How to bend soft plastic for long use ? (First Timer Post)

[FISH JC]

With out going back and making a new mold.

My Question: How can I go about and make a L shape bend in a strait piece of soft plastic and have it remain this way for long use?

Thank you for your replies in advances.

In hope to help others in their lure making and the enjoyment of catching fish.

JC

[woodsac]

Glad to see you here! Hey, can you explain a little more what it is you're trying to do? How thick is the plastic and what is it used for?

[FISH JC]

I am playing around with the tails of the 4EYE.

I had a few tails that the bottom half were curved in shape.

At first I didn't not want to use them. Found out later that they give off a bigger kick when being retrieved in the water.

They are about 2/8 thick with resisted lines running through both sides.

I would show pic just to early to figure out how to post it.

[woodsac]

I'm familiar with your bait and the new tail you're using. I like the new tail by the way. The only thing I can think of without seeing a pic and without you having to change the mold, is to demold the tails before they have completely cooled. You can then lay them at the angle you need them to cure. Like support the bend with something underneath it.

Speaking of your baits, are you going to have any at the open for sale? If not, drop me a PM or an email.

[FISH JC]

Thing is I'm not pouring the tails I have someone else doing this for me.

I was kind of hoping that there was a way to do this by heating the plastic back up. Or could there be some kind of chemical that would take out some properties of the plastic and allowing it to be reshaped?

Placing a book on top of the folded piece kind of works but not for long or as quickly as needed to be in use.

Yes I will have baits at the Open.

If you like a particular size or color pattern.

Please Email soon with your ideas.

Other wise it's first come first serve basis.

Thank you

[woodsac]

Try and boil the tails or place them in the microwave until warm. Then lay them with the bend you want to cool that way.

[FISH JC]

I think I'll try the suggestion of Boiling them.

Microwave sounds like it might be to much of variables involved.

Thinking the flake inside might be an issue?

Also not being able to be consistant with the heat given could resualt in unwanted melt downs.

Here may be another question: Will slow cooled vs fast cooled make changes in the plastics? Thinking harder or softer texture?

[woodsac]

I think the properties of the plastisol are pretty much set in the mixture. I've left baits in the sun all day and then put them in the cooler to stiffen em up for more fishing. It didn't affect the softness or hardness of the plastic.

And you're right about the flake. If the person making them for you isn't using non-metallic flake, you've got a problem with the microwave.

[FISH JC]

This is probably a dumb question or may be I was wrong in thinking:

How does some plastic baits after a while become more stiff than others?

or vise a versa? soft. Does this happen on its own or does it take other plastics to merge with one. Some thing like a chemical reaction

sorry just trying to figurer this out to make do.

[woodsac]

Maybe someone else can answer this better. I've never had baits become softer, other then at that particular moment that they have been exposed to heat.

I have had baits become harder, but they have all been heavily salted baits. The more salt you add to the plastic, the harder it becomes. Salt can have the same effect on plastic as everything else it touches, it sucks it dry.

I have also heard of people having baits become 'dry' after a long period of time. I don't know if that's as common anymore with the high grade plastic, additives and resealable bags we use today?

[Mattlures]

Hey J.C.

there are certain additives that can cause the plastisol to harden over time. Also if you leave your baits on paper it will suck the oil out and make you baits harder. There are also chemicals that will harden your baits. Some baits can be softened by rolling over them with a rolling pin.

Matt

[nerdy]

put a layer of super glue over it. or some type of spray hardener.

[FISH JC]

Jake, I went ahead and tried the boiling of the plastic tail.

It worked fine on the desiring bend needed for the tail to kick even harder while retrieving in the water. After a quick dip in boiling water I pinched the tail in the position needed while dunking into ice cold water for a minute. Works fine! A BIG Thank you!

[woodsac]

Glad to here it worked Joe. Now I see what you were asking about the hot and cold. Sorry I misunderstood you. But you are right, dipping in the cold water right after will make it set faster and hold it's shape. Good call.

Hey I sent you an email to your hotmail. I'm happy with anything you have on hand. If you just feel like painting some crazy pattern, I'm cool with that too. Let me know.