robalo01 Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Anybody know of any potential substitutes for Microbubbles? Anything that can be added to resin to make it float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Moreau Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Everytime the wife and I visit napa or do any wine tasting I always ask for corks. They are Free and work really good. I have used them whole, chopped with a knife and put in a food processor....Each way works just depends how fine u want them and how much time you want to spend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted July 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Thanks for the tip. I ran some tests today and they came out pretty good, even with Poly resin. I ground up and old cork rod handle in a blender and then sifted it. The finer the grain the stronger the result but slightly less buoyant. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyman Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 One of my bigger baits i actually cut a slice of low density foam from hobby lobby and joined it to the wire harness before pouring the resin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglinarcher Posted July 5, 2014 Report Share Posted July 5, 2014 If it is a resin that heats up as it cures, like Alumilite Regular or Alumilite White, I have actuall6 had good results adding a few of drops of water to one part, mixing the two parts together quickly, then pouring. It seems to form steam bubbles that you really don't see. The problem is that I did not work to see if I could get predictable results. I just found microballons so much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted July 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Here is a lure I made with ground cork and poly resin. It is about 50/50 mix, well and then I added a littl industrial talk to keep the resin from being too brittle. http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff465/Robalo01/WP_20140705_008.jpg It beeeeearly floats without the hooks. It will probably swim ok. Interesting thing is, the cork floats to the top so the lure's center of gravity drops without the need for adding ballast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonline Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 I've used perlite and cellulose powder before. It's a slightly larger molecule than microballoons (especially the cellulose), but I found it caused the resin to foam slightly and could never get consistent results. Thinking about it now, it could well have been extra/less moisture in the powder each time causing the variations in expansion. We use it by the ton at work, so I can easily grab a cupful or two if I want some. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolly Bob Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 Anybody know of any potential substitutes for Microbubbles? Anything that can be added to resin to make it float. Hi , If you are using Etex a 2 part epoxy, you might try Bubble Buster from Mud Hole tackle crafting supply. This is sprayed on after applying the epoxy. It releases the surface tension on a 2 part epoxy. Robert Jolly Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
