reefaddiction Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I have a question for you guys using the presto pots? How much plastic do you need to use in order to use it. I know this my seem like a strange question but I just wondering if I really need one. Sometimes I like to pour two cups of plastic per color and thats all. It just sounds so much easier when pouring stick baits. Let the machine do the hard work. LOL. So any info would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zbass Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I have poured as little as 8 oz. There is a little waste in the bottom of the pot. Tilt the pot about 1/4", higher in the back than the front and you will get amost all of the plastic out. Make sure you get one with a stirrer. There are a couple of guys on here that sell these and both are a quality product. I have dealt with Bear at BearsBaits and he has great cutomer service. You might hoot him a PM. zbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcline Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 No problem. I never pour more than 8 ounces at a time with my presto. If your stirrer is adjusted right you can pour as little as 4 oz. I highly recommend you get one. You can either make one yourself or buy one already set up. I made mine myself except I bought the stirring system from Bear. His paddle set up is the best out there in my opinion and he's now offering a stainless steel paddle for easier cleanup. You should check him out. JIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Anything under 2 cups and you have to tilt it to keep it pouring. I usually run 3 cups or more. I think the more plastic the better it pours due to pressure from the plastic above the valve. It will get to a point to where there is about 1/2 cup left and it is just dripping out of the valve. You can turn off the mixer and tilt it to finish but you lose the glitter and salt suspension from the mixer. Hope this helps. I would not pour without one my self. It makes it so much easier. I dont need the microwave and I just set the temp, dump the plastic in and 3 minutes later its ready to pour. If I had more stick molds I dont even know how many you could do in a day. The most I have run in a few hours is 500 with (2) 4 cavity molds and (1) 8 cavity mold. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcline Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 I have poured as little as 8 oz. There is a little waste in the bottom of the pot. Tilt the pot about 1/4", higher in the back than the front and you will get amost all of the plastic out. Make sure you get one with a stirrer. There are a couple of guys on here that sell these and both are a quality product. I have dealt with Bear at BearsBaits and he has great cutomer service. You might hoot him a PM.zbass Zbass, are you using salt in your pot? I can't seem to get the salt to pour out like I want it to. It all seems to settle in the back. I have my pot tilted to the front too and can't get all the salt to come forward. Just looking for a little help. Thanks, JIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zbass Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Zbass, are you using salt in your pot? I can't seem to get the salt to pour out like I want it to. It all seems to settle in the back. I have my pot tilted to the front too and can't get all the salt to come forward. Just looking for a little help. Thanks, JIM When you say settled in the back, do you mean at the back of the pot? I do use salt but it is a finer grain than what you may be using. I use two different alts in my process. A fine one that I mix in the plastic and a courser one that I roll the baits in for packaging. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squigster Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Just my 2 cents but I have the same problem thats why I start with 2 to 3 cups. As you use it up the salt and plastic gets trapped on the bottom (all depending how close your blades run to the bottom) and when there is not enough to flow well thats what happens. I always end up with left over plastic when pouring baits with a lot of salt. I wish I knew a solution but I have rigged mine on a 45 degree angle and it helps but I never get it all out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcline Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 When you say settled in the back, do you mean at the back of the pot? I do use salt but it is a finer grain than what you may be using. I use two different alts in my process. A fine one that I mix in the plastic and a courser one that I roll the baits in for packaging. Hope that helps. Zbass, yes i mean at the back of the pot. the salt I'm using is the salt from Del's. It's a very fine salt. I bought a stick kit from Del and and it came with it. It seems to be very good salt, so I'm not sure what the solution is. JIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbroggi1 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) One thing you must do to be able to so small pours 1-2 cups is have a drain that no higher than the pot bottom. In the picture you can see the raised drain which makes it difficult to get the last drop out. This was how I started then immeadiatly went the flush mount drain on all the pots I now make. Tilting the entire base 1/4" to 1/2 " does help and I basically get down to the last 4 cavity mold is hit or mis. By that time after the pot cools the reminder peels right out and can be reused (equivalent of maybe 2-3 5" worm) Another important specification is being able to adjust the paddle so you can set the clearnace of pot bottom to paddle blade I go for tight clearances on mine and set the paddle to pot at 1/16 -1/8" With 1-2 cup pours your looking at 1/2" -3/4" of product in the pot so this is very important The aluminum paddles once done pouring have no plastic on them virtually at all and you really dont even have to clean them unless your worried about a few glitters being in the next pour. DelMarts salt is by far the best for small pours the grainier salts dont compare. This is whats left after a pour & how easy it is to clean off the aluminum paddle. Edited February 9, 2009 by mbroggi1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint308 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 3 cup minimum for me. Generally 32-40 ozs is what I pour. Saint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear21211 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 2 cups should not be a terrible problem. I normally pour 4 to 6 cups but I have poured as little as 1 cup. I do not have the problem with the 4 blade paddle not mixing the salt well.I have found that if you are having glitter or salt settling to the bottom of the pot, you may need to move your paddle closer to bottom of the pot.When we build the mounting table for our pots we put about 3/4" fall towards the front of the pot. If you have your paddle adjusted right and flush mounted valve you should not have much more than a skin left in your pot after pouring. Bear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
