Bass-Boys Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 almost Every mold I pour I have maybe 1 stick with the top inch being hollow..most of them turn out fine.. alum. mold hand pour pyrex microwave using salt what am I doing wrong?? pouring to fast ?? plastic to cold ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I get the same problem I will tilt the mold while I pour. It helps a little. I also shake it to help air get to the top. I get a few with the hollow sopt. I think it has something to do with not getting it full all the way when you try topping it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigdestroyer Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I don't have that problem with sticks, but I do have it when I pour baits with thinner appendages at the bottom. Make sure your plastic is very hot. Almost like water. Also, pour slower and right down the center. Make sure you are not hitting the edges of the mold. This should fix the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 There could be a few problems, the most common one is that you are covering the hole as your pouring, ty to pour on the side of the mold or right down the center. it gets easy after a while. other problems are your salt is not mixed very well and leaving clumps this will break loose over settling and cause an air pocket. Having lumps in plastic will also cause it( lumps like when you reheat and its not fully liquid.) when it starts to sink you need to make sure it stays full. I am betting on the first one though. Delw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I found that you need to top off then run back over to top again. What I do is fill the 1st and fill the 2nd then top the 1st, fill the 3rd top the 2nd and so on until I've topped all off twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) The mold I have is Dels and I do not have to top them off,, ( or should I be topping off ? most of the sticks come out great with out topping ) I make sure I fill it as full as poss.When I pull them out of the mold and cut off the extra, you can not see the air pocket,the top 1/4" of the bait is solid,, then apx a 1/2 -3/4 " air pocket, then the rest of the bait is good,I check these after they set a few minutes by pressing on the bait with my finger , you can tell where the pockets are.The air pocket is always in the same spot..apx. 1/4" from the top.Most of the them do not have the pocket.I try to pour rite down the center. If I see a lump go in the mold I just quit that bait and move to the next.. thanks for the quick replies. Edited March 27, 2009 by Bass-Boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 (edited) Do you let the top of your pour "pucker or Dimple" I found that when this occurs the top of the pour will set from the air but it will pucker inward and thats when I noticed the air pocket. What I believe is happening is the top sets and the plastic below will shrink inward on the pour thus leaving an air pocket. Edited March 27, 2009 by mrbilky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I like the way Mrbilky describes it. Sounds like the culprit. Also, I've never seen a mold that you don't have to top off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Mr. Bilky, yes ,I have a dimple above each bait when I pull um out.. the topping off must be the problem,,I will give that a try.. just strange that 80% or so of them come out great..Maybe as I get to the 2nd or 3rd cav. the temp of the plastic has dropped enough to cause the top of the bait to set up..( as you said ) I usually will reheat the pyrex & stir after apx. -3- cavities. 152nd with the thing mold from Del it has apx. a 1" funnel above each cavity, so when you fill the cav. to the top of the mold you have poured apx. 1" more plastic on top of the bait.. with this mold no topping off is needed,just fill to the top and wha la,, as it sucks down it doesn't get to the bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Prager Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Maybe with a smaller bait it will work. I have an 8 cavity 10.5 trick and I still have to go back and top off. Not as much as the other mold I have but I still have to go back and top off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 It is either what Del says, that you failed to pour down the middle of the spout and covered the hole, even for a second. If this is definately not the case, then it could be that a bubble was created at the start of the pour. The solution to this is to angle the mold (as Pitbull wrote above), so the plastic runs down the side of the mold, to the bottom without splashing. I do not think a bubble 1/4" from the top can be caused from lack of topping off. It is a rising bubble. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I have to work all weekend,, but the 1st of the week I will try some things you all have posted.. I have 3 stick molds so I will set one up on a slight angle and try topping off heavy on the others and see what happens, thanks to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastorshane Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Try slowing down. It sounds like what del said your pouring to fast or to thick. If its to fast it will not let the air escape. just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Hey Shane,, I hope to pour again mid week,, will give feed back.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 This is kinda still on topic does anybody get plastic "clots" between molds, I'm working with 2 aluminum 2 Pc molds and I seem to get a clot between molds which will and does produce the same problem as Bass-Boys so I have a little collection cup and pour off before putting the mold under. Oh and I have a 3/8" hose nipple and suspect that's the culprit - Bass-Boys can you tell if you are having the same issue? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I am using a Pyrex so I do not have that issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 well, so far I think the biggest problem I had was that I was pouring to fast..I also will be topping off. thanks a ton guys !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...