Nathan Pape Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 I have been looking at this site for some time and I have finally got the cash together to start the hobby but I want to consult the masters and find out if they had a limitted budget and found themselves starting up how they would spend their money. I live in So Cal so any must haves for the area would apply. I am going to start small pouring out of small pans on a hot plate. I need help with the following. If you had $100.00 to spend on colors and glitter what would you get? Considering the west coast thing what plastic compound would you reccomend and any softener??? My Humblest Thanks, Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear21211 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 I would suggest you buy the items that you fish with now. Watermelon, Junebug , Black, White, Just colors that you would pickup if you bought them in a store premade. Glitters the same way. Buy what you think you will use. We have a color chart on or website to allow you to see what the colors will look like. Depending on what you are planning on making the baits that you want the most action out of like works and such use soft compound. If you pouring swimbaits or frogs and such use medium saltwater baits use a hard compound. If you need any help shoot me an e-mail. bear@bearsbaits.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Great advice Bear. I wouldn't spend that much until I saw where your pouring goes...keep it simple. I'd include Green Pumpkin and a pearl and/or blue super hi-lite. Glitter to start for me would be green, gold, silver holi, black, blue and red. You can make a lot of combinations with those. But look at your lures and see what you'll be making and it should be easy to come up with a good list for you. Welcome, my friend to the Machine:wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdsaw Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 From personal experience, I would save your money on the hot plate and small pans and start with a few pyrex cups and a microwave to heat and pour your plastic. Maybe it's just me, but I had trouble with scorched plastic while using a hot plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcline Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 If you want to save yourself a lot of frustration (and plastic) spend some of your money on a decent infrared thermometer. It'll save you a ton of trouble in the long run, and will pay for itself by keeping you from scorching plastic. Just my:twocents:, JIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 If you want to save yourself lots of money, then dont start. there is no end to this. Its only a hundred dollars now, but thats just a drop in th bucket to what you will have spent next year come this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 MT has a valid point. If you're doing this to save money on lures....do some realistic math...not a good idea. If you're doing it for the enjoyment of seeing if you can make some good baits and catch some fish on your hand-poured stuff...then go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I agree with Bear don't make it difficult use the colors your accustom to and go from there. I started with medium plastic but I'm up north in PA in hindsight I would have went With soft plastic just keep it fun and go catch something with your own then see what happens Also I agree with going with a cheap micro and a Pyrex cup more control with less aggravation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I poured with a two-burner hot plate for a long time....yes, you have to be careful not to burn the plastic but pouring with a hot plate is doable. I recently thought that it might be good to make a little stand of some sort so your pan is an inch or so off the burner. Don't know if this would work or not but sounds like it might reduce the scorching. You'll have to regulate your plastic temp by removing the pan (s) from the burners and putting them back on and doing lots of stirring. You can't leave a pan on the burner without stirring for very long. One thing I know for sure is pans are much easier to pour from than Pyrex, especially with open molds where you need a thing stream of plastic. If I had to pour with Pyrex I think I'd give up. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Pape Posted August 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Thanks so much for all your input, I do have one additional question though. The only reason I wanted to look into baking baits is I bought some from a local guy and I found that small differences in the baits made a huge improvement in the quallity of fish I was catching. You all know how the story goes from here, as a tourny guy you are allways looking to improve and replicate the results. I would like to know if you wanted a super soft plastic that still held a hook what plastic would you use and would you add softener. I promise no more questions till I start..... And screw everything up:) Thanks Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTfishingrods Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) "Thanks so much for all your input, I do have one additional question though. The only reason I wanted to look into baking baits is I bought some from a local guy and I found that small differences in the baits made a huge improvement in the quallity of fish I was catching. You all know how the story goes from here, as a tourny guy you are allways looking to improve and replicate the results." Now ya went and hit the nail right on the head there Nathan. Reason a lot of us went and took the leap into this. You will enjoy it. Dont be afraid to ask anymore questions. There is also the search feature at the top right of the page which will reveal so much info it will be overwelming. Good luck and have fun. Edited August 27, 2009 by MTfishingrods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallie Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 One thing I found that helped with scortching on a hotplate is a heat diffuser. It is round, has two layers of metal with an air gap and keeps the heat from concentrating on the actual areas touched by the burner coil. Here is one at Amazon: Amazon.com: Norpro Tin Heat Diffuser: Kitchen & Dining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
