bribass Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 Hey Guys! Those of you who use drums of plastic I need some advice please! I currently use a company that offers drums but have extremely minimal hard packing. Im considering switching to another company for much better pricing but has been known for hard packing over time. My question is, how do you guys that buy drums keep the plastic evenly mixed so you don't get inconsistent baits throughout when hard packing can be an issue through a 2" bung hole. Thank you for any help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basseducer Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 bribass, As many here do, I take the top off the drum and mix it with large mixer and a hand drill. When everything is mixed well I transfer the plastic to 5 gallon buckets. I is easier to handle this way and you only have to remix small the small buckets. I mix those with a small squirrel cage paint mixer and the same hand drill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 Stay away from hard packing plastisol- been there ,done that! It's not worth the time,frustration and equipment to try and loosen up the concrete on the bottom -no matter how cheap the price. You'll end up getting inconsistent results w/ your desired flexibility in your finished product. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Hey Guys! Those of you who use drums of plastic I need some advice please! I currently use a company that offers drums but have extremely minimal hard packing. Im considering switching to another company for much better pricing but has been known for hard packing over time. My question is, how do you guys that buy drums keep the plastic evenly mixed so you don't get inconsistent baits throughout when hard packing can be an issue through a 2" bung hole. Thank you for any help! A drum agitator is exactly how you would mix a drum LOL. I used the mixer and drill for a couple years, then I bit the bullet and had a drum agitator made, SOOOOOOOO much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Stay away from hard packing plastisol- been there ,done that! It's not worth the time,frustration and equipment to try and loosen up the concrete on the bottom -no matter how cheap the price. You'll end up getting inconsistent results w/ your desired flexibility in your finished product. What make some brands pack more than others? Is it something in their formulation, or does their product just sit so long before sale that it has time to pack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 What make some brands pack more than others? Is it something in their formulation, or does their product just sit so long before sale that it has time to pack? Mark- i won't mention brand names except 1. MF can sit forever and won't hard pack. Some do it over a month or two. One in particular notoriously hard packs in a short time period. Years ago, I ran down an fully charged, 18vlt drill battery trying to mix the concrete and it still had hard plastisol on the bottom. It must be in the formulation of the plastisol w/ less expensive,raw products. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 That makes sense. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 There is a lot of factors in settlement. A 18 volt drill will never mix a drum thoroughly, not in 15 minutes. This is were most guys have problems, Stabilizers, plasticizes etc all have different weights to them. This is why a unproperly mixed batch will be great in one part and burn like crap in the other, be different shore hardness etc. A proper mixer for a thorough amount of time will resolve any issues. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bribass Posted August 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 A proper mixer for a thorough amount of time will resolve any issues. Exactly, Thats what I'm asking for is what other guys like yourself are using to keep it properly mixed? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 There is a lot of factors in settlement. A 18 volt drill will never mix a drum thoroughly, not in 15 minutes. This is were most guys have problems, Stabilizers, plasticizes etc all have different weights to them. This is why a unproperly mixed batch will be great in one part and burn like crap in the other, be different shore hardness etc. A proper mixer for a thorough amount of time will resolve any issues. Exactly!!! bribass, this is a drum agitator. I like that I can head out an hour before I start a shift and turn it on, when I get out to work it's mixed and ready. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bribass Posted August 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 (edited) Thanks DaveMc! I see how that works, so how exactly are you removing the lids to the drums? Obviously when they arrive they have the 2" bung hole near the edge and a 1" bung hole for venting but thats it. Id love to know an easy way to remove the sealed lid entirely like it looks like you have Edited August 22, 2016 by bribass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 There is a lot of factors in settlement. A 18 volt drill will never mix a drum thoroughly, not in 15 minutes. This is were most guys have problems, Stabilizers, plasticizes etc all have different weights to them. This is why a unproperly mixed batch will be great in one part and burn like crap in the other, be different shore hardness etc. A proper mixer for a thorough amount of time will resolve any issues. I was speaking about a experience w/ a 5 gallon pail years ago. 55 gallon drum mixers are readily available. Never had a problem mixing MF since there is no hard packing- ever! https://www.google.com/search?q=55+gallon+drum+mixers&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Thanks DaveMc! I see how that works, so how exactly are you removing the lids to the drums? Obviously when they arrive they have the 2" bung hole near the edge and a 1" bung hole for venting but thats it. Id love to know an easy way to remove the sealed lid entirely like it looks like you have Real simple, there is a clamp around the lid that tightens with a simple bolt. Take the bolt off, open and remove the clamp and bingo, the lid comes off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Bribass. cheapest alternative i have found, My plastic don't hardpack. But I guarantee this will mix hardpack. There is nicer alternatives. This is the most economical. https://www.zoro.com/dayton-open-drum-mixer-12-hp-316-ss-32v134/i/G5026603/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I seem to recall that one of the big bait companies started out mixing with an electric trolling motor when they were still a small bait company. Electric drill motor will burn out fairly quick, ask me how I know............. My agitator uses a 1hp 1750rpm motor. Mixes a drum without breaking a sweat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMc1 Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I read drill motor, not trolling motor LMAO. I've learned the hard way and now look at it like this, I could cheap out and get something that can't quite handle the task at hand, and spend more in the long run, or I can just get the right tool to do the job the first time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I used a 1/2 hp Milwaukee drill motor with a mixing blade to mix drywall mud in 5 gallon buckets for many years. That drill was lower rpm, and had plenty of torque. It was like this, but without the pretty paint: http://www.all-wall.com/Categories/Mud-Mixing-Tools/BuddyTools-MixIt-Mixing-Paddle.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Glover Posted August 26, 2016 Report Share Posted August 26, 2016 I use a trolling motor that I bought at a garage sell. It mixes a 55 gallon drum great. I pour up around 30 gallon jugs & will pour up the rest a couple of months later. A cheap, but effective way of mixing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
