Painter1

I am still new to this and have been limited to microwave batches so far. I am planning to buy a couple presto pots this week and would welcome your advice. As you know there is a site that sells the pots with valves and stirring system. I have been using an injector and am not sure that I need the valves that pour from the bottom of the pot? I plan to make 5" stiks, craws, beavers, lizards, finesse worms, grubs and 4" swimbaits. Hopefully, some of them will be 2 colors. It looks like it would actually be cheaper to buy the presto pots elsewhere and just buy the stirring system seperately. I am not convinced yet that salt is needed in the baits but I will be using glitter. I may find I am wrong about the salt so a stirring sytem might be essential? I have called and emailed the supplier of the entire system and have had no luck with a return call or email in the last 2 weeks so I am not even sure that the presto-pots advertised are 4 quart or 6 quart. Anyone know? Thanks for your help

So far I am having good luck with the D2T and learned about that material on this forum - thanks guys! What do you guys use to mix the epoxy in and not waste it when you have a small batch? I stole some of the dixie cups from the bathroom but they are even too big.

I do some fireproofing work on industrial steel structures and have learned a few things from structural engineers over the years. The nickel and carbon content of the alloy are important factors in steel failure related to heat. The temperatures that are commonly talked about in our industry are related to 50% loss of structural integrity and the temperatures start at about 500C to 975C. Prolonged exposure is also an issue. I doubt you got the hook that hot with a common torch. I hope that helps

Thanks, Bob. That makes sense. I was hoping that you would see the humor there as I certainly did not want to offend. I have been dealing with lawyers lately at work and "bottoms" would be an over-polite word for what I have been thinking - LOL

I'm guessing there could be an off-color joke in there, Bob, but can you elaborate on why?

I searched but could not find this information so here goes; What are the pros & cons of side injection for a swim bait mold versus top injection? Thanks

There is a way to let many other folks know about your experience. On Google Maps you can enter the business name and the City and your result should be the Orange Pushpin on the map. Click on that and select "write a review"

I think the flat-eye or "cross-eyed" jig, as I have always called it, allows a better hookset. I have found this to make the most difference when there is a lot of line out. I fish Tablerock Lake, a clear water lake that often requires casting from a distance when fishing shallow and we also fish very deep a lot of the year. With a lot of light FC line out there and a cross-eyed jig I miss fewer fish. I haven't noticed a difference in coming through rocks or brush and I don't fish grass/weeds. Hope this helps

Please forgive the Newbie questions. Is Violet hi-lite different than Violet colorant? Is the white "powder" you are talking about the powder paint used for jig heads or some kind of powdered pigment? Thanks

Has anyone tried making skirts with the Punch Rings from fishingskirts.com? Are there similar products out there that have a groove & ring system for holding the skirt strands in place? I have bought jigs that have this type skirt collar and they seemed to work well and flaired the skirt like an umrella does. It looks like it might be tough to get the skirt strands evenly distributed though. Would love to hear thoughts and experiences. Thanks

I followed your advice and and much more satisfied with tonights pours. Those short reheat & stirs are the ticket. Thank you

I made my first plastic baits this evening and had a recipe a friend gave me. My goal was to make some 5" stickbaits the same color he makes. Failed. I mixed 1 cup LC soft plastic with 1 cup LC medium plastic and heated it in the microwave. It turned from milky to a clearish jelly to a slightly amber liquid. According to my "ray-gun" It was 328 degrees when I pulled it out of the microwave. I mixed in 12 drops of CC Watermelon + 3 dashes of purple glitter + 1 dash of green glitter. I did not get what I expected but got a what I would call "transparent motor oil" with the colored flakes. I did add 10 drops of heat stabilizer and reheated it multiple times and it did not change color. Do you think I burned it or is the amber color normal for LC plastic? It didn't smell burnt and the max temperature on a reheat was 341.

Thanks, guys. That will certainly make this more of a challenge

Thanks, Mark

That is correct; those are common myths. My partners and I have a patent and a trademark on a product in an unrelated field. Defending those is an expensive proposition. What I have learned is that one has to choose which battles to fight. It is not legal to 73 in a 70 mph zone but chances are good that you won't have a problem. Going 95 in a 70 may cause all sorts of trouble.

I am wondering how much difference there is between the different companies pigments. I bought a bunch of Caney Creek colors and got some recipes from ultimate bass. I am wondering 6 drops of Green Pumpkin, for instance, is the same for LC, MF and CC. Most of the recipes do not say whose color was used so I am hoping they are at least close. This a great site and I have learned a bunch from you guys. Thank you

You could put it all in a plastic 5 gallon bucket, snap on the lid and ask your local paint store to shake it for you. Of course you could do that with a 1 gallon paint can also but they can be harder to find in clean condition. A paint shaker mixes settled material quite well

What is TJ's?

Caney Creek Molds also sells bags in several sizes

Wow. Thanks, guys that is great information! I plan to try this for bass & walleye and might make a few with a flouro leader & bait hook. Do you know what size blade that is and if it is a colorado or an indiana?

I asked about that since that is how mine came. I guess they only have one box, but turned up to 9 the temperture was 370 degrees, so it is a plastic pot.

Can anyone provide the ideal sizes in the 1/8 through 3/8 for the wire, spinner blade and hook? I would like to try making a few inline spinners. Thank you

Thanks for the explanation and picture. It looks like I would really need to keep that bait moving along the bottom pretty fast to run that spinner. Of course, I am just assuming that the "shoe" of the rig is designed for bottom bouncing. Could this be a swimming / trolling rig?

I bought an Erie Rig mold and can't find any information about how to complete the rig after pouring. It has a lead head like the Erie Jig (not the Erie Dearie) with a long wire sticking out the back. Is the idea to attach a bait harness to that wire so it acts like a Lindy rig with a fixed head? The only other thing I can figure is to put a hook at the end of the wire and bend it upwards to hold the bait off the bottom. I bought it on a lark and am thinking to make a few baits to use on our Canada trip in June. As always, your advice and thoughts are appreciated.