Cormorant Lures Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 I know some of your instant reactions would be for me to switch to injection, but at this time it is not in my gameplan... I made two divided cups and followed the instructions found in a few posts in this forum... I used roof flashing, dulled in vinegar, scrubbed with steel wool, and fashioned with JB Weld... There was not and is not a spot I forgot to scrub the hell out of... I was proud of my divided cup achievements... My first question is this: How do you keep your divided cups clean?!? After each and every successful pour the plastic sticks to the metal, JB Weld, and is virtually impossible to clean off from those areas!!! Am I the only one that can't keep the plastic from sticking to everything but the glass?!? Anyways... My wife and I made a few pours with each cup and came out with some very nice looking baits, but then tonight all hell broke loose!!! Both cups started sparking and almost caught my microwave on fire!!! I re-soaked in vinegar and re-scrubbed the suspect area(s) with no luck... Instant sparks!!! My wife said I am not longer able to used my divided cups unless I can come up with an alternative divider solution... My second question is this: Are there successful alternatives to using something other than metal as a divider for your cup (what are these alternatives)?!? Do they make a measuring cup that already has two chambers side-by-side?!? Tonight I tried one other method for hand pouring laminates discussed in this forum... I opened up my two-part mold, poured one half of the bait, closed the mold, and then poured the other half... Sorry to say, but they looked like crap... I can't get over how nice they turned out with a divided cup... I know plenty of people would say to warm up the plastic in two separate cups and then pour it into your divided cups chambers... But again, the divided cup has been such a pain in the butt to keep clean... Any help with this topic would be greatly appreciated!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 I haven't had issues with my divided cup but I heat in 2 cups then pour into a warmed divided cup. I only use my divided cup for swirls instead of lams. I pour 1/2, close then pour the other half for lams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 The divided cup is the best option if you are going to hand pour. As stated, if you have an intricate mold, pouring one side and then closing and pouring the other side gives les than desired results (at best). Consider other options for your metal as a divider or look at something other than the current divided cup. I do recall someone having one made at a ceramics shop. Other divider material is where I would go. Plenty of other items are microwave safe and can be cut for a divider. I am sure others will give you good suggestions as I use my divided cups still frequently but stopped putting them in the microwave. I think I read where someone used a microwave safe plate and cut the divider??? Good luck!!!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 From my experiance with one divided cup I had found out that by looking through the glass if you can see the edge of the flashing where it contacts the glass you may get sparks. I now coat the glass with JB before placing the divider in the cup; then seal around it. Also some glitters, if they are on the lip of the glass or on top of the divider, can also cause sparks. As far as cleaning goes, make sure the JB is smooth and take a table knife on it's edge to clean the flashing. It does take a little time. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 You can also cover the outside of the cup with high heat spray paint to stop the sparking if it is between the glass and JB Weld. Best is to find alternative material.... Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormorant Lures Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 You can also cover the outside of the cup with high heat spray paint to stop the sparking if it is between the glass and JB Weld. Best is to find alternative material.... Jim Anyone who has suggestions on a "successful alternative" divider material is more than welcome to chime in... I don't think I could convince my wife that my microwave would not burn up by using the roof flashing after last night's near disaster!!! I would think other materials would be much easier to clean too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Anyone who has suggestions on a "successful alternative" divider material is more than welcome to chime in... I don't think I could convince my wife that my microwave would not burn up by using the roof flashing after last night's near disaster!!! I would think other materials would be much easier to clean too... I hope that you're not using the micro you cook your food in. If a person was good at cutting glass one could make the divider from a flat piece of pyrex. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormorant Lures Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 I hope that you're not using the micro you cook your food in. If a person was good at cutting glass one could make the divider from a flat piece of pyrex. www.novalures.com Definately NOT being used in a "food" microwave... I thought about going down to one of the local glass shops and having them try to cut me a couple pieces of glass to fit... Not sure how expensive it would cost... Would like to find possible "cheaper" alternatives... Something that will not warp, crack, explode, and is "non-metal"... Any thoughts?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRegulator Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 I made divided cups out of the aluminum pouring pans. Heat them up on a burner. Absolutely no issues. May be an alternative if you don't 'have' to use the microwave for laminates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) Definately NOT being used in a "food" microwave... I thought about going down to one of the local glass shops and having them try to cut me a couple pieces of glass to fit... Not sure how expensive it would cost... Would like to find possible "cheaper" alternatives... Something that will not warp, crack, explode, and is "non-metal"... Any thoughts?!? I don't know if regular glass will work in a micro. Never tried it. I assume you're talking about regular window type glass. Just had a thought. Some aluminum storm doors have tempered glass in them. Maybe try to get a piece of that. www.novalures.com Edited July 11, 2011 by nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Could you use clear silicone to make a divider? I'm thinking of maybe making a template out of smooth plastic, like a piece of milk jug, coating it with the clear seal, and covering it with another piece of smooth plastic to get two smooth faces. Once the silicone is set, trim the silicone to the shape of the template, remove the template and backing, and seat the silicone divider in the pyrex with more silicone? Or maybe even leave the milk jug faces on it, if they will take the heat, so the melted plastic is easier to clean between pours. You could make it as thick as you wanted it, but, as long as there are equal amounts+- of liquid plastic on each side when you fill it, wouldn't that hold and work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Could you use clear silicone to make a divider? I'm thinking of maybe making a template out of smooth plastic, like a piece of milk jug, coating it with the clear seal, and covering it with another piece of smooth plastic to get two smooth faces. Once the silicone is set, trim the silicone to the shape of the template, remove the template and backing, and seat the silicone divider in the pyrex with more silicone? Or maybe even leave the milk jug faces on it, if they will take the heat, so the melted plastic is easier to clean between pours. You could make it as thick as you wanted it, but, as long as there are equal amounts+- of liquid plastic on each side when you fill it, wouldn't that hold and work? I'm pretty sure the silicone will take the heat but I think it will get softer and more flexible as well. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormorant Lures Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 (edited) So nobody out there has experimented and found a "successful alternative" divider besides metal?!? I cannot believe the only thing being used for dividers is something that most people would tell you that you're NUTZ to put in the microwave... It's also strange that a complete glass divided measuring cup hasn't already been invented and being manufactured... The only place I haven't checked is CHINA... There has got to be a microwave safe material that can take the heat... Edited July 12, 2011 by Cormorant Lures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormorant Lures Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 So nobody out there has experimented and found a "successful alternative" divider besides metal?!? I cannot believe the only thing being used for dividers is something that most people would tell you that you're NUTZ to put in the microwave... It's also strange that a complete glass divided measuring cup hasn't already been invented and being manufactured... The only place I haven't checked is CHINA... There has got to be a microwave safe material that can take the heat... How about coating the metal so it is completely and will stay completely "un-exposed"?!? Like powder coating or something similar?!? Some other posts suggested "high heat" or BBQ spray paint, but I think over a couple pours the paint would begin to flake off... Maybe if you can keep the metal completely "un-exposed" it would not arc?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 I have tried spraying the metal prior to insertion with high heat engine spray paint. You are correct in your assumption that the paint will flake off. It starts qick on the edges, just where you need the protection! Coating the metal with a thin layer of silicone would work for sure as I have many of the silicone "hot pads" in the kitchen and in my workshop where I pour. I set my cups on them to be sure no drastic temp change (= potential exploding cup) for my cups. My engineer buddies tell me there is heat resistant board made from fiberglass that will definitely work. Just not sure how thin it is and where you can get it. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 I have tried spraying the metal prior to insertion with high heat engine spray paint. You are correct in your assumption that the paint will flake off. It starts qick on the edges, just where you need the protection! Coating the metal with a thin layer of silicone would work for sure as I have many of the silicone "hot pads" in the kitchen and in my workshop where I pour. I set my cups on them to be sure no drastic temp change (= potential exploding cup) for my cups. My engineer buddies tell me there is heat resistant board made from fiberglass that will definitely work. Just not sure how thin it is and where you can get it. Jim The main problem (for me) with fiberglass is that as it heats up it releases a smell that gets into the plastic. Maybe that board won't. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Since we're discussing divided cups; here's a bait that was done with a 3 chamber cup. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softworm Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Do you think plexiglass might work?? only thing I can think of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 I'm pretty sure the silicone will take the heat but I think it will get softer and more flexible as well. www.novalures.com I would think that it would be pretty simple to make a test piece, and put it in the microwave multiple times. Given the problems with metal dividers, I would sure try other alternatives. I don't use a divided cup, and, in fact, since I found NuPor silicone cups, I don't even use pyrex any more, but I have made silicone molds. They stand up to heat, even the heat of a soldering iron, with no sagging. I would think the silicone would hold up to a microwave, especially if it were sandwiched between two pieces of margarine tub top plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerworm Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 how about circuit board material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormorant Lures Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 (edited) how about circuit board material? Like the material used for motherboards in computers??? Edited July 13, 2011 by Cormorant Lures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse1378 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Like the material used for motherboards in computers??? yep. alot of people use that material for lips on crankbaits. the plexi glass i have thought of havent truied it yet, but i have thought about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rixon529 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 (edited) My first question is this: How do you keep your divided cups clean?!? My second question is this: Are there successful alternatives to using something other than metal as a divider for your cup (what are these alternatives)?!? Any help with this topic would be greatly appreciated!!! Maybe the following will help. I searched Amazon's Plastic Finder looking for price range of under $40 for a piece of high temp rated material that might be less flexible than silicone if thick enough. I could be wrong, but I think this would be stiffer than an equal thickness (1/8") of silicone. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is Teflon - shouldn't be any problem to keep clean, but don't know if the JBWeld attachment method would be a problem. Comes in a variety of thicknesses depending on what you want to spend... http://www.amazon.com/Sheet-White-0-125-Thick-Length/dp/B000FPD67O/ref=sr_1_32?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1310589815&sr=1-32 Hope this helps. Good luck. Rick Edited July 13, 2011 by rixon529 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Maybe the following will help. I searched Amazon's Plastic Finder looking for price range of under $40 for a piece of high temp rated material that might be less flexible than silicone if thick enough. I could be wrong, but I think this would be stiffer than an equal thickness (1/8") of silicone. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is Teflon - shouldn't be any problem to keep clean, but don't know if the JBWeld attachment method would be a problem. Comes in a variety of thicknesses depending on what you want to spend... http://www.amazon.com/Sheet-White-0-125-Thick-Length/dp/B000FPD67O/ref=sr_1_32?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1310589815&sr=1-32 Hope this helps. Good luck. Rick I don't know of anything that sticks to teflon. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knifemaker3 Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I don't know of anything that sticks to teflon. www.novalures.com How then does teflon stick to metal pans? Wouldn't there have to be an adhesive or something that keeps it in the pans? Or is it just sprayed on and when it dries it bonds somehow? Looks like there would have to be something.....maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
