bassgeek Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Starting to get a list of stuff I need to get to get started and I'm kinda stuck at the heating stage. What wattage microwave? I am kinda leaing towards the microwave but a lees plastic pot kind of looks nice too. Pros and cons of either? Thanks, Cliff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Largehead Louie Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 (edited) I use 2 microwaves. They heat fast, and, as you learn their attitudes, will keep smoke and bubbles down just fine. I don't know the wattage on either of them, I just picked them up at a couple yard sales. Edited April 12, 2011 by Largehead Louie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dog Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I use a microwave I picked up at target for $17, I don't know the wattage but in about 3 1/2 minutes 4oz. of plastic is ready to go. IMO if you want to pour a number of baits the micro. is a pain in the butt, it seems like I pour two to four baits and then the plastic starts to gel, back in it goes for 30 seconds pour a couple more and back in the micro. you get the picture. I can see myself buying a presto pot in the near future . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I use both plus I use presto pots. I have a microwave for small orders of swimbaits or whatever. I have two lees pots for doing veins or when I run three color or for color worms and swimbaits. Then I use the 2 presto pots I got for large orders. I can run two or for cors with the presto pots and lees pots all going at once. I am going to add a couple more presto pots and lees pots down the road and maybe a couple presto pots without the ball vavle in them for the little injection I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Microave is ok for small batches and testing or even mid size batches if you have a lot of molds, but a Presto Pot is better for doing a lot of plastic. IMO the Lee pot Hoovers. I have two of them sitting on a shelf never to be used again. Ya willing to unload them Lees pots for a good price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 If you are just getting started you should keep it simple until you are sure you want to continue with it. I use a micro and a hotplate. Wattage doesn't matter because you will(over time) adjust your timing to it. Make sure the micro has a revolving center plate. Start small and work your way up to where you are with the volume of baits you whish to make. Costs can get out of hand very quickly if you are not careful. Don't try to start at the top of the game. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassgeek Posted April 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thanks for the replies. Leaning towards the microwave to start with. I am getting the budget together and looking at the options. Most likely I'll be buying my wife a new microwave and taking our old one for heating. I have a good idea of what I want/need to start out with. Just want led some more opinions before I spend any money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troutninja Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Just start with a microwave. Heat your plastic at 30 seconds, mix well, then repeat at 30 seconds, stir, till you are ready to shoot.. once you figure out your microwave you will be able to heat faster.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Baits Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I think I stole the cords off them for something else. Also, the plungers are used as stir sticks in my pyrex. I think one has a tap broken off on the spout, and the other has a screw driven into it.... I dunno. If you want them like that you can have them for the price of postage. You might use the heater coil for something I suppose, but it takes forever to heat plastic up and catalyze it. For me they were experiments that failed. Utterly. Ok see if you can fit them into a flat rate box. I could use the parts off them to fix one of mine that broke. Takes three to make one I am good lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marks Lures Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 You really don't want to know what I use... I took an old fish fryer and hooked a rheostat to it, to "keep the melting pot warm", while I am running around I throw a couple of cups in the micro to keep things going. Regards Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Just can't help myself...I've posted this about 10 times...been using this heating setup since 1975. It has many advantages over the microwave. Uses heat lamps to melt the plastic. I can pour until I run out of plastic or molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red's Baits Posted May 4, 2011 Report Share Posted May 4, 2011 I started out with microwaves and only use the them to make up new colors or pour small orders. I have 4 presto pots and working on finishing up 6 presto pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marks Lures Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Just can't help myself...I've posted this about 10 times...been using this heating setup since 1975. It has many advantages over the microwave. Uses heat lamps to melt the plastic. I can pour until I run out of plastic or molds. Wow since 1975, think one of the pans are original and I was still pouring the little lobster (Creepy Crawler mold) for a catching "bull" or really big blue gill at the time. I was looking at some of the creep crawler molds to use parts from for some new molds but the price was way too high. Regards Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
