bdomina Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 anyone ever used a thermos for tube dipping? wonder if the insulation would keep the plastic a uniform thickness for longer times at all levels ie. preventing the top cooling before the bottom. I am thinking that with the proper insulation wrapped on the bottom you could put these on a hot plate ( i use a griddle ) without it damaging the thermos. certain kinds may work better than others. if you have used one before i would like to know what kind or what it looked like, and if it worked out for you. like i said some may be better than others not only for this kind of use but for cleaning ease as well. interested in seeing what anyone thinks..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInDenver Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I found a tall, skinny, "briefcase" type stainless thermos at Target for $9.99 that I am trying. It holds roughly 2 cups of plastic. I heat it in the oven before pouring in the plastic. I still have to warm the plastic periodically in the microwave, but I'm brand new at this, so I may be able to turn the hot plate up higher. I just haven't wanted to risk bvurning the plastic. It lets me dip my 8" lake trout tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Dip horozontally and save a bunch of plastic and headaches.A friend dips a 14 inch muskie bait.Get a hot plate(not a griddle),and a loaf pan with a roughened bottom,with handle attached and you will out perform the vertical dipping.You are working very hard on a simple task.Eight inch tubes are easy to make.Why aren't you making a really big tube?Or buy them from RED OCTOBER BAITS.Big lakers seem to like large tubes.Do you tip them with sucker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonInDenver Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 If I could buy what I wanted commercially from Red October or anywhere else I wouldn't be dipping them. But I can't. I may try the horizontal method next but I like the results I've gotten from the first round of vertical dipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Try Hunt's pasta sauce cans. They are 3" across and 6" deep. They hold tree cups of plastic. I heat the plastic in a micro and then put the cans on a hotplate. As the plastic gets used I make more of the color I'm using and heat in the micro then dump it in the can. They work great. Just remember to rub down the sharp edge so you don't cut yourself and when you are done dump out the plastic into a pot or a large pyrex. (If you don't it's very hard to get out after it cools) I've got about 20 of these cans going now. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I like Nova's method for dipping,and even though I haven't tried it,I think it would work great for what you want.If I was dipping to come up with what you want,I would dip twice horozontal then dip vertical to a depth of the body only,for four more dips.This would give more action to the tail and make the body tougher. I would spray the inside of the can with Pam to make clean up easier. Nova, How long does the plastic stay fluid enough to dip?Is the pan on a heat source?Do you insulate the cans?I'm some what clumsy and worry about tipping the plastic,is the bottom weighted? Sorry,it seems I have asked more questions than I gave solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Bojon the inside of Hunt's cans are coated and the plastic doesn't stick to it. The problem with getting plastic out of a full can is that the can is only 3" in diameter and it's hard to get your hand in there. The best part of this is that you can by the sauce for $ .99/ can. If you like pasta go for it; the sauce is not bad either. As far as the heat goes, I keep the hotplate a little higher than medium and with the hot refills I can dip for up to 3 hours no problem. The trick is to "know" your hotplate. I don't insulate the cans at all. What I have found out though is that you can't have a breeze flowing over the cans. What I mean by that is my hotplate is not far from the door to my shop and if I leave it open the plastic cools sooner than I like. I do keep my exhaust hood fan going though. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bojon Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks,Nova. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
