Bassinfool Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Thanks for all the advice. I purchased a digital thermometer and will enlarge the injection port. Down here in LA we are under tornado watches and extremely bad rains as I type so I will have to wait till the weather clears as I am working outside under a carport. That stuff is headed towards me as well. Hoping it holds off until after I get home from work. Be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 I agree. I think the gate is too small and longer than necessary. Also, if injecting this from the top the air that floats up (as it does in all molds if not trapped) has nowhere to go as the mold finishes filling. Its why I make all my injection molds side inject or bottom inject. (The sprue opening is still in the top) However, if you add a vent in the nose on either side of the gate it might push out anyway. misc swimbait.JPG Oops. I see on the second plate you do have some vents at the head. Bob, I had 3,10 cavity custom CNC molds from Chris Archer that were top inject. No matter what he did to the molds they would still dent. They went back and forth to his shop 3x's. They were a full body minnow mold. He ended up making me single cavity side inject molds.That project turned into one expensive,frustrating nightmare. Now the same 10 cavity, full body minnow mold w/ a hook slot and top inject shoots perfect every time. I also have several different,multi cavity molds from Chris that will dent repeatedly if the plastisol is too hot. One size and technique does not fit all w/ hand injection and custom CNC molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfish 452 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 If it is not too much trouble, could you please explain what you mean by a side injection mold or a bottom injection mold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfish 452 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Got it Bob. Thank you very much. Gonna work on a new mold tomorrow. All you guys have been very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassinfool Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have a top inject swim bait mold that is an enormous pain in the ass. No matter what it seems you get bubbles in the nose of the bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfish 452 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Bob, on the hand drawn diagram you posted, I see what you recommended as vents. What size (I.D.) should a vent be? The size of a wire coat hanger? Paper clip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfish 452 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks to all for the sage advice. Made a 3 cavity mold. (Will forward a pic). Shot some baits and it worked perfectly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
