melting pan, and hot plate

[RippinLips]

Hi i am new here and to pouring baits, i am wondering what and where i should get these from. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[outdooradvantage]

I am not a 100%, but I believe you can find them at Wal-mart, I know they have the hot plate. Hope this helps........Jeff

[hawghunterbaits]

Lure craft sells both! www.lurecraft.com

[WoodyA]

Lure Craft has the small pouring pans and the hotplate. Very easy to get started with these.

[RippinLips]

Thanks for your help guys.

[Garneau Baits]

Del-mart.com

[Vodkaman]

I tried using the regular stove with a pan to heat plastic. I only did it once. I found it totally uncontrollable. I know a hot plate is a different animal, but you will still have to keep that plastic moving continuously during heating and don’t ever turn your back on it!

Not having a hot plate, I bought a cheap microwave for the job. This is the way to go, in my humble novice opinion.

Hopefully more experienced pourers will jump in here and guide you in the best direction. I know this is not what you asked for, but it is something to consider.

[Whiz Jig]

I agree with Vodkaman, if you are only pouring for yourself and a few friends, then a pyrex measuring cup and a microwave oven is the easiest and best way to go.

[Garneau Baits]

go with the Pyrex and micro if your doing it for yourself. Its the best way for small production.

[nova]

I use pyrex and a micro. I also use the small pans from Lurecraft on a 2 element hotplate; for very delicate work I find these are the best.

www.novalures.com

[texasbass1]

I started off with a one burner hot plate and Lure Craft pans. Works great, I still use them regularly, you do have to stir or it will burn. But it is a great low cost way to get started.

[whitey]

If you do end up using the hotplate, buy a pouring pan that Barlow's sells. They are about 8-9 bucks but are well made and have a nice spout for pouring. If you can find cheap pots, you can make bend the side to make your own spout. I use both microwave and hotplate method-good luck!

[mtcald10]

I use a lurecraft hot plate and one I got from Big Lots and they work fine but I can pour a lot faster and heat the plastic a faster by heating in a micro. I do love the lurecraft pouring pans though even with the microwave I pour into the pans before pouring into the mold. Good Luck

[pirkfan]

I used pans and hot plates for several years, just got a microwave and some pyrex, what a difference. Pans and hotplate, stirring, waiting, hoping things aren't too hot, more waiting...still got some scorching sooner or later. Microwaves can scorch plastic too, but it's waaaay faster:). Pyrex is so easy to pour from compared to the cheapo pans I previously used.

[Vodkaman]

I know this is stating the obvious, but hot plate method heats the plastic from the edge of the container, at the surface of the pan. If you stop stirring during the heating process, that plastic will be damaged.

On the other hand, the microwave penetrates the plastic and heats it from within. The penetration is not total and there are hot spots as the microwaves bounce around and can 'focus' causing a hot spot. But, as the rotating table keeps everything moving, this problem is greatly reduced. Still, stirring the plastic half way through the process will protect the plastic and give a more even heating. Some microwave dinners instruct you to stir half way through the cooking process for the same reason.

If you can get hold of a second hand MW with a digital controller, rather than the analogue dial, then you are really in control.

[Smallie]

If you put a piece of steel about 1/8 or 3/16 thick on the hot plate, it helps distribute the heat. You still have the heat being applied to just the bottom of the pan but it is better than the 1/4 inch wide (guesstimate) heating element.

[bojon]

I use the Microwave and Pyrex cup to bring the plastic to the right temp,using a tounge depresser,to stir.I leave this stick in thruout the tube dipping process.Then the plastic is poured into the dipping pan,where the heat is kept quite low,just enough to maintain temp.The stick in one corner acts as a heat sink,and removes the bubbles that may have formed.

[Joe S.]

I have always used burners, just works for me, I know the ones I have well and know where to keep them set to avoid scorching based on the amounts of plastic that are in the pans.

I use two burners, the initial cooking might be a little longer than a micro but I use a big aluminum candle wax pitcher, and put two or three cups of plastic in it, Crank it up on high takes about 8-10 minutes to cook the plastic, then I never have to reheat again.

In the mean time I get the colors I am going to use shooken up and all my other supplies ready to go, molds heated if needed etc, so I think the time kind of averages out maybe even turns into my favor.

I then transfer small amounts into the old style pouring pans from lc for use on the 2nd burner and put my colors and stuff in there based on my recipes for either 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup of plastic.

I just regulate the temperature on the big pot down as I continually remove plastic from the big pot, I don't really need to stir once it is cooked as long as I adjust the temp. Keeps it hot enough to pour with out burning.

Then when I transfer the last bit of plastic to the smaller pot, I put another prefilled larger pot back on and crank it up, by the time I'm done pouring the last one I transferred and trim up whatever baits I already poured that may need it ,and take a drink of something ,the next batch is ready to go. No wasted time on anything:wink:

[Vodkaman]

I guess once you get into the big numbers, a microwave would be more of a hinderance. You'd have the door off its hinges in a couple of weeks.

For learning and short runs, it is great. But professionals need professional equipment.

Great post Joe S.