bdomina Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 just brainstorming here. tell me if anyone out there has done this...Thinking of dipping some tubes or swimtubes for the first time. I don't think the horizontal diping method would work right for the swim tubes (correct me if I'm wrong) so it would have to be a vertical dip . And from searching other posts a popular choice is a tall can w the top cut off to dip in. to keep the plastic at a constant and uniform temp has anyone considered warming a pot of water on a hot plate and sinking the can in the hot water (giving a few inches of leeway from the top of the can to the waters edge for safety reasons ) I would think that the heat from the water up the sides of the can would prevent the plastic from cooling on the top and staying hot on the bottom. (hotspots) wear gloves though so you can hold the can while stirring to avoid tipping....me being a novice, would this idea possibly be a good one or does water + hot plastic scare some? maybe buy a cheap pot w a metal lid and cut a hole the size of the can w a hole saw. so the water would be concealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 I would keep plastic away from water period! If you are crazy enough to try it, I would were a lot of protective clothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charkins Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Water boils at 212 degrees F. You have to get the plastic to 300 or better. Water will boil away before you get to 300. The steam will get in your plastic and you could have an explosion. I have not tried this on plastic, but as a pharmacist, I use a water bath to melt a lot of compounding bases. It will not melt a base that melts above about 200 degrees F Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Water boils at 212 degrees F. You have to get the plastic to 300 or better. Exactly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Bad idea!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass4cache Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 water no! Some type of High temp Oil maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Just curious,why did you decide to go thru all the thought process to eliminate the horozontal dip?The method would work just fine with no heating problems and danger from super heated steam.Don't over complicate your way of doing things.I see no reason that the horizontal method wouldn't work. Anyone else that can see a problem??It will give me a problem to solve,which I enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdomina Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Just curious,why did you decide to go thru all the thought process to eliminate the horozontal dip?The method would work just fine with no heating problems and danger from super heated steam.Don't over complicate your way of doing things.I see no reason that the horizontal method wouldn't work.Anyone else that can see a problem??It will give me a problem to solve,which I enjoy. wouldn't it mess up the tail when dipping a swim tube. i could see how you might be able to horizontally dip multiple times to form the front of the body by dipping at an angle, but the paddle tail i can not see. with no experience I would not really know, i'm just saying "help me see how it can be done, oh wise ones" maybe with some trimming off the back end of the tail. dunno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Send me a private message,with your email address,and I will send you some sketches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james bradshaw Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 If you need a tall can for depth, then have one made out of an aluminum tube with an aluminum bottom welded on. Aluminum transfers heat the best. I have a pot that is 16" tall and 8" in diameter. I can fill it with pre heated plastic and dip thirteen inch tubes for as long as I want. I heat the pot on an electric hot plate. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdomina Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 thats a good idea james. I will have to see if i can come across some from a metal shop and have them tig weld it together. I always wanted to learn how to do that myself. but if you saw the cuts i have made for dipping sticks out of 2 inch wide 1/8'th inch think aluminum straps you would see that i need a lot of practice...bojon you have mail. thx for the offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 I like the idea of a large aluminum container,that can greate a 13 inch tube.I have a few questions though,because my mind is in the horozontal dip mode,and this is very remote from my way of thinking. 1.Any danger of the pot tipping over? 2.How do you keep your glitter,ect. in equal suspension?I mean how do you stir? 3.You say you can keep the rod in the heated plastic for as long as you want.Does this mean the walls get thicker as the time lapses?I don't find that the case with the horizontal method. 4.What diameter are your dipping rods? 5.How long would I have to keep a 1 1/4 inch dia steel rod(made of steel tubing) immersed to get a wall thickness of 1/4 inch?The rod would be at least 14 inches long. A guy wanted me to make him some tubes that size,and was willing to pay,but I had to refuse him.Maybe with your method I'll give it a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james bradshaw Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 The rod that I used was 2-1/2" diameter and 16" long, we poured some tubes for a customer that was using them for Trophy lake Trout. The tubes were actually too big for practical use. I have an electric mixer with a 3/8" shaft and a small prop on the end. I would turn off the mixer long enough to dip the tube. I kept the heat low wich thickens the plastic making only one or two dips to finish the bait. Just dip the rod or pipe in and pull it back out, you don't leave the rod in there more than a few seconds, dip multiple times to get desired thickness. If you want a laminated tube then just paint on the other color. If you lightly oil the rod the plastic pulls off very easy. Too much oil will cause the plastic to slip down the rod making a mess. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubinator Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 You could also dip the bigger tubes say 14" in multiple stages. What i mean is dip the tube as deep as your plastic container will allow, pull it down and cut off the head, then slide it up the rod and dip again up to where you cut, yes you would have a slight bulge where the dips over-lapped but with a tube it wouldn't effect the action. This way you could make multi-colored tubes 2' long if you wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Thanks guys,now it is making sence.If either of you all want,I will see if I can find the guy who wanted the big tubes.He was going to use them for saltwater.That baby would take a lot of plastic.Can you imagine if you messed up on the color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james bradshaw Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Those big tubes are a pain in the neck and do take several gallons per batch. If the price is right then maybe it would be worth it? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
