Experiments With The Softness Of Swimbaits

[swimbaits101]

Hi everybody, I just got done pouring and experimenting with some scrap Green pumpkin plastic, Table salt, and bottles of Lemon Extract and Anise extract that I picked up from the Grocery store. I heated up the plastic in the microwave for around 2 minutes and 30 seconds, but put the salt in at 1 minute and 20 seconds and put the scent in as well at that time also, then I stirred it up and put it back in the microwave for the remaining amount of time and then poured the plastic mixture into my silicone paddletail swimbait molds. But the end result after sticking the molds with the baits in the freezer for a few minutes was a very strong smelling, stretchy, and soft lure......... Is this a good formula for swimbaits? How hard should the plastic be and would cooling the baits in a bowl of cold ice water be better to make them harder? The finish on the swimbait was very smooth, not grainy like some of the baits I have added salt into, but the bait was very pliable and bendy. My next step after correcting all of these problems is to figure out exactly how much anise oil/ exoract I should be adding to get enough scent for the bass to be able to hold onto the lure longer. Also, how should I get the plastic to come out of pyrex glass kitchen bowl I am using and enter the mold evenly, so that the bottom of the bait turms out right............... Also, how do you guys keep your swimbaits from bending and becoming out of shape when taking them out of the molds, should I run the mold under cold water?

[swimbaits101]

Hi everybody, I just got done pouring and experimenting with some scrap Green pumpkin plastic, Table salt, and bottles of Lemon Extract and Anise extract that I picked up from the Grocery store. I heated up the plastic in the microwave for around 2 minutes and 30 seconds, but put the salt in at 1 minute and 20 seconds and put the scent in as well at that time also, then I stirred it up and put it back in the microwave for the remaining amount of time and then poured the plastic mixture into my silicone paddletail swimbait molds. But the end result after sticking the molds with the baits in the freezer for a few minutes was a very strong smelling, stretchy, and soft lure......... Is this a good formula for swimbaits? How hard should the plastic be and would cooling the baits in a bowl of cold ice water be better to make them harder? The finish on the swimbait was very smooth, not grainy like some of the baits I have added salt into, but the bait was very pliable and bendy. My next step after correcting all of these problems is to figure out exactly how much anise oil/ exoract I should be adding to get enough scent for the bass to be able to hold onto the lure longer. Also, how should I get the plastic to come out of pyrex glass kitchen bowl I am using and enter the mold evenly, so that the bottom of the bait turms out right............... Also, how do you guys keep your swimbaits from bending and becoming out of shape when taking them out of the molds, should I run the mold under cold water?

Also, it seemed like the Anise extract made the original green pumpkin color of the craps into a really light watermelon color on the finished product

[Pitbull Baits]

My swim baits I don't use any salt in them. I use medium LC Green Plastic for all my swim baits. I don't scent my swim baits because I feel its more of a reaction bite then a scent bite. If I do scent the one I am throwing I use a shad scent.

Not really sure why your color is fading maybe because of the reheat. Some colors will get lighter after a remelt or did you add any new plastic in with no coloring. Then I don't think the flavoring you got from the store should be used it plastics. I think it is water based for one and it could be causing your hardness problem. If your going to use that as a scent I would add it after they are poured.

I use pickling salt when I add salt to my plastics. I can't remember why your not supposed to use table salt.

[Smallie]

I see a couple of things wrong here.

All the anise extract I have seen in the grocery stores has water and alcohol in it. I am surprised you didn't have trouble with the plastic bubbling and even popping from the water in it. The alcohol may be what is making the colors fade.

Regarding table salt, the iodine in the salt is what you don't want. I don't remember exactly what it does but I think it affects the colors and not the plastic.

[mark poulson]

I use med. plastic, too, and don't add salt. Sometimes I add garlic scent, but most of the time, I don't. Usually, it's just for bottom/slow presentation baits where there's enough time for the fish to nose down and examine the bait.

Using a pyrex bowl to pour must be a real pain.

Do yourself a favor, and buy a pyrex measuring cup, or, better still, a silicon NorPor cup, which lets you pinch down the spout to make really fine pours, and keeps the plastic hot a lot longer.

I get them here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SILICONE-MEASURE-STIR-POUR-1-2-CUPS-MEASURING-NEW-/190490076167?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item7216ef2a2c

Good luck.

[jesse1378]

i pour some 4.75" swimbaits. 1, 2, and 3 color. mainly 2 color. 90% of the time i dont use anything but color and glitter. but on some batches i put some salt in them to help the bait sink a little faster. i dont think salt nor scent is needed. the bait is on the move. it more of a raction bait than a sit and soak bait.

[DanW]

No offense, but you need to stop what you are doing and do some research on the this site. I started pouring about a year and a half ago, making all my own molds, dipping rods and tools for tubes without asking a single question. Actually, I worked on molds and rods for almost three months before I ever ordered any plastisol at all. If you spend the time, you'll find everything you need to know, on this site, to start pouring successfully. Not everything worked exactly as planned, but you deal with that as it happens. Good luck.