Groucho Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 I've searched and couldn't find the thread about remelting soft plastic baits with salt. I thought I read that u can't, is that right or wrong. Thanks. Darn I-pad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Remelting salted baits works fine- providing they're made w/ quality plastisol and you add new plastisol before melting the used baits.Heat slowly -stir often.That said,salted baits won't float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 is there no issue with moisture absorbed by the salt (if the baits have been fished)?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) JR - A good point. Salt is deliquescent, which means that given the chance, it will keep absorbing moisture, even to the point were it dissolves in that moisture. Any moisture in hot plastic or molten lead is considered, quite rightly, a dangerous thing, and to be avoided at all costs. But here we are, re-heating plastic that contains salt that in turn, obviously contains water. To realize why this situation is not a danger, you need to understand what is dangerous. When a volume of water changes to steam, it expands. Yes, we all know that, but do you know by how much it expands! The answer shocked me when I just looked it up; 1400X. So when a droplet of sweat falls into the hot plastic and manages to break the surface, it expands 1400X its volume in a tiny fraction of a second. This can only be described as an explosion and you all know the consequences. In the case of the reheating of salted plastic, the heating process is slow and the steam released gradually and safely. I don't do plastic, but I would imagine that for several seconds, the plastic would look cloudy or dirty until the steam has escaped. Correct me if I am wrong. Dave Edited December 3, 2015 by Vodkaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishon-son Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 never had any issues with remelting salted baits....i do it all the time...I add about a few ounces of fresh plastisol and go for it...first micro re heat is 1 min. then every 30 sec.it you got full melting and temp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishon-son Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 oh cut up the old real good make them small pcs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Dave, You are correct. This also applies to lead. Even if you have visible water droplets in your pot when you turn it on, by the time the lead reaches the melting point the water has all steamed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FATFLATTIE Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) I have found it best to sit baits out in front of a fan or something on a paper towel for a couple days if they have been fished with. And yes it will still bubble up pretty badly but if you heat slowly and stir well it eventually all gets out of there. I don't add salt to my own baits but I have melted down a bunch of baits with salt in them and if you are careful it can work out ok. Always wear gloves (this should be common practice but far too many people don't) because sometimes it can bubble up and run over the top of your cup and you may not be able to see the thin layer of plastic on the cup when you reach in the micro to get it out. A buddy of mine has burned himself a couple times like that. Not badly, but he was lucky. Just use good common sense and you should be fine. Also, like someone already said cut them up in really small pieces and that will help the water vapor escape the plastic a little easier. Edited December 3, 2015 by FATFLATTIE 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 is there no issue with moisture absorbed by the salt (if the baits have been fished)?? Spread them out on a cookie try and place them in the summer sun for 1 hour if you believe they have excess moisture. Excess moisture will cause the plastisol to bubble profusely when heated in a microwave.heat @ minute intervals and stir each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter1 Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I bought a meat grinder from Harbor Freight and boxes of sprues from folks on this site. Some of those sprues contain salt. They grind melt and pour just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishon-son Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 meat grinder ? i dont think i have ever heard of a meat grinder to cut up old plastic ..and why? a good set of scissors is all that is needed cut up to 1/4 or 1/2 inch...3 mins in the micro and your shooting baits...no mess.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 meat grinder ? i dont think i have ever heard of a meat grinder to cut up old plastic ..and why? a good set of scissors is all that is needed cut up to 1/4 or 1/2 inch...3 mins in the micro and your shooting baits...no mess.. But toys are fun! I stole my ex-wife's coffee grinder to grind my salt, and her blender with no top to make Hobo Margaritas. Now that was fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bribass Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 meat grinder ? i dont think i have ever heard of a meat grinder to cut up old plastic ..and why? a good set of scissors is all that is needed cut up to 1/4 or 1/2 inch...3 mins in the micro and your shooting baits...no mess.. You must never have tried it... when I need to cut up 12 cups of grind at a time.. a meat grinder does it in a BREEZE You'll be sitting a while cutting 12 cups of regrind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Boys Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 You must never have tried it... when I need to cut up 12 cups of grind at a time.. a meat grinder does it in a BREEZE You'll be sitting a while cutting 12 cups of regrind is it just a hand crank one ? sounds like a good idea. I always use scissors but you are correct for a lot of it its a lot of cutting. I have broken a couple pairs of the cheaper scissors with plastic handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishon-son Posted December 5, 2015 Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 i cant figure out why you would have 12 cups to grind....that right there is a lot of waste.. unless your running pots ? and maybe you should be putting the sprue back in to the pot.or you just bought a bunch of sprue from someone? I have never tried or heard of that..but if it works go for it....I for one wouldn't have that much laying around as when I'm making baits I'm always remelting as I go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 A lot of different production methods and a lot of ways to handle sprues. Some guys leave all their sprues on and hang baits to cure for a couple weeks. Depending on their production volume, this makes for a bunch of sprues on hand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FATFLATTIE Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 (edited) i cant figure out why you would have 12 cups to grind....that right there is a lot of waste.. unless your running pots ? and maybe you should be putting the sprue back in to the pot.or you just bought a bunch of sprue from someone? I have never tried or heard of that..but if it works go for it....I for one wouldn't have that much laying around as when I'm making baits I'm always remelting as I go...I believe he said right in his post that he purchased them. Sorry, that was another poster that said that.Personally,I don't buy plastic in enough bulk to just get rid of spruce or not remelt. About the only thing I won't remelt is white and clear baits (except for myself because a little off color to the white doesn't bother the fish, therefore it doesn't bother me) because I want as true a color as I can get for paying customers. Edited December 6, 2015 by FATFLATTIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bribass Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 is it just a hand crank one ? sounds like a good idea. I always use scissors but you are correct for a lot of it its a lot of cutting. I have broken a couple pairs of the cheaper scissors with plastic handles. Yea a hand crank, just use the biggest holes you can find, it will make it a lot easier! i cant figure out why you would have 12 cups to grind....that right there is a lot of waste.. unless your running pots ? and maybe you should be putting the sprue back in to the pot.or you just bought a bunch of sprue from someone? I have never tried or heard of that..but if it works go for it....I for one wouldn't have that much laying around as when I'm making baits I'm always remelting as I go... I use the ultra molds shooting start big pots and also I hang the baits by their sprues. The bottom of the pots once you start sucking air leaves close to 4 cups worth of plastic at the bottom that can be reused. I cut the big disc of plastic in the semi-strips and send it through the grinder... takes almost no time very quick Brian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
