Newbie to soft plastic

[SW Lures]

I'm new to the idea of making my own soft baits. I have searched for what equipment that is needed for doing this here but could not find exactly what I was looking for. I will look on YouTube but there, you don't get multiple opinions.

I was wondering what is needed to start with small grubs w/a swimtail not a twister. What brand(s) do you recommend for each piece/equipment. 

I would appreciate All respounces with personal opinions.

Thanks,

Dale

[gone2long]

Well I won't go into the brand wars but to be honest you need to just go with one and see how you like it almost all will tell you that they've tried them all what it comes down to in the end is what works for your type of process. I would go with some hand pour molds from say lure craft get a gallon of plastic some colorant of your choice and start from there. It's quite expensive to get started in the neighborhood of $200-$500 for just the basics with an injection mold and injector alone can eat up a large portion of your budget, now if you don't have a budget go for it and on the flip side molds and injectors seem to hold their price so you take a hit if its not for you but not too bad.

[Driftwood]

There are a number of suppliers for what you need. I would purchase small amounts of plastic, coloring, scent, and fleck until you are sure this is what you want to do. Just remember when ordering your supplies, a pair of heavy gloves and long sleeve shirt to cover your skin and preferably a full face Sheild to protect yourself from the hot plastic are a must.

[SW Lures]

This info is what I'm looking for. Because of jigs and other baits that I make, soft baits are becoming something that I'm looking at. I'm not a business yet but will be in the future I believe. I know what you mean Gone2long about brand names, but sometimes one product gives you a option that others do not. Being new I may not notice this compared to someone that uses the product on a regular bases.

Driftwood I'm big on safety. Coming from around welding I get your drift about burning. Pun intended . Seriously I do appreciate your comment and have all that you stated about already.

Got to go make some baits.

Dale

[MonteSS]

What size paddletail swimbaits? 

[Travis]

This is one of those areas a lot of opinions.   First plastics are very easy/forgiving when it comes to actually producing the average individual can be pouring plastics with little difficulty not too long after opening the package.   The simplest set up would be a well ventilated area, microwave, pyrex cup, and an injector (if using injection molds).  All you really need.  Some guys like thermometers but after 15 years pouring never found a need for it.   Hot plates can be helpful also depending on pouring location as you can preheat items.  I have poured in the low 30 into upper 20 with no issues without one however but the first pours in the cold mold were remelts just to get the molds warmed some.   It really comes down to the individual.    

[gone2long]

Well then when considering your plastic purchase the number 1 complaint seems to be settling of the solids with the smell 2nd runner up and 3rd would be clarity so when searching use these key words while surfing and you should get quite a few hits on the subject I have used Lurecraft (settled a little to much for my limited use) Chemionics (liked it but don't know if still available its been awhile) and calhouns (smell) but these are issues that I had starting out many years ago so take it with a grain of salt for instance I hear that someone is de-airing calhouns with good results just not sure if the smell thing has been addressed I believe lurecraft may have had a formula tweak as well so you see that's why many folks will hold back suggesting, then some are downright salesmen of a said plastic so the best I can offer is read up you may find someone who has got them all right.

[SW Lures]

Monte, I'm thinking about a small size to start off with. My thinking is to start with around a 2".  In time I want to make trailers of about 4-6" for bucktails.

Gone2long, I appreciate your opinion on the plastics. I can't remember ever getting around the pouring of plastics so the smell I have no clue about It. It can't be worst then a deer or when I lived on a farm.  As long as it don't hurt me.  I'll search as you said.

Travis I'll be getting with you.

Thanks,

Dale

[Frank]

Look up franksrooty2 on you tube. I have many videos there to help out people like you. Not saying it is the only way but it works for me and has for years. I can make a few baits or many thousands with the equipment you see in the videos. Most of which don't cost much. There are machines that are out there but they are not a replacement for good hard work. 

[MonteSS]

#1 Calhouns/Baitjunky has no smell and never did unless you smoke it.

I was asking size because swimbaits in the 3"+ range are very easy to handpour so no injector is needed for startup cost.

Get the baitjunkys plastic (de-gassed if you are heating in a microwave)

 

[SW Lures]

Usually I just post a "like" to show I have read your post but..... So,

Frank I have already started watching your videos.

Thanks Monte, the 2" baits are killers for white bass that I fish for in the spring. I've tried 3" and don't get as many strikes. Wish I could have hand poured, but it is what it is. So that's where I learnt something that I would not have found out normally. Can't hand pour that size or probably any style smaller in size than a 3".

Thanks all,

Dale

[hpssports]

My daughter loves tearing up the white bass with the Do-It 2.5" Swim Fry. She prefers chartreuse with red flake or hot pink with red flake. We'll switch to holo purple smoke when gunning for crappie. You just can't beat the swim fry......

[joelhains]

I've got molds from several companies and found pretty much all of them are good. If its a machined mold you will get a nice professional looking finished product. Lot of options for plastic and some are better than others. I really like bait junkie plastic followed by mf manufacturing. For a swimbait mold check out bass tackle. I love the 2.5 inch paddletail!

[SW Lures]

8 hours ago, hpssports said:

My daughter loves tearing up the white bass with the Do-It 2.5" Swim Fry. She prefers chartreuse with red flake or hot pink with red flake. We'll switch to holo purple smoke when gunning for crappie. You just can't beat the swim fry......

You tell her that's a great fish!! We fish for bigger species, but when they don't cooperate. Its a blast to take a ultralight and 2lbs test after them. I really like seeing kids enjoying the outdoors, instead of seating on a couch playing a game. They will be better off for it in many ways!

Joelhains, I am looking hard at basstackle molds.

Thanks,

Dale

[SRJ]

Do-It has a catalog you should have along with a number of different starter kits.

You pick out the project and they provide the material.

[JRammit]

Don't cheat yourself out of the option of making your own molds.... If you're the type who enjoys design, and I know you are Dale, then it's far more rewarding!... That is once you ride the learning curve, just like anything else

 

A little paddle tail grub isn't a complex project to start with.. Actually I was planning on designing one soon

 

if you're interested, I'd be happy to share my methods with you... There are plenty of guys who make far cleaner molds than I do, but I have an extensive history of failures, so I can tell you exactly what not to do

[JRammit]

Example of a traditional grub mold I made recently

The masters were carved from wood, which I know you're proficient with... Some think you can't use wooden masters in pop, but you can if you follow a few rules

tly 

[JRammit]

Hey look at that... Pop pop pop

glitch fixed

[SW Lures]

I believe I maybe able to design and carve something with a tad bit of practice.  Very nice work JR. Yep I'm interested in some tutoring with POP (plaster). I have some high magnifying lens and detail tools to creat scale patterns, gills, eyes etc. 

So yep I'm in! Let me know.

Dale

[JRammit]

1 hour ago, DaleSW said:

I believe I maybe able to design and carve something with a tad bit of practice.  Very nice work JR. Yep I'm interested in some tutoring with POP (plaster). I have some high magnifying lens and detail tools to creat scale patterns, gills, eyes etc. 

So yep I'm in! Let me know.

Dale

Unfortunately that's against one of the "rules"... Any fine carved in details will leave thin, fragile ridges in the plaster that will break when you remove the master.... But there are other options if you're dead set on detail work

the main "trick" is to use a combination of hard and soft material... In the case of my grubs, a wooden body, foam rubber tail and rubber o-rings for the ribs

only big "meaty" parts can be hard material, and should be smooth.. Any thin, small pieces parts or appendages need to be some kind of flexible material (this is where creativity kicks in) or can even be cut into the hardened plaster afterwards 

of course there's more.. A lot more... Since this thread isn't really about mold making, Pm me when you're ready and ill throw more info at you

[MonteSS]

Guy here may have a custom four cavity open pour 2" swimbait mold for sale.

http://custombaits.com/index.php?topic=9310.0;topicseen

Edited December 7, 2016 by MonteSS

[JRammit]

I didn't see this in any of the replies, it's an easy one to forget

If you plan on doing any light colors like white or white and especially white... Remember to add some heat stabilizer to your order.. It's cheap and a little goes a long way