army-boot Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Hey guys been a lurker for awhile and think I'm almost ready to start trying a few pours. I can be kind of anal and want to make sure I have most of the procedure down. I'm sorry if this is old hat. As for supplies I figure I'll need: Injector Mold Plastic Colorant Glitter SOftener Pyrex cups Mixing sticks Safety equipment Scent. Thermometer As for the procedure just want to make sure I have it down. Heat plastic in the microwave in small doses stirring until you reach the desired temperature. Add heat stabilizer and softener. Once plastic reaches 350 degrees remove from microwave. Add desired amount of colorant, glitter, salt, scent. Preheat injector. Use injector to suck up plastic. Grab mold. Clamp/screw mold tight. Inject plastic into mold slowly and consistently. Expel any leftover plastic from injector back into previously heated plastic for reheating and start over. Couple of quick questions. Is softener used in pretty much all recipes? Seems like salt is just there to help with rate of fall and potentially as a bite enticer. Does that order look correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Hi Army, I'm an old Army guy myself. 35K. I heat 1:30, :30, :30 stirring in between. Have molds already screwed, clamped before you start. If I know my recipe, add colorant before I heat. After you get plastic to 350 and it cools to 320 or so add glitter. Too hot a plastic can damage glitter. Several ways to heat injector but I do it in that last 30 second plastisol heat with a propane torch. It's really nice to have the torch that lights by itself when you pull the trigger. Good luck with it all and try not to breath the plastisol fumes.... I don't use softener unless I have a small bait and I want lots of action. Softener makes your baits less durable. They tear easily thus you'll lose more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army-boot Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thank you for the input. I have no clue as to recipes and colors. I figured I'd just buy the colorant I use the most of and experiment while keeping notes. While you're waiting for the molds to cool do you typically reheat the plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 You can look at the soft plastics cook book at the top of the forum and get all the recipes you will ever need. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 If you don't put the sprues back in the plastic you should be able to shoot at least three times before a reheat. I put mine on a griddle to keep the heat from lowering to fast. Then reheat the sprues and injector plugs in another cup and add it back to the original cup. Keeps from reheating all of it over and over. At first your demolds will be fast but as heat builds up it will take longer. Make sure your injector is in real smooth working order, this will make it easier to work with. Use a bit of worm oil on the oring. I know this might sound funny but don't use such a small amount of plastic that it requires frequent reheats, more is way easier to control temperature. One thing that I have on the bench is a bottle of raw plastic, if you get something to hot and it has not yellowed yet you could add the raw stuff to cool it down FAST. If not it will be no good. I don't know who's plastic you have but I use spike it's and never heat to 350 ,it just does not need it. 330 is about all I go. Other brands might need that. Good luck. Frank 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army-boot Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks for all the fantastic input. First few will be small just to get the hang of it. These molds are seirously amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 We are real lucky to be able to produce baits with such detail and professional looks. Gotta love the technology available to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone2long Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 Just a small piece of advice I see you posted "mixing Sticks" don't use wood as it can impart air bubbles to your plastic while stirring use a butter knife or some scrap metal with similar dimensions. even a screw driver will work well and get the job done and it does have the advantage of a handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsic Posted January 24, 2014 Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 I have been making soft baits for over a year now and have learned a lot from this forum. It seems like everyone is willing to help out, just yesterday I was using my new craw mold and was having trouble with it till I read on here that I was putting too much pressure on my injector BTW I am retired Army also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army-boot Posted January 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2014 You guys are fantastic. Just stopped by goodwill the other night and picked up a bunch of stuff. Pyrex, cheap-o microwave that worked, some glass mixing rods, and a whole bunch of other misc stuff for less than 40 bucks! Apparently basstackle.com is a few miles from my house. I wonder if they would let me stop by and look at their stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Basstackle makes molds as they are ordered so I don think you will see much in stock. He is very busy so maybe a call before would be in order. He runs a great business and is really easy to work with. I am guessing some of your stuff is from his store? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Just a small piece of advice I see you posted "mixing Sticks" don't use wood as it can impart air bubbles to your plastic while stirring use a butter knife or some scrap metal with similar dimensions. even a screw driver will work well and get the job done and it does have the advantage of a handle.bubbles are moisture in the wood that disapear nearly instantly. Not using wood is bs. Lureworks recomends stirring the barrel with a wood paddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAWG1419 Posted January 25, 2014 Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 I used to use paint sticks from home depot. Used them for 2yrs no problems. Had one for each color because they are FREE. Now I use my Baitjunkys stirrer only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
army-boot Posted January 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2014 Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. Going to start with green pumpkin as thats the color I have most confidence in. I need to figure out how you guys make those sweet color fades. Those would lookkiller on some swimbaits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
