How Many Molds Are Needed?

[Dink Mendez]

Howdy  Fellow members

 

  I've always wanted to ask this on the forum. This is more for the hobbyist or making plastic baits for yourself. I been purchasing aluminium molds and making RTV MOLDS. How many cavities  do  you pour of your favorite baits.

 

 creature molds

stick baits molds

lizard molds

swim baits molds

jerk bait molds

drop shot molds

trailers molds

 

  When you members pour; how many  do you like to pour of a single favorite style of mold for yourself.  I just trying to build a consistence to I know that I'm on the right track of amount of molds I have or may need for later issues I don't see at this time. Thanks

[Jig Man]

You only need molds for the baits you make.  I have 4 sizes of craw molds, 1 stick bait mold, and 4 tube molds.  That is about all of the soft baits that I use.  However, I am getting a creature mold in a while.

[Walking Dead]

I base the number of cavities and molds on the injector capacity and time. A 6 ounce and a 4 ounce will fill how many cavities per injection turn?

Example 702, 3 four cavity molds will take one injection turn with a little left over.

I only get and keep molds I like and will fish. The rest get traded, sold, or given to a newb to get started (few).

[Dink Mendez]

Hey walking dead,

when you shoot your 702-- molds   

what injection  oz size do you use.

[Walking Dead]

6 ounce BaitJunky's injector. 12 craws, topped, with small amount left plus injector sprue.

Edited September 26, 2015 by Walking Dead

[MonteSS]

My Stick mold is eight cavities and a four cavity 702 craw. That about all I use for fishing and sold off the molds I dont personally use.

[Apdriver]

More is better!

[mark poulson]

I recently visited a TU member's shop, and he said he needed at least 20 molds to do production runs.  

He said, even with 20 molds, the molds get so hot he needs to cool them so he can handle them and continue production, so, in his case, more is definitely better.

But I'm a hobbist, and I find that I can shoot two Essential craw or senko molds with my 6 oz Bass Tackle injector, and still have plastic left over.  I could probably shoot four of the craw molds with one injector load, but I find I can do just fine with the two molds of each design.

I shoot two, empty the injector back into my NorPro silicone cup, clean off the injector tip, and take off the tip and clean both it and the injector back into my cup.  

I open the molds and cut off the sprues, dropping them back into the cup, and then I put the cup back into the microwave for however many seconds I need to get the plastic back up to 325+-, to shoot again.

While the plastic is reheating, I reclamp the molds, shoot Pam into my injector and reassemble it, and I'm ready to shoot again.

My method works for me.  

Do I wish I had more molds? Sometimes, but only of other baits, not more of the ones I have.

if I'm shooting a color that works for both baits, I'll shoot two craws and one senko at once.  That's all the plastic my injector will hold, and it's plenty of production for me.

[JRammit]

20 cavities???... That sure beats making 20 baits in a single cavity!!!

I agree, more is better... Of course injector size is a limitation.... Unless... There was a way to do it without one

[MonteSS]

I do exactly what Mark does

[Dink Mendez]

Great insight! 

12 count shows up

20 count comes up on the mold used most

Thanks 

 

These input gives me some ideas I didn't think about. Thanks Tackleunder ground Members 

[Apdriver]

Well lemme say you can run out, reach over and draw more plastic, and keep shooting. Just sayin. Been there done that.

[Dink Mendez]

I pour as a hobby / for myself and close friends.

 

 I'm leaning towards a total of sixteen cavities. It not to little or not to much

I have plenty of hand poured molds/ injection I'm starting new on.

16 cavities of 

creatures 

grubs 

skirts

would compliment my collection 

[JBuff]

For personal use only 72 cavities / 4 different configurations, anything less and it becomes psychological...going nowhere fast.  I'm so use to mass production I almost dread self pours and have a hard time getting motivated. 

[MuskyGary]

One other thing I do is use two injectors. Fill one injector, shoot a bunch of molds, lay it down, pick up the second injector and shoot a bunch more molds! Then clean up both injectors while your waiting to demold.

[FATFLATTIE]

Well I am not in any way an expert or high production but I do sell some baits and make quite a few for myself and my partner. I just like t o be able to make a "pack" of baits at a time. For example I have five single cavity frog molds, two 4 cavity frog molds. Some I haven't been able to get there yet, only have 2 4 cavity brush hog molds and I can only make 2 ribbontail worms at a time but it takes time to accumulate these things unles you are made of money haha. And definitely only get molds you are really gonna throw. No need in having a $100 mold sitting around collecting dust. But I certainly enjoy not having to buy any soft plastics anymore!

Also, I do have two injectors and that has made life much easier.