I think they should have access to the correct information. I don't want a new lure maker thinking they can't use D2T because they think there is chalk in it when in fact there is not. Again don't take what I am saying as fact just give them a call. This is not meant to call you or anyone else out but to simply get the correct information to the TU members.

I will give it a shot. For problem #1 if you are getting the bubbles when you are heating up your plastic that usually means there is moisture in your plastic which can come from what you are stirring your plastic with (wood), from salt that you have added, etc. If you don't have any bubbles when you are heating your plastic but you do get them after you have poured into your mold then your mold has some moisture or you need to seal your mold. For problem #2 I know that you said you are over filling your cavities but if it is shrinking down to cause a trough then you are not over filling them enough. This is something that comes with practice and can take a bit of time before you can produce a consistent product. It is all about plastic temp. Too hot and your plastic will run out of the cavity too cold and it won't level out. Once you get the hang of it, it will become effortless. I can not answer to problem #3 because I don't understand what you are doing. Hope this helps.

OK, guys here is some visual proof. I bought 2 tubes of Devcon 5 minute epoxy the other day they both were crystalized. This is a picture of a tube that is crystalized. Notice that the hardner is all white. I then took the cap off of the bottles and heated with a hair dryer. It took about 4.5 minutes with the hair dryer on high. Notice that the hardner is clear now. This epoxy is now fine and won't crystalize again unless it is exposed to below 40 degrees for a lengthy period of time. If you have larger bottles make sure you allow a bit of time to heat them up. I have been using Devcon for over 10 years now and crystalization is nothing new. We just didn't know that it was crystalization. I have always heated my epoxy so I have not had any problems. Epoxy is easier to mix and apply when it is warm.

Also recieved this email from the company: Drew; Thanks for making my day! Like you we have a big snow storm, so that's all of the conversation. Why would we say clear with 2 Ton and then try to make it cloudy. 2 Ton Epoxy is the number one product for fishing lures and knives, so we would never change that product. Once in a while you may get old product and the hardener does get darker with age but when you mix it normally it's still clear. We have not changed anything with 2 Ton---"Scouts Honor"! Be Well!

Also recieved this email a minute ago from the company: Drew; Thanks for making my day! Like you we have a big snow storm, so that's all of the conversation. Why would we say clear with 2 Ton and then try to make it cloudy. 2 Ton Epoxy is the number one product for fishing lures and knives, so we would never change that product. Once in a while you may get old product and the hardener does get darker with age but when you mix it normally it's still clear. We have not changed anything with 2 Ton---"Scouts Honor"! Be Well!

Forgot to mention to take the cap off of your epoxy before heating.

Forgot to mention to take the cap off of your epoxy before heating.

Ok, I just got off of the phone with the makers of D2T. There is no chalk in their epoxy but you can add chalk to change the color. The cloudy streaks that has been seen is from crystalization and usually only happens in the winter months. Crystalization happens when the product has been exposed to very cold temperatures for an extended period. The crystalization will not go away until it has been heated up BEFORE MIXING. I always heat mine with a hair dryer before I mix it. I was told that if you buy a bottle of D2T and you can see the hardner has any white in it then you can take it back to the store for a refund or you can just heat it up. Devcon is the same reliable product that it has always been. I posted this reply in another topic and copied it here because I think this is important information.

Very nice web site. Good job.

Ok, I just got off of the phone with the makers of D2T. There is no chalk in their epoxy but you can add chalk to change the color. The cloudy streaks that has been seen is from crystalization and usually only happens in the winter months. Crystalization happens when the product has been exposed to very cold temperatures for an extended period. The crystalization will not go away until it has been heated up BEFORE MIXING. I always heat mine with a hair dryer before I mix it. I was told that if you buy a bottle of D2T and you can see the hardner has any white in it then you can take it back to the store for a refund or you can just heat it up. Devcon is the same reliable product that it has always been. On another note you can color your epoxy with this stuff here. There is alot of cool stuff on this website. http://www.braxton-bragg.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/store7catalog.level/bc/0,8447,8500,7234/

I have never used Etex and would love to give it a try. What is the mixing ratio? For example: 1:1 by volume or 1:1 by weight.

OK, just wanted to make sure you were using the same product that I have been using. I sent ITW an email and I will call them tomorrow. I don't read it as there is chalk in the product I read it as you can add chalk to tint it. This is the second time this has come up so I will get a hold of them and post their response. I will also ask them about your cloudiness and let you know. If anybody else wants to call here is the # (877) 376-2839.

Is this what your box says?

I have emailed the company that makes Devcon and asked them to clear up whether their product is still clear or if it has chalk in it or not. I have no problems with my D2T and I have used 5 tubes from Ace Hardware in the last 8 days but if you buy it from somewhere else it might have chalk. So hopefully the company will respond and clear this up.

I have had cloudiness happen many years ago and it was because I used a popsickle stick which had moisture in it. If it was from chalk all of your mixed epoxy would change color and not just in streaks.

I just posted some hand carved Blue Stripers in the hard bait gallery. They were harder for me to build than the swimbait.

Thanks guys. It is alot easier than you would think (as far as making them look good) but until it swims it is just eye candy.

#14, I think.