Nascar#48 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 So I'm stiring the mess out of my plastic during the heating process and just before pouring and I keep getting salt in clumps in my worms. What am I doing wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Everyone's system is different. I'm just a hobby pourer, so take what I say with that in mind. I use a silicone Nor Por cup to microwave my plastic, and a bent metal coat hanger to stir it. I leave the coat hanger stirrer in my cup, pinch one end with one of those black metal paper clips to form a spout, and stir after I've poured a cavity or four, depending on how big they are and how long it takes to pour one. I still get salt accumulated in the bottom of the cup, but it's less than if I don't stir. Maybe whatever you're using to stir isn't thin enough to break up chunks of salt that may occur. I use heat stabilizer, so I'm not afraid to stir my plastic until it's down to 300 degrees, and then hit it again with the microwave to get it back up to 330 or so to pour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) I want to say the plastic is to hot. It lets the salt settle so fast you can't get to pouring. I thought I read somewhere you were new to this. If you use a recipe with a large salt content it's going to be a hard learning curve. Maybe get comfortable with pouring with less salt and work your way up. Just my thoughts. Oh and it is also much easier to work with large amounts of plastic at first just because the temp fluctuations are way more forgiving than a small amount. Edited February 27, 2014 by Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nascar#48 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I am very new to this and salt is kicking my butt lol. Iv been using a lot of salt. I'll try backing off a little and I'll also try a coat hanger to stir it, iv been using a old butter knife. I have color and glitter combos down I just have to figure out this salt stuff and then I'll be alright. Thank you for the advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 No reason to make this hard, I shoot a lot of baits and salt kicks my butt too. Wait till you inject with that much salt. Give them the colors they want and let others figure out how to make them work. Thats what they did when they got baits with salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Start w/ ultra -fine salt from Bear's Baits. Mix it in a Presto Pot w/ stirror- then inject. End of salt clumping problems. Making your own baits is not a cheap hobby to get involved with- if you want professional results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 Start w/ ultra -fine salt from Bear's Baits. Mix it in a Presto Pot w/ stirror- then inject. End of salt clumping problems. Making your own baits is not a cheap hobby to get involved with- if you want professional results. Amen to that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteSS Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 If your salt is clumping it is either not stirred enough or posibly moist salt. What salt are you using? How much per 4 oz plastic? What plastic? Mocrowave? Any Softener? When do you add the salt? Handpour or injection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nascar#48 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 I'm using lc salt, 4-5 tbs per cup of plastic, lc medium plastic, heating it in a microwave, adding salt before heating and injecting the plastic. And iv tried with softener and without. Same results both times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 dont add the salt until its ready to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted February 27, 2014 Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 You folks just don't get it. if you want to keep salt suspended ,you need a heated pot w/ a stirror. But I could be wrong if you have a mechanical arm w/ a well designed coat hanger The old business rule applies to hobbies- if you want to save money ,you have to spend it 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 You folks just don't get it. if you want to keep salt suspended ,you need a heated pot w/ a stirror. But I could be wrong if you have a mechanical arm w/ a well designed coat hanger The old business rule applies to hobbies- if you want to save money ,you have to spend it 1st. Funny that it seemed to work just fine last night. I have the same injector setup you have, and run it damn near daily, but if i have an order for 25 Sticks in a colour i don't keep an inventory of i sure as hell am not firing up a pair of presto pots for that. Why would you sit here and chastise someone fairly new to the hobby for not spending nearly $300 per pot/mixer when it plain and simply isn't needed. It it fairly easy to keep salt suspended in plastic with nothing more than a stirring utensil and an injector. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Funny that it seemed to work just fine last night. I have the same injector setup you have, and run it damn near daily, but if i have an order for 25 Sticks in a colour i don't keep an inventory of i sure as hell am not firing up a pair of presto pots for that. Why would you sit here and chastise someone fairly new to the hobby for not spending nearly $300 per pot/mixer when it plain and simply isn't needed. It it fairly easy to keep salt suspended in plastic with nothing more than a stirring utensil and an injector. It's so easy even a cave man can do it. I did not say he has to fire up two presto pots. One pot w/ a stirrer and a medium injector will get him started in the right direction w/out wasting money. There's is usually a pot w/ stirrer for sale on Bear's forum pages- @ discount,slightly used condition w/ a fair price. BTW- you think you have the same injector set-up I have.LOL! Just becuase I have a Shooting Star system don't assume it's the same as yours. FYI- I also have a single presto pot w/ stirrer and a medium and large single injector for single color work so I don't have to fire up the two pots and dual injector. In the future don't put words into my mouth-thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 It's so easy even a cave man can do it. I did not say he has to fire up two presto pots. One pot w/ a stirrer and a medium injector will get him started in the right direction w/out wasting money. There's is usually a pot w/ stirrer for sale on Bear's forum pages- @ discount,slightly used condition w/ a fair price. BTW- you think you have the same injector set-up I have.LOL! Just becuase I have a Shooting Star system don't assume it's the same as yours. FYI- I also have a single presto pot w/ stirrer and a medium and large single injector for single color work so I don't have to fire up the two pots and dual injector. In the future don't put words into my mouth-thankyou. "You folks just don't get it. if you want to keep salt suspended ,you need a heated pot w/ a stirror" you said the words your self. I wouldn't assume I am running an off the shelf injection setup either (wouldn't hold up to continuous daily production ) there are ways to use a lot of salt in your plastic and NOT use a pot, to sit here and tell anyone that they NEED to invest in a pot and stirring unit in order to make baits with a lot of salt in them is insane. To the Original poster, please keep at it. Add your salt after your plastic has been heated, add it slow while stirring. you will have to periodically stir, usually before filling the injector, keep at it and you should get the hang of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAWG1419 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) Edited February 28, 2014 by DAWG1419 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nascar#48 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Maybe one day I'll invest in a pot, untill then I'll keep playing with what I have. Thank you all for the advice/ support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 You are doing just fine. Like mentioned before keep at it and you will get it. Don't need to spend a lot of money when just starting out. I still don't have a pot with a stirrer and I shoot more baits by hand than 99% of the guys on here. Made plenty of videos on you tube showing how I do it just to prove it can be done without a bunch of equipment. Salt i do try and avoid but i can do it. If it still clumping keep stirring till its gone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedyarb Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 You rock Frank! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nascar#48 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Frank what's your YouTube account? Id like to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/user/franksrooty2/videos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteSS Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Sounds like you have the right stuff Nascar. As said already add the salt to your cooked plastic slowly and stir. I like a butter knife best as I can stir the salt from the bottom better. IME only need for pots is large batches when selling baits. Microwave and hand stirring works fine for one cup or less. GL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassinfool Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I make sticks all the time and I don't use a pot and stirrer and don't have any problems getting salt to suspend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
