Jesse9583 Posted December 10, 2017 Report Share Posted December 10, 2017 I'm using Do-it essentials regular formula. I am getting lots of micro bubbles in my baits. Ive searched and read prior threads here about this to no avail. I am using pyrex and a microwave dedicated to just this. Only clean metal utensils, and I'm in a climate controlled area with no abnormal humidity. I'm keeping stirring to a minimum. Mixed the plastisol very very well prior to putting it in the pyrex. I'm at a loss, no idea why I'm getting these bubbles still. I even wiped down the inside of the microwave before I started. The pics are prior to shooting, this is just from warming it up. Any thoughts on getting smoother results would be a big help. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 10, 2017 Report Share Posted December 10, 2017 Sorry, I have no clue. Are you sure you're getting the plastic to the 350 degree conversion temperature before you begin stirring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse9583 Posted December 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2017 I believe so but I have a new thermometer on the way also just to be sure. If I let it cool and then reheat it I'm getting far fewer bubbles, but still enough to show up in my baits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBehr Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 I would suggest you give Do-it customer service a call. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Its not uncommon. Just heat the plastic and let it set a little bit. They will all come to top. Reheat and shoot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking Dead Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Couple of opinions: 1. What are you stirring with? I use a spoon or a butter knife to stir when using a microwave. Slow stirs and no whipping. 2. I use the long handled spoon to purposely put air bubbles in some of my baits. These bubbles give some bouncy which has its place during certain applications. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 21 minutes ago, Baitjunkys said: Its not uncommon. Just heat the plastic and let it set a little bit. They will all come to top. Reheat and shoot. That's what I found too. If you rule out bad plastic and moisture, cook more and eventually those bubbles will burn off the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglinarcher Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Also, mixing the plastisol very well, whipping it, is important to prevent settling, but then you need to let the worked in air work out before you heat and pour/shoot. I like to mix on one day and then heat/pour in a day or two after that. If I have mixed the plastisol in the last couple of weeks, I just tip the jug a few times and call it good before I heat. You can take a very very well mixed plastisol and degas it with a vacuum, if you have the set-up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 I'm spoiled. I always use BaitJunky's degassed plastisol. If you don't use degassed plastisol, and you heat in a microwave, you will have to degas it, so no moisture that might be trapped in the plastisol can expand to form bubbles when it's heated in a microwave. Otherwise you can expect to have bubbles to deal with. I am just a hobby pourer, so I go the degassed plastisol route and never have to worry about degassing myself, except after raw mushrooms. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 One other thing you can do that works very well to eliminate your bubbles quickly as they surface to the top of your cooked plastic. Very quickly, make a couple passes over the top of all those bubbles with a propane torch. I keep one on my bench at all times with the piezo igniter so I can grab it with one hand and fire away. Makes quick work of those bubbles as they surface. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglinarcher Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 3 hours ago, mark poulson said: I'm spoiled. I always use BaitJunky's degassed plastisol. If you don't use degassed plastisol, and you heat in a microwave, you will have to degas it, so no moisture that might be trapped in the plastisol can expand to form bubbles when it's heated in a microwave. Otherwise you can expect to have bubbles to deal with. I am just a hobby pourer, so I go the degassed plastisol route and never have to worry about degassing myself, except after raw mushrooms. But the first time you need to mix the plastic very well to reverse settling, the air is back. Then you are back to square 1. And about the raw mushrooms, TMI (too much information). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted December 11, 2017 Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 2 hours ago, Apdriver said: One other thing you can do that works very well to eliminate your bubbles quickly as they surface to the top of your cooked plastic. Very quickly, make a couple passes over the top of all those bubbles with a propane torch. I keep one on my bench at all times with the piezo igniter so I can grab it with one hand and fire away. Makes quick work of those bubbles as they surface. Wow.....clever idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Maybe I've just been lucky, but I have never had bubbles in my BJ plastisol, even after I've shaken it. I typically shake it every time before I use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse9583 Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 So I think I have narrowed it down to 2 things, either the rate at which I heat it up or the plastisol itself. So I made a small batch on a low setting on my stove top instead of the microwave, took 20 minutes to heat up and as the plastic went from gel back into liquid the bubbles formed again. I'm assuming at this point it is the plastic since I've gone above and beyond what I and others normally do to simply heat plastisol. I'm going to grab another brand and try again quick. If nothing else it will rule out another possibility. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 4 minutes ago, Jesse9583 said: So I think I have narrowed it down to 2 things, either the rate at which I heat it up or the plastisol itself. So I made a small batch on a low setting on my stove top instead of the microwave, took 20 minutes to heat up and as the plastic went from gel back into liquid the bubbles formed again. I'm assuming at this point it is the plastic since I've gone above and beyond what I and others normally do to simply heat plastisol. I'm going to grab another brand and try again quick. If nothing else it will rule out another possibility. If you can, try a degassed plastisol, to eliminate having to degas it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 heat it in the microwave, let it set about 5 minutes and reheat it. the bubbles will be gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy bait Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Leonard is right it is exactly what I do to get rid of the bubbles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse9583 Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 Yep, I've tried to let it sit and then reheated. I have fewer bubbles for sure but they are still very visible in the bait. I understand that it doesn't effect the fish, I just want to be able to achieve the same results as others, still figuring it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 your not getting it hot enough if they did not come to the surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy bait Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 What temperatures are you running your plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse9583 Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 There seems to be a fairly fine line between just right and oh shit I just burned it! LOL I'll test it out and stick the thermostat in it tomorrow and report back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy bait Posted December 12, 2017 Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 I run my plastic around 350 TO 365° Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 7 hours ago, Jesse9583 said: There seems to be a fairly fine line between just right and oh shit I just burned it! LOL I'll test it out and stick the thermostat in it tomorrow and report back! Jesse. one way I found to get my plastisol to the right temp. consistently without burning it is to always heat the same amount, so I can eliminate the variable of quantity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBuff Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Questions: It appears that you are using a 2 cup pyrex with only about a cup of plastic is there a reason for this? How much plastic are you heating up from the start? What's your heat up sequence? What wattage is your micro? Once heated are you seeing any vapor? I would suggest the following: Take 8 oz mix colors in prior to heating if your not, 900Watt micro set for 2 mins, stir and set for 1 min. Stir from the center out to disperse heat, the viscosity of the plastic should allow for the bubbles to rise, if you don't see them rise bump the plastic for an additional 30 seconds and observe. The bubbles should rise from the center and gather along the edge of the pyrex under normal circumstances. Judging by the photo there's enough bubbles where that's probably not going to happen and it will look like the head of a beer. The bubbles in the pic are normally associated with moisture but since you've already stated the lack of humidity that rules that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baitjunkys Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I myself have to disagree, the bubbles you are seeing is simply air. Well air does have moisture in it. Moisture typically foams on top. At 350 degrees moisture will boil. And your cup would be spitting and sputtering at you. Ive degassed 1000s of gallons of plastic. And shook the piss out of it jusf to see bubbles come back. Especially in cooler weather. Thicker the material easier it captures air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
