Adding Salt

[mark poulson]

I am pouring fat Ika bodies. I'd like the plastic to be a little softer, but just as heavy.

Right now I'm using 1oz fine salt for 4oz Calhoon's plastic. The bodies come out soft, but not as heavy.

I'm thinking of trying 2oz of salt, and 1 oz of softner.

Has anyone already figured this out, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel?

Also, what effect does heat stabilizer have on plastic, other than keeping it from scortching and smoking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Frank]

I am pouring fat Ika bodies. I'd like the plastic to be a little softer, but just as heavy.

Right now I'm using 1oz fine salt for 4oz Calhoon's plastic. The bodies come out soft, but not as heavy.

I'm thinking of trying 2oz of salt, and 1 oz of softner.

Has anyone already figured this out, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel?

Also, what effect does heat stabilizer have on plastic, other than keeping it from scortching and smoking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Try a more coarse salt. The recipes I have dont work the same with fine salt. Seems to me that it should be the same but it is not at least for me. Frank

[nova]

I use floured salt because it suspends better for me. I will use 1/8 cup of salt to 4 oz. plastic and a capfull of softner.

www.novalures.com

Edited June 15, 2010 by nova

[bojon]

If you are using a open mold,you may want to add scenic sand to the plastic by using a fine pinch and dribble it into the still warm plastic.I done this years ago on regular worms,with good success.At that time I didn't think of salt.This was before salt was being added to lures.

[mark poulson]

Try a more coarse salt. The recipes I have dont work the same with fine salt. Seems to me that it should be the same but it is not at least for me. Frank

What brand of salt do you recommend?

[mark poulson]

I use floured salt because it suspends better for me. I will use 1/8 cup of salt to 4 oz. plastic and a capfull of softner.

www.novalures.com

What brand of floured salt?

[mark poulson]

If you are using a open mold,you may want to add scenic sand to the plastic by using a fine pinch and dribble it into the still warm plastic.I done this years ago on regular worms,with good success.At that time I didn't think of salt.This was before salt was being added to lures.

I actually like the slow fall of my Ikas, which are a gram or two lighter than the GYCB fat Ikas, but they don't cast as well, especially into the wind, which is where the original fat Ika shines.

I am also concerned that the sand would move to the bottom of the bait, because the Ika body is so thick that the plastic stays hot and molten longer than with a worm body. That happens to me now if I add too much black flake.

Now, for casting, and for the backup action of the Ika, that might not be all bad.

It's worth playing around with. As it is now, I put a 4D finish nail into the bottom of the Ika to add weight for casting.

Is scenic sand clear, or white like silica sand?

Edited June 15, 2010 by mark poulson

[clemmy]

I am pouring fat Ika bodies. I'd like the plastic to be a little softer, but just as heavy.

Right now I'm using 1oz fine salt for 4oz Calhoon's plastic. The bodies come out soft, but not as heavy.

I'm thinking of trying 2oz of salt, and 1 oz of softner.

Has anyone already figured this out, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel?

Also, what effect does heat stabilizer have on plastic, other than keeping it from scortching and smoking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mark,

The generally quoted ratio to duplicate Yamamato's plastic is 4:2:1, or 4 oz. soft plastic, 2 oz. of salt, and 1 oz. of softener.

Of course people have differing opinions, but that is a good starting point. As a general rule I find that the finer salt the better, if for no other reason that coarse salt sinks faster leading to uneven distribution in baits. Flouring the salt in a coffe grinder/blender works well, but some don't like it as the dust really makes the plastisol more opaque. If you don't want to order salt from the suppliers, look for popcorn or french fry salt. Most cities have lots of restaurant/concession supply places that you can find in a phone book, or ask nicely at a McDonalds and they may sell you a small box.

Calhouns supposedly has a lot of heat stab. in it, so you should be good. The more salt you add, the more the plastic seems to scorch, so some colors can look a bit yellow, especially if remelted/left in pot for a long time.

Hope this helps!

Clemmy

[Richard Prager]

I am pouring fat Ika bodies. I'd like the plastic to be a little softer, but just as heavy.

Right now I'm using 1oz fine salt for 4oz Calhoon's plastic. The bodies come out soft, but not as heavy.

I'm thinking of trying 2oz of salt, and 1 oz of softner.

Has anyone already figured this out, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel?

Also, what effect does heat stabilizer have on plastic, other than keeping it from scortching and smoking?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I always first achieved the weight I wanted and then added softener until I got it to my liking. With a small amount of plastic you should not need too much softener. I always just counted the drops out of a bottle or used measuring spoons. I've played around with many different salts, flouring and not and ended up using Morton's Pickling Salt right out of the (green)box. As far as the heat stabilzer, it will also make some of the colors brighter. Just my findings and what worked for me.

[nova]

What brand of floured salt?

I use pickling salt which is 100% salt with no additives; then I "flour" it with a coffee grinder. Brand doesn't matter to me as long as it's 100% salt.

www.novalures.com

[mark poulson]

Thanks a million for all the great advice.

I'll try the 4/2/1 mix tomorrow, and let you know how it turns out.

I'm using Del's fine salt, softner, and heat stabilizer.

I did notice one batch of clear/black flake came out yellow. I must have overheated it.

Right now, I just heat the plastic in one minute bursts, stirring and checking as I go, and try to reach the consistency of water, or close, before I pour.

What's a good infrared thermometer to use, and what temp. should I be looking for when I pour?

[bojon]

Thanks a million for all the great advice.

I'll try the 4/2/1 mix tomorrow, and let you know how it turns out.

I'm using Del's fine salt, softner, and heat stabilizer.

I did notice one batch of clear/black flake came out yellow. I must have overheated it.

Right now, I just heat the plastic in one minute bursts, stirring and checking as I go, and try to reach the consistency of water, or close, before I pour.

What's a good infrared thermometer to use, and what temp. should I be looking for when I pour?

The sand comes in many colors,and is very fine.It will settle to the bottom of the lure,but it will have a nice fall to it also.The sand usually doesn't penetrate the surface.I normally pour a bit on the cool side.I bought my sand from hobby/art stores.

[mark poulson]

The sand comes in many colors,and is very fine.It will settle to the bottom of the lure,but it will have a nice fall to it also.The sand usually doesn't penetrate the surface.I normally pour a bit on the cool side.I bought my sand from hobby/art stores.

I'll check out the sand the next time I'm at Michael's, our closest hobby/craft/art supply store.

If I can find some interesting colors, it may be a neat way to add weight to my plastics.

[mark poulson]

I poured up a couple of batches of the 4/2/1 Ikas.

They are definately softer than the GYCB Ikas, but that isn't a bad thing. It's easier to set the hook, because the softer plastic lets the hook move more easily.

They seem to weigh the same as the original Ikas, 11 grams with the skirt, but I put a nail in the butt anyway, to stiffen the lures a little. It can't hurt the casting, either.

I wasn't able to get out to a hobby store to look for sand, but I am going to pursue that, too.

If my sciatica lets me, I'm going to throw some tomorrow. Sucks getting old.

Fingers crossed.

[mark poulson]

Well, when the alarm went off at 3:45, I turned over, and slept 'till 4:00.

I figured I could stay home and be uncomfortable, or go fishing, and be uncomfortable.

So I went, and had more than a dozen fish on my homemade Ika in half a day.

A buddy who also fishes the Ika came into a cove I was fishing, and, after I watched him miss three fish, and finally hook one, I gave him one of my Ikas.

He pulled four bass from one bush, and only came across to me when he had finally lost the Ika, and wanted another. I gave him a few, and he proceeded to get whacked.

As I suspected, the softer Ika actually helped with the hookup ratio. I only had one fish come off. Because the plastic is softer, I was able to use a 3/0 Mustad EWG hook, which has a really deep bite, and through hook it, so the hook point was texposed on the far side of the Ika. The deep bite meant there was a lot of space between the hook belly and the Ika, so the fish were able to push the hook point out when they bit, and I didn't have a single gut hooked fish. Most were stuck in the jaw, or the roof of the mouth.

I only averaged two fish per Ika, before they were either thrown, or torn, but now that I'm making my own, it's not that big a deal.

To everyone who helped me work out how to do it, a big thank you!

Edited June 20, 2010 by mark poulson

[mark poulson]

I found an old coffee grinder in a cupboard, and I floured my salt for a batch of Ika bodies.

The salt stayed in suspension throughout the entire pour without stirring.

It did make the baits slightly more opaque, but I don't mind that.

My bodies weigh the same as the original fat Ika bodies that I used for masters, so I'm pretty happy.

Thanks again for all the help.

[rugbyfisherman]

this may be a stupid question but do I add the salt before or after cooking the plastic?

[earthworm77]

after the plastic is hot

[alsworms]

Wow.....the members here are true professionals. You guys ROCK!

Let me just touch on the heat stabilizer question.........

Too much will make your plastic stink........and I mean stink BAD!! Keep it no more than an ounce per gallon and you should be cool.

Hope you get the perfect formula!