Calhoun Medium Plastic vs. Soft Plastic

[bhorlings]

How much of a difference is there between the medium plastic and soft plastic? Would I want to use the soft plastic in my finesse baits and the medium plastic in my stick baits?

[gunnie3035]

I use the soft for worms or drop-shot baits only. I use med- for everything else. You can always mix the two or buy a little hardner for the soft.

[bhorlings]

I was thinking I would use the soft for my shakey head worm and for drop shot worms too.

[earthworm77]

The soft is good for baits that need to be flexible like a worm. Although you could get away with medium for that if you didn't want to carry different plastics.

[cajun425]

well to take this question one step further, I am making up some 3" and 5" shassy shad type baits for inland striper fisherman. Would the regular plastic hold up better on the larger size baits?

[alsworms]

well to take this question one step further, I am making up some 3" and 5" shassy shad type baits for inland striper fisherman. Would the regular plastic hold up better on the larger size baits?

I can't speak for Calhoun as I've only used the soft hand-pour formula, but with other brands yes they will hold up better, but you will likely lose action. To be honest, I could never consistently pour with a regular type plastisol without using a bunch of heat stabilizer. Keep in mind that it takes those formulas quite a bit longer to achieve a "pourable" state, which usually translates into "easier to burn".

[bhorlings]

So does the MF plastics have heat stabilizer in it?

[alsworms]

So does the MF plastics have heat stabilizer in it?

They all have some stabilizer. The harder versions usually require more.......at least for me anyway, and stabilizer can be purchased at any of those manucturers. A good place to start would be about 1/4 cup per gallon of plastic. Stabilizer really stinks, so you need to be very careful with it.

[JDBaits]

So how much softner will it take to turn 1 cup of calhoun medium plasic into calhoun soft plastic?

[Darren Driggers]

Would the medium plastic be good for stick baits, and for craw baits

[Apdriver]

You betcha. It’s what I use.

[Les Young]

 When i make tubes i  cut down on the amount of   medium & add a little hard, but other than that i use medium for everything else & have never had a problem with action or   durability   in my baits.

[wallyc14]

I used calhouns when bait junky’s sold it. Medium is good for craw baits and Ribon tail worms and grubs . I got a nice thump with it. As far as stuff like drop shot and stick baits I used soft. For me personally soft was not soft enough so I added more softner when making stick baits my normal formula was

4 oz of soft plastic

3 tablespoons of salt

1 tablespoon of softner

this will make an 11 gram 5 inch stickbait