Why Is My Plastic Hardening So Fast?

[Yardape]

This is the first plastic attempt . I've got a few questions. I gave a Pyrex cup really mix my plastic I put in the microwave and really watch it while heating. I haven't added gltter or color it comes out of the wave alreay too thick to pour what's the deal?? I cab paint the heck out if a crankbait but Im new at this soft plastic deal, HELP!!!

[TTDuckman]

Your plastic will go through 3 distinct phases:

1. Looks like milk (what you start with)

2. Turns to a thick gel, changing from white to near clear

3. Turns liquid again, should be crystal clear and has consistency of maple syrup

The plastic is not ready until you have gotten it to the 3rd phase. After it has and you have poured, it will set up. Your baits are done and you take the scraps and melt them back down to the third phase.

Tim

This is the first plastic attempt . I've got a few questions. I gave a Pyrex cup really mix my plastic I put in the microwave and really watch it while heating. I haven't added gltter or color it comes out of the wave alreay too thick to pour what's the deal?? I cab paint the heck out if a crankbait but Im new at this soft plastic deal, HELP!!!

Edited January 29, 2011 by TTDuckman

[gone2long]

X2 not heated to stage 3!

[mark poulson]

Do yourself a big favor, and get a hand held digital thermometer, which will let you read the temps remotely. They're cheap, and let you monitor the plastic's temperature. Hand pour temps, for me, are somewhere between 325 and 350.

Just remember to stir the plastic before you take it's temp. Microwaves heat from the middle out, so the plastic in th middle of the cup will be hotter than the surface plastic.

It's easy to overheat and scortch plastic, and then it turns yellow/brown, and smokes. Not a good thing.

Edited January 30, 2011 by mark poulson