J lure Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Right now I have one! own custom design mold and have been hand injecting. My problem is that I heat the plastic up add my color, glitter and ect. Then inject my mold wait for it to cool to demold and then time to repeat. It seems that I have to re-microwave each time to get my plastic right. How would you guys keep my plastisol hot/warm with out re-microwave.? I did try a presto pot that I bought at wally world but scorched a lot of plastic and seemed to be too big for my one man one mold production. Anything smaller.? Also has played with the idea of a beaker heater or a beaker hot plate with a stirring system? P.s. mean while I'll be saving for jacobs injection press and more molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHK Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 with the proper stirring set up and watching temp with an infrared thermometer you should be able to keep plastic going for an hour or so without much issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobv Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Presto pot is too big for a lot of my stuff too, was wondering if you could put something in the middle of the pot to take up space to allow smaller amounts of plastic? Aluminum disc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J lure Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Yea that's what I was thinking. Or trying to make a d.i.y. small presto pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 You did not mention using a griddle. When all of the part are hot it will keep for 3-4 shots before a reheat. Then the reheat is for like 30sec. You will need to stir a little but it should work for you. I have an old presto that I cut the sides down and use that once in awhile, it get a little hotter that the griddle. Mostly because it is thinner. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 How about using the presto pot to heat and maintain the plastic. Then pour off what you need to fill your injector into a pyrex cup, fill you injector from the pyrex cup and shoot. While you are waiting for the mold to cool clean the injector and throw the plug back into the pot. Then peel the plastic out of the cup and throw that back into the cup. Demold and repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 (edited) How about using the presto pot to heat and maintain the plastic. Then pour off what you need to fill your injector into a pyrex cup, fill you injector from the pyrex cup and shoot. While you are waiting for the mold to cool clean the injector and throw the plug back into the pot. Then peel the plastic out of the cup and throw that back into the cup. Demold and repeat. X-2 Get a thermometer as the heat dial on the presto is not all ways correct. AND STIR if you do not have a motorized system. Edited May 25, 2012 by JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyBass Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 When I make up a batch I make about 3/4 C. As I am injecting I use a separate pyrex to put in my "waste." I keep using the liquid plastic in the one pyrex cup. You can inject, de-mold, stir, draw up more liquid plastic, inject, while de-molding throw cup into microwave for 15-30 seconds to heat it up again and do it all over again. When the liquid gets low, it is time to throw in sprues and other trimmings back into the main cup to melt down again. This method works out well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cub48 Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 I use a hot plate i get my plastic hot in a egg poacher pan i bought a wally world. I can shoot about 9 shots form this pan. I wipe the tip off after injecting pull the plunger back set the end on the hot plate while i open my mold. I might have to clean my injector once during my 9 shots. If the plastic starts getting too hot i will set it off a min or so. Bought the hot plate at Freds for around $11.00 I wished i had of gotten the two burner. You could have one eye at a cooler temp and switch your pan back and forth also two colors at the same time. Cub48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassMadness Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 I set my pyrex on an old coffee pot burner. I have only one mold also, I get two shots from this method. Its cheap and saves me a step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteSS Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 I do exactly what Crabby does. ...Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XFactorTackle Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 I would highly recommend more molds before more equipment. No matter how you heat your plastic, your still going to be waiting for your bait to cure enough to open up the mold. The other thing is that your one mold is going to get hot and you'll have to either let it sit or stick it in front of a fan to cool down. That = wasted time which makes for a long tiring day of making very few baits. It sounds like you are looking at getting into more production then hobby, if that's the case you have even more reason to buy more molds. You need to find that fine line between not enough molds and too many. As an example, with one of my most popular baits I have 10 molds...with 2 guys, one running the machine to fill and the other opening molds, removing baits and re-clamping I only need 8 of those molds...BUT if I'm doing it alone I will use all 10 because I can heat up more plastic while I de-mold. The bottom line is, either way I do it there is no time wasted. In my opinion, anytime you are sitting around waiting for plastic to heat up or a mold to cool down with nothing to do, your wasting time. Just keep asking questions...there are a lot of guys on here with more knowledge then me that could provide you some very valuable insight and significantly cut down on the learning curve, you just need to listen and be humble enough to admit when your making a mistake. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J lure Posted June 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 I'm finally caving in and buying 10 more molds! I know, I know it's about time. I'm 27 years old and still think I know everything. Thanks for the input. Maybe next time I can post one man and 10 molds!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Bear's new two-color system( also works w/1 color) and stops all the run-around and extra equipment to double(and even triple) your production output.Complete w/ 2 Presto pots w/ stirrors you need to invest 1k- if you already have the presto pots complete $500.00. That is one cheap investment if you're in the business. My wife helps out in the shop occassionally and she was really impressed as she was continuosly busy hangging newly de-molded baits on the drying racks w/ this new system vs. sittiing and waiting inbetween injection rounds w/ my old method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
