G D Beck Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 Hello folks, I've been open hand pouring for a bit now. Chris Jones' advice on color mixes have produced many excellent results for me, varying his takes for my own waters & baits. However, perhaps like some of you, I only have a few molds of any particular variety. So, that means, yes as you already know, reheating and reheating the plastic. Sometimes it takes on a yellow tint and I have to start with some fresh and save the ugly stuff for some dark or opaque color. I've been told stabilizer might help, BUT the point is, if you are pouring only one or two hand-pour baits at a time, the plastic workability dilemma will come into play. So, the question. What has worked best for you all in this situation. I have two creature molds that will have four layers/zones. So, the plastic needs to be hot enough to adequately bond, and then 20 minutes later, do it all over again. It's that second part. So, thinking maybe a toaster oven or something else to keep 4 cups of different color schemes workable at the same time. What do you do? Many thanks for any thoughts & advice. It's the cold of Moria now, so gearing up for some springtime fun. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go55 Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 Try an electric hot plate. I mean household cookware. Use small size sauce pan. 4 layers hand pours laminate then 4 pans 4 colors. Adjust temp control as low as Plastisol pour-able and less burning. Heating Pylex on the hot plate should be OK, but I don't take the risk of glass shutter so aluminum small pan is safer and way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basscatlildave Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 I have ran into this too having only a few molds. This guy uses a hot plate all the time and it seems to work fine for him. https://www.youtube.com/c/DuanesCustomBaits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskat Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 I use a single eye hot plate with a frying pan. I can set four Pyrex cups on it. Another little tip; wrap your Pyrex cups with pipe insulation and cover with duct tape. It's microwavable and keeps the plastic warm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 This is worth your time. Have a look. He is a master craftsman. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 I add a little heat stabilizer to each 4 oz batch of plastisol I cook and don't get yellowing or scorching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted January 21, 2022 Report Share Posted January 21, 2022 Agree with all said. Now let me add my two cent. Heat stabilizer is your friend.. it only takes a couple of drops to 4 oz of plastic. When I’m doing hand pours I use a deep griddle with sand in it to help hold the heat in the pan. The more plastic you use the longer the cups will hold the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G D Beck Posted January 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2022 Wow guys, what a trove of great thoughts! Many thanks! WallyC14 - that's pretty creative. I can totally see why that would work. It looks like a bit of a heat sink, but once warmed, it is pretty bulletproof. Stabilizer, yes, your lessons are learned & appreciated. Just poured a few today with the heat-plate method, much better already. But Wally, dang, that looks awsome. Thanks again guys, good fishing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRum Posted February 6, 2022 Report Share Posted February 6, 2022 On 1/21/2022 at 3:10 PM, wallyc14 said: Agree with all said. Now let me add my two cent. Heat stabilizer is your friend.. it only takes a couple of drops to 4 oz of plastic. When I’m doing hand pours I use a deep griddle with sand in it to help hold the heat in the pan. The more plastic you use the longer the cups will hold the heat. Sandcasted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 I put my cups in . Poured sand mixed with Elmer’s glue in. Let it dry and good to go. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fern Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 On 2/8/2022 at 6:09 AM, wallyc14 said: I put my cups in . Poured sand mixed with Elmer’s glue in. Let it dry and good to go. Thats awesome. how much glue did you have to use? does the heat affect the glue at all? What temp do you keep it at to keep the plastic hot? does the unit smoke at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Sorry for the late response .I put my cups in then I poured sand around the tray.Then I mixed a quart of water and mixed quite a bit of Elmer’s glue until I basically had watered down glue so it would completely soaked down into the sand. I plugged it in and set it on low heat for a couple hours and then turned it off and let it sit overnight and by the time I got up the next day it was good and hard I could pull my Pyrex cups right out. It will take 400 degrees with no problems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Smokes a little when I first used it. It’s not horrible though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fern Posted March 2, 2022 Report Share Posted March 2, 2022 On 2/28/2022 at 3:50 PM, wallyc14 said: Smokes a little when I first used it. It’s not horrible though. Thanks, This is definitely a neat idea. I while have to try this with the one I have. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted May 7, 2022 Report Share Posted May 7, 2022 Would Durham Rock Hard Putty work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted May 9, 2022 Report Share Posted May 9, 2022 Good question. I don’t really know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigmeister Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 Durham's would probably be OK for this just a more expensive . I have used Durham's for making limited use lead molds for prototyping jigheads . It will burn a little on the surface of the cavity from each pour of 600+ hot lead . After a few pours with lead the Durham's will start degrading messing up the detail of the cavity . I have heated up the hardened Durham's molds in the oven with no ill effects to sweat out any remaining moisture before using it for lead pouring which is about the temp of heated plastisol . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigmeister Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 Wally , Are you heating up your plastic in the pyrex cups in the microwave first then transferring to the griddle or doing the whole heating operation in the griddle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basscatlildave Posted November 17, 2022 Report Share Posted November 17, 2022 I have heard of folks putting the cups back in the microwave and putting it on defrost. I have not done but have any of y'all tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...