Painter1 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I am still new to this and have been limited to microwave batches so far. I am planning to buy a couple presto pots this week and would welcome your advice. As you know there is a site that sells the pots with valves and stirring system. I have been using an injector and am not sure that I need the valves that pour from the bottom of the pot? I plan to make 5" stiks, craws, beavers, lizards, finesse worms, grubs and 4" swimbaits. Hopefully, some of them will be 2 colors. It looks like it would actually be cheaper to buy the presto pots elsewhere and just buy the stirring system seperately. I am not convinced yet that salt is needed in the baits but I will be using glitter. I may find I am wrong about the salt so a stirring sytem might be essential? I have called and emailed the supplier of the entire system and have had no luck with a return call or email in the last 2 weeks so I am not even sure that the presto-pots advertised are 4 quart or 6 quart. Anyone know? Thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Can't tell you what size they are now but I made my own so no worries about the valve if you ever require it in the future you can simply tap the pot and install the valve yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajan Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Yea, its easy to install valve if you have tools. But if you don't, you really can't beat price of Bears pots. THe valve has an advantage even though you just inject, Maybe later you find a hand pour mold you like and want to pour, or you start to do some lures, and your wife comes in, says you need to go to the store , You can dump plastic you have left into a pyrex pan or cup with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter1 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Yea, its easy to install valve if you have tools. But if you don't, you really can't beat price of Bears pots. THe valve has an advantage even though you just inject, Maybe later you find a hand pour mold you like and want to pour, or you start to do some lures, and your wife comes in, says you need to go to the store , You can dump plastic you have left into a pyrex pan or cup with no problems. Good point! Thank you. is it hard to clean out the valve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHK Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 nope. drain the opt, turn it off and leave the valve open, when its cool just pull out the plug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajan Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 nope. drain the opt, turn it off and leave the valve open, when its cool just pull out the plug Yep and what I do after, I have a ss tubing I run thru valve. I then pour rubbing alcohal into the pot, let it soak, and then drain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonfishn Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Bears makes a decent pot but the stirring system seems to be a bit much. Buddy of mine had bought a pot off of TU some time back from a fella (no longer makes them) that had a simple piece of angle ( "L" bracket) affixed to the main stem that kept the product stirred. Buddy said it's easy to clean and can't imagine trying to clean the blades every time on the Bears. Other than that, they are easy to make, you can get the heat resistant motors from Granger just make sure to reverse the fan blade so it doesn't cool the pot contents. Then just build yourself a pot stand with a half moon cutout to accommodate the dump valve, most measure about 9" high by 20" long and you can use either 1x10 or 1x12 stock. Note that the height on this one is for folks who like to hold their molds in their hand as they pour, you may prefer to have a shorter pot (closer to the table) to allow for just moving the mold on the table top. Don't know about cleaning the pot, suppose one should, but most just peel the "set" away and save for next time (if you do't pour it all). Suggest you use the stubby style 1/4' Male NPT fitting rather than the long one in your valve outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajan Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 (edited) Bears makes a decent pot but the stirring system seems to be a bit much. Buddy of mine had bought a pot off of TU some time back from a fella (no longer makes them) that had a simple piece of angle ( "L" bracket) affixed to the main stem that kept the product stirred. Buddy said it's easy to clean and can't imagine trying to clean the blades every time on the Bears. Other than that, they are easy to make, you can get the heat resistant motors from Granger just make sure to reverse the fan blade so it doesn't cool the pot contents. Then just build yourself a pot stand with a half moon cutout to accommodate the dump valve, most measure about 9" high by 20" long and you can use either 1x10 or 1x12 stock. Note that the height on this one is for folks who like to hold their molds in their hand as they pour, you may prefer to have a shorter pot (closer to the table) to allow for just moving the mold on the table top. Don't know about cleaning the pot, suppose one should, but most just peel the "set" away and save for next time (if you do't pour it all). Suggest you use the stubby style 1/4' Male NPT fitting rather than the long one in your valve outlet. I am sure its easy to make, but double blade don't work worth a crap. THe paddles on Bears are my design. I have tried all kinda differant styles, and this works best of all ones I tried. THe blades clean very easy. Just use rubbing alcohal and wipe down. And it takes a 3/8" valve to work best in my opinion. You can see very detailed pics of my pouring station on TU and Bearsbaits.com. Its in Soft plastics some wheres LOL Edited January 24, 2012 by Kajan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajan Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 I wanted to make another note, if you do like me and pour one pc molds, if your molds have an alum base, you simply slide them under valve and pour, easiest, and best way in my opinion to pour them. I would not advise holding your mold in your hand to pour. Pa'bon' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Baits Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Do any of you guys use the Lee production pot with the lower heat coil? If so how good does it work ? Looking into it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHK Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 they are not regarded as being all that great. i can tell you the presto pot is bad ass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter1 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I ordered 2 complete sets the other night on the strength of the reccomendations here. Never was able to talk to anyone there or get an email response and still don't know if the capacity is 4 quarts or 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
