GB GONE Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Looking for other ideas out ther guys.. I have tried a martini shaker (had to use that elsewhere!!), a small metal bottle thermos (worked great but to small), my pot (to much plastic waste) and just a pyrex cup. I bought a smaller, double walled ice bucket (stainless steel) to try out but looking for other suggestions. I seem to get about 30 minutes or so and then I brown out. If I turn the heat down, baits don't turn out right as I get some lumps!!! Any ideas or suggestions out there? I also have some 12-16oz double walled stainless steel beverage cups I am going to try down in my pot. Should insulate the plastic well from burning and also allow me to dip in different colors without wasting to much plastic... Jim PS I try to dip 4 at a time (if possible, so I need a container at least that big)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbass14.3 Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Make one from sheet metal, and spot weld a bottom to it you can also put a top side across the sides with the middle open this works best with 14Ga metal a duct shop can make it this works on a hot plate really good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxfish Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I found the Arizona Ice Tea can fits right in a Lee Production Pot. I pre-heated the plastic and poured it in the can. The pot had been pre-heated to 300 degrees. In the short time I played with it I didn't notice any dis-coloring of the plastic and I did dip using nothing but the plastic. I commend those that have been able to profect this technique of dippen. I will continue but not sure I have the patience or the talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubinator Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Lets face it, no matter what you use as a heat source or method of keeping the heat around the pot your heating the plastic in you are always going to have either the bottom, sides, or middle of the plastic that is hotter than the rest. The only way to keep all of it at the same temp. is through constant mixing.IMO for this dipping thing, we need to be thinking about how to build mixers for the different vessels that we are heating our plastic in, and those mixers are constantly running until you are ready to dip.That's the way I see it, but I'm blind in one eye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I wonder if the round candle molds will work? Link won't work, go to ebay and search for round candle mold... For a mixer you probably could get a variable speed hand cake mixer and only use one beater. Just some ideas I have been tossing around in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubinator Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Yeah, but something that will heat and mix on it's own, while your hands are free to paint or put on the eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I forgot to mention the candle molds I have. The aluminum is to thin and the plastic cools real quick. I thought that was my answer as they can be found in many shapes and sizes. Hmmm... Time to get my engineer buddies for some "free baits" and suds (I might need the cans for dipping!!) to brainstorm. Hope we can remember what we think of after we are all finished up!!!! And I hope it has something to do with this issue!!!!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampBaits Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I forgot to mention the candle molds I have. The aluminum is to thin and the plastic cools real quick. I thought that was my answer as they can be found in many shapes and sizes.Hmmm... Time to get my engineer buddies for some "free baits" and suds (I might need the cans for dipping!!) to brainstorm. Hope we can remember what we think of after we are all finished up!!!! And I hope it has something to do with this issue!!!!! Jim Be careful will drunk engineer's opinions....could be dangerous! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigyen Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Jim, Would a Fry Daddy work? I don't have one but I was thinking that they may be deep enough and I read that there is a way to adjust the temprature on them. I can't find them up here in Ontario but I was in Homestead at the race last week and saw them in Walmart and I thought that they may work for dipping padeltails. There would still be a lot of "unused plastic" left that may be usefull for tubes, or I was thinking of adding some stabalizer and just topping up the fry daddy when the plastic gets too low to dip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrm-n Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I have a Fry Daddy I'm going to use for tube but I don't think I'll be able to make many before the level drops to low. I think it will be a waste of plastic. JMO. I am going to try the ice tea can in my lee production pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Ghostbaits, I have been working on this problem and I have come up with something that seems to be working. I used the candle molds, 4 that are two inches in diameter and one that is 4 inches in diameter. I use the ones with the thick walls. After plugging the hole in the bottom with a metal screw I poured about a 1/2 inch of sand in the bottom of an old sauce pan. I then arranged the molds in the pan and poured sand around the molds to 1/2 inch of the top of the pan. I then place the pan with the molds on a standard hot plate, The sand holds the heat and distributes it up the sides of the molds. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and have not burned any plastic, but you do have to keep topping of the molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I like the sand idea. Cheap; easy and safe. Great idea. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 How about having your local potter/college throw some on the wheel to your specs? Just have the inside glazed and it should work fine in the microwave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Ghostbaits,I have been working on this problem and I have come up with something that seems to be working. I used the candle molds, 4 that are two inches in diameter and one that is 4 inches in diameter. I use the ones with the thick walls. After plugging the hole in the bottom with a metal screw I poured about a 1/2 inch of sand in the bottom of an old sauce pan. I then arranged the molds in the pan and poured sand around the molds to 1/2 inch of the top of the pan. I then place the pan with the molds on a standard hot plate, The sand holds the heat and distributes it up the sides of the molds. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and have not burned any plastic, but you do have to keep topping of the molds. Now that is something I never would have thought of! Sand!!!!! Good one!!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDC Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Basseducer That is one hell of a first post! Welcome to TU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Thank you MDC, You make a fellow feel welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDC Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 No Sir, Thank You I, like others have tinkered with these baits and have become less than pleased with my results and didn't like the waste. Jim and a couple of others seem to have a good process and I decided I would just purchase from them. After your post, I may just have to go and get myself some sand and give it another shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Just a though about the sand. Don't use beach sand as it will contain a certain amount of salt. You don't want moisture around hot plastic. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I'm not that close to a beach so I got my sand at a local Michael's Craft Store. It's very fine and even comes in colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigyen Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 I found a pretty good way to heat your plastic for paddle tails. Get a Pryex Beaker from one of those Scientific stores that sell test tubes, scales etc. about $12.00. You can get one that is about 5 inches high and holds about a cup of plastic. You can heat it in the microwave and dip about 10 baits before you need to top up. There are no handles on them so you will need to get a set of those long curved tongs to remove it from the microwave. Not sure if this link will work. http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Pyrex-Beaker-400ml-P6184C645.aspx Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Been following this post 'cause I have had same problems as y'all, and have had no solutions to offer. got tired of burning and otherwise wasting plastic and stopped production couple weeks ago. But thanks to basseducer I'm gonna try the sand. Idea is solid and I think it may work. Thanks to all y'all for your perserverence (sp?) and patience. Nice to have you folks to lean on. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 David, One thing that I have found out as this thing progresses is that although I have not burned any plastic it takes a very long time to re-heat. So now I just turn it on and go pour some jigs or paint something. Then I keep turning it up a little every few minutes. TJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 TJ, thanks for heads up. I'll keep this in mind tonight. Let you know tomorrow how it goes. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captsully18 Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Well....... tried the sand thing last night/this morning. Didn't work for me, but may have been my fault (imagine that). Think my mistake was that I put a layer of sand in bottom of pan, set martini shakers, filled with sand. Don't think the layer of sand in bottom of pan allowed enough heat to reach the shakers. But, what do I know..........??????? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 David, I only put 1/4 to 1/2 inch of sand in the bottom for insulation from direct heat. I am not familiar with martini shakers, but do they have a raised base? If they do, this with the layer of sand may be too much. I also have to turn my burner way up. I am going to try a propane camp stove next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
