Will Posted September 7, 2004 Report Share Posted September 7, 2004 Being new to this hobbie I have a lot of questions about this method of heating your plastic. From what I've read about it, my understanding is that it does not take as long as heating your plastics with aluminums pots, this is good. *Does it release more of less smoke than when using the aluminun pots? *I know this next question depends on your microwave, but what would you say is the average time from when you get the microwave going to when the plastic is ready for pouring? *If I want to make plastics of two colors, I guess it would be a bad idea to heat up two pirex containers in the same microwave at once, does that mean I need one microwave per color? *Do you pour your plastic straight out of the Pirex container, or do you use a smaller aluminum cup (lurecraft) to do the pouring? I know some of your answers will probably make me come up with more questions, but I am trying to decide if this is the way to go and if I should invest in a couple of small microwave ovens strictly used for pouring plastics. thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted September 7, 2004 Report Share Posted September 7, 2004 Does it release more of less smoke than when using the aluminun pots? I have never seen a difference. The major advantage is not the device, but the plastic! Calhoun produces very little, if any smoke at all! I know this next question depends on your microwave, but what would you say is the average time from when you get the microwave going to when the plastic is ready for pouring? It depends on the microwave, the amount of plastic in the cup, and how many times you take it out to stir it. Regardless, it still only takes a fraction of the time it takes to melt it down in pans or a hot pot. There are some guys that are more comfortable pouring with pans or a hotpot, but still melt it in the microwave and then transfer it to the other. I would say 4 oz takes me about 2-3 minutes? I'm guessing here. I just crank it up, and it's instinctual now when to take it out. If I want to make plastics of two colors, I guess it would be a bad idea to heat up two pirex containers in the same microwave at once, does that mean I need one microwave per color? I have had as many as 3 cups in at the same time, but it takes longer then heating them individually. I heat my plastic in spurts. I heat one color for about 1 1/2 minutes, take it out, put in another color. While the next color is in, I mix the first one real good. Then I just repeat these steps. Each time I put it back in, it takes less time then before. Do you pour your plastic straight out of the Pirex container, or do you use a smaller aluminum cup (lurecraft) to do the pouring? I pour straight out of the cup. I use 2 cup Pyrex cups. The 4 cup is ok for single colors, but it's a little too hard for me to be accurate with muti-color pours. I bought the microwave I'm using now at Wal-Mart. I think I paid about $30 for it. I made sure to get one with the turn dial timer. That way you don't have to keep resetting the time. Just turn the dial and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Woodsac, Thanks, I think I will give the microwave a try. I saw a picture of your setup indoors, and I noticed the same two-burner portable stove that I saw at Wal-Mart the other day, what do you use that for? Would you say they are better than buying the single burner units which seem to be cheaper even if you buy two of them? Thanks for clarifying my concerns about this method for melting plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted September 8, 2004 Report Share Posted September 8, 2004 Will, I don't use the burner anymore. I used to use it when I was doing 3 color pours. A lot of times, I have one color that I only use about 2% as much as the other 2 colors. Like for a short vein line. That one would start to cool before I could use it all. I just rotate all my cups in and out of the microwave now. With a little practice, you just get a rythem going and you know when it's time to put one back in for about 30 seconds. There's no real advantage. But it was only $20 or $30 when I bought it and they didn't have any single burners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 Woodsac is a pro by his answers. Here's a few additions and observations. "......it does not take as long as heating your plastics with aluminums pots, this is good." Stirring by either method is extremely important because plastic heats unevenly. Reheating plastic with glitter must be done slowly and kept at the coolest temp possible for pouring, otherwise the glitter almost disappears from shrinking if overheated. "Does it release more of less smoke than when using the aluminun pots?" Cook it too fast and over 325, and smoke/searing results. (A candy thermometer is a nice way to see where you're on a time line. As suggested, Calhoun's is best, 3-G and LC's are worse for smoke and smell. "I know this next question depends on your microwave, but what would you say is the average time from when you get the microwave going to when the plastic is ready for pouring?" Depends on how much plastic is cooking and at what you find is a decent pouring temp. "If I want to make plastics of two colors, I guess it would be a bad idea to heat up two pirex containers in the same microwave at once, does that mean I need one microwave per color? " When making laminates, small, multiple pyrex cups work best, but short zaps and stirring to a nice consistency is crucial. Two large cups will do well for the mass pouring of laminates. "Do you pour your plastic straight out of the Pirex container, or do you use a smaller aluminum cup (lurecraft) to do the pouring?" Regardless of the container, the pour spout must be free of hardend plastic for a controlled pour. Clumps will screw you every time. I like glass. "should invest in a couple of small microwave ovens strictly used for pouring plastics. " One is more than enough, but use the thermometer as a guide to the rate of heating. (You already know this, but for those that don't, never leave the thermometer in the nuker! The next question can be answered better by someone else. When do you add worm oil and salt when microwaving? Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank Senkosam and especially Woodsac for the awesome advice on heating plastic with the microwave. I decided to give it a try today and I like the results. Here's a sample: http://tinypic.com/5183d And here's the whole batch: http://tinypic.com/5185f Using the microwave is so much faster and cleaner, I loved the fact the I was able to pour straight from the Pyrex container. This is the way to go. Thanks Guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 Just some more tips. I add the salt before I nuke the plastic. It disolves much better and you don't get lumps. I don't add worm oil to salted baits but I do add the scent after I bag them. The salt will absorb the scent and release it in the water. After you take your warm baits out of the mold make sure you lay them out straight until they cool. If you don't they will take the shape that they are laying in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 Will, those are as professional as any I've seen! Are they salted? 5" ? Sam (I brush worm oil into the mold cavity just before pouring, resulting in good release, glossy surface and scent.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 Will, Looks great ! Glad all the tips payed off. Looking forward to seeing some more in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 Nova, Thanks for the tips, tips for this newbie are always appreciated. Woodsac, Thanks for the encouragement and I'm glad you like them. I will post some more in the near future. You've got to love the aluminum stik molds, not much clean up to do after you remove them from the mold and they are always shinny. Sam, I have to admit that I decided not to use salt since I did not grind mine (regular salt table). The whole purpose for this experiment for me was to see how I did when melting the plastic with the microwave and I'm glad I did not burn anything with exception of one of my fingers :oops: . Yes, they are 5" stiks, the ones on the left side of the first picture are from Del and the ones on the right are from Bob. I just love these molds. Thanks everyone for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 Will, I've noticed that some of the manufactured sticks have a coarse salt and do fine. Maybe you could try using the 20%-by-wt. formula of regular unground salt and tell me how it works. If the weighting and action are good, I'd be interested in buying that color combo in 5". Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleenor1 Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 I am a total Newb at pouring my own baits. Actually tonight was te first chance I have had to sit down and try a few test runs. I would like to say that I have read almost every post on this website and I would like to thank everybody that has shared their information. You know who you are.... There are a tun of you out there. I had a chance to use both methods of heating my plastic tonight. I did one batch on the stove in a aluminum pouring pan and I did a second in my microwave. Let me tell you right now.... I love the microwave method whole lot better. It is faster. Cleaner. Less smoke and I would say that the results were a lot better than the stove method. Not to mention that I burned the heck out of the first batch. Really it only tok about three minutes to heat up and a minute or two to warm back up after each pour. The microwave method is great, at least for me...... One other thing that I would like to add on stirring the plastic in the container before cooking it. I found a great little tool at the Home Depot today in the paint department. It is called the "Squirrel Mixer" by Site-b Company. This thing worked killer. Mixed the raw plastic for about one minute and it worked great. I really have to recomend this mixer to you guys out there. It was $15.00 and it attached to my cordless drill. Works great for the one gallon pail of Calhoun that I bought from Del's and I am sure that it would work just as well or better for a five gallon pail. Thanks for the tips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsac Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 fleenor1, Welcome to the site! I think most of us are in agreement with you about the squirrel mixer. Best thing I have found for mixing so far! I've been using one for about a year now. I know you said you've read lots, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Yes, heating your plastic with the microwave is best. I just wanted to add that I use a "power driven paint and mud mixer" also from Home Depot which is cheaper than the squirrel cage mixer. I bought two of them and even with the S/H fee, it comes out to be less than $15.00. So far I have used it on just the one-gallon plastic bucket and it works perfectly, but I know it is more than long enough to handle the 5-gallon buckets. http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/101100_4.jpg My local Home Depot store did not carry it, reason why I had order it online. Just type "paint mixer" in the search field and it will be the only item it will come up. Good luck Thanks everyone for your contibution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 If you are heating your plastic on your kitchen stove you must be single. If you're not; just keep going and you will be.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Ahhh yes........how true Nova. I'm surprised I'm still married. Done some pretty dumb things since starting this venture. I remember thinking I could get the excess hardener off the bottom of the gallon containers by running them in the dishwasher. I know.....I know........don't even say it. It took me half the day to clean the walls and racks with an S.O.S. pad. Not a pretty sight at all. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 I hear ya. When I first started I was re-melting and pouring in plaster molds making "shadows" in my basement. Only one problem; I was re-melting Berkley rubber. If you've ever done that, it's a smell you won't soon forget. Pouring in the basement lasted all of about 1 hour and I was bannished to the unheated garage and it can get quite cold up here in the winter but still not as cold as my wife can get.lol I guess we've all got some sort of "spouse" stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleenor1 Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 What? You guys have time to be married? I spend too much time fishing and now too much of my non-fishing time making these damn stik baits...... HaHaHa. Yes, I am single..... fleenor1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigZ Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 I remelted some power worms once....might as well have emptied the pooper scooper into that cup. Now I can get away with doing plastic in the garage since I switched to MF plastic. It actually smells OK...maybe it's just the fumes getting to my head....LoL. 3g plastic smells like an outhouse, LC smells like the staging pits on a drag strip, Calhoun smells like someone is cooking illicit drugs next door, MF has a sweet tangy odor... like plastic or something. I'd best bust out a respirator......LOL. Did anyone else ever notice that none of the plastic comes with a material safety data sheet? If I am correct, that is federal law in the USA for ALL chemical products?!?!?!?!? Can't Beat MF, except for the price, you get what you pay for, for damn sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 Hate to get WAY off topic here, but that reminds me of the time several years ago when my neighbor called the cops on me. He was certain that I was running a "meth" lab in my garage. When the cop arrived, he got a darn good laugh out of it. I remember him saying "so you're the guy who does this". It's funny.....I get that a lot......like I'm the only one who pours worms! Incidentally, my neighbor and I had a fair share of words. He has since moved away. I sure miss him............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojo Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 I actually got an MSDS with my gallon of Calhoun's from Del. I kept it just in case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
