Problems With Salt

[MonteSS]

So I am a newbie. Been practicing and am pretty happy with my colors and basic plastic pours. I found less dye really helps and brings the glitter out.

I am trying now to pour a 5" stick bait with salt. I have an LC aluminium 2-piece hand pour mold.

1.5 oz 502

.5 oz softener

1 drop color

glitter

1 tbsp Mortens pickling salt

I can pour 2 cavitys oK and then the plastic gets real thick where all the salt is in the bottom

I think I am stirring well but I guess not enough?

The two baits that come out good, barely sink. They also are very soft since the salt is not getting in to them.

Any insight or tips?

Thanks....Bill

Edited August 26, 2011 by MonteSS

[Bass-Boys]

thats a small batch to work with,

but.

when you get the plastic to temp apx. 325 and all ingredients

have been added, stir well then pour 1 stick

then stir well again and pour 1 more

then reheat if needed and stir then pour 1 more

then stir and pour 1 more.

it only takes a few seconds for your salt & glitter to sink

so after you pour 1 bait its all settled to the bottom.

with a little bigger batch ,, say 4 oz.. and when you get practiced you can

pour 2 baits before stiring,, but for consistant baits w/ salt

I never pour more than 2 baits before stiring.

[MonteSS]

Thanks BB.

I am doing small batches because I am wasting alot of plastic.

I am getting an IR thermometer so hopefully I will know where my temps are at.

After a good stiring, my first bait pours good. I barely sinks though so I dont think there is much salt in it. The glitter looks great and suspended evenly though.

Is the pickling salt OK? I just opened a new box and keep it in a sealed jar so it should be dry.

What ratio of salt do you add?

Thanks....Bill

[SHK]

Thanks BB.

I am doing small batches because I am wasting alot of plastic.

I am getting an IR thermometer so hopefully I will know where my temps are at.

After a good stiring, my first bait pours good. I barely sinks though so I dont think there is much salt in it. The glitter looks great and suspended evenly though.

Is the pickling salt OK? I just opened a new box and keep it in a sealed jar so it should be dry.

What ratio of salt do you add?

Thanks....Bill

I prefer to use a finer salt, something like Bear's salt works great as it suspends very well, but you trade off the colour, as it will make your baits opaque and you will have to add more colour to overcome the salt.

[Bass-Boys]

I agree ...

you should use finer salt

put your salt in the blender it will make it finer.

I think that your salt ratio ( 1 tbls. to 1.5 oz. plastic ) should be good

[mark poulson]

I try to match the Yamamoto formula of 2 parts plastic to one part salt. You do have to stir a lot to keep the salt, which is heavy, in suspension.

If I'm pouring a lot of baits, I still get more salt in the last baits of the batch.

Play around and find a system that works for you.

I've had many fewer problems since I switched to the NorPor silicone cups instead of pyrex. The plastic stays hot longer, and I don't have to worry when I stir during the pour that the heavy wire mixing wand I use will shatter the pyrex.

[Richard Prager]

There is nothing wrong with using that salt right out of the box. I did that for years and so has/does many others. I agree with bass-boys about using such a small amount of plastic. I know you don't want to waste it, but you just need to go through this learning curve or you will end up wasting more. When hand pouring sticks you need to stir every two sticks. No way around that. If your salt is sinking too fast, try pouring a little cooler. I have never used a thermometer. I judge by the consistency of the plastic when I stir/pour.The basic formula is 1 cup plastic-1/2 cup salt-1/4 cup softener. That will vary depending on which plastic is used and also personal preference. Just what works for me.

[Bass-Boys]

I agree that you can pour sticks at a little cooler temp..

and the salt will suspend better at a cooler temp.

good tip.

if you are pouring baits with apendiges ( sp ) then you need to up the temp

but sticks will pour good at a litttle cooler temp

if your glitter is suspending good then you are close on temp but the salt will sink

faster then the glitter.

[MonteSS]

Thanks for the input and suggestions. I have been getting some better results. I have found a spoon much better to mix and bring the salt up. The first two cavitys go good and then it starsts getting pretty thick. I have been using the NorPor silicone cups but they get very hot so I need better gloves. I think I will try to grong the salt finer and try that.

I went through my pint of 502 that I had and learned alot. The gallon of Caney Creek is on its way and I will mix at least 4 oz now that I am a Pro .

I fished the baits today and caught bass. They sank well and were fairly soft and durable. Here are some 5" sticks.

My favorite go to color that I mainly use. Green Pumpkin with Copper glitter

Some Misc colors. Bluegreen w/ green glitter, purpleblue w/ purple glitter, Rootbeer w/ green glitter, brown w/ gold glitter

Some pearl added to leftover plastic.

....Bill

[Bass-Boys]

looking good

[smallmouthaholic]

Bear's baits has the finest salt available-period.(finer then Pop corn salt) Use a presto pot w/ stirrer from Bears Baits to get an even distribution of salt/glitter in your stick worms.

[mark poulson]

I use a wire coat hanger bent into a square bottom U to stir my plastics in my NorPor cup while I'm pouring. I use a large chip clip to pinch down the cup into a small pour spout, and stir every time I finish a cavity. I leave the hanger in the cup as I pour, so the plastic on it never cools and lumps, and it's easy to stir between cavities.

I wear leather work gloves, and they keep my hands cool enough with small batches. If I'm pouring a big batch, I'll lay a second glove or a piece of cloth in the palm of my left hand, which holds the cup, while I use my right hand to guide the pour.

Edited September 4, 2011 by mark poulson