LJMLuke Posted July 26, 2003 Report Share Posted July 26, 2003 Hello, I am new to making worms and am having a hard time getting them good and hard like the senkos or kinamis. I am using LC 536 right now but think maybe I should try the 502??? I use lots of salt now to make them heavy, I still want to have plenty of salt in them but it is hard to keep the mix going with all the salt. Please let me know if there are any ideas out there!! thanks!! Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charkins Posted July 26, 2003 Report Share Posted July 26, 2003 Hello, I use the 502 because it is a little tougher and holds together better. Everyone has their own preference. I don't want the perch to peck it to death before the bass has a chance to see it Let me know how it goes Cal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJMLuke Posted July 27, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 I have been experimenting some more and think I got something that works. I want a senko (using one of Del's 4.25" Senko molds) that is close to a yamamoto or kinami. I seem to have to use alot of salt (almost 1/2 cup salt to 1/2 cup plastic #536. I grind the salt in a new coffee grinder on the coarsest setting. What else can I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrs5kprs Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 Your salt mix is pretty close. Am using 536 and LOTS of salt with very good results form the del-mart molds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthworm77 Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 I like the harder of the two. I think it is the 502. The other just gets too soft. Remember to shake the bucket or bottle to prevent the chemicals in side from settling. This also can affect hard or softness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJMLuke Posted July 27, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 Hello, I think I am going to re-order the #536 Plastic from LC. I love the high salt content and the firmness is getting there. I just have to stir the heck out of the mix with all that salt. I was thinking about getting 5 gallons but I like the ease of useing the 1 gallon jug. What to do?? 1 gallon ; I just shake it up, 5 gallons; I would have to really mix it up then funnel it into another container to pour from. I only do 1/2 cup to maybe 2 cups plastic at a time. Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercury Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 Just currious, but did you get the plastic mixed ALL the way? If not you will have verry soft worms to start then they get harder the closer you get to the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJMLuke Posted July 27, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 Mercury, I think I am mixing it up well, I shake it upside down, everything looks good. When I first started, I used softener so it was too soft. Then I cut that out and it was still too soft and bouyant. Now I add lots of salt and I think I got it. I just made up a batch of Watermelon and a batch of Pumpkinseed last night. They seem to be what I want. I am making them quite cheap too!! Because of all the salt, I get alot more worms out of the plastic. I just made those Watermelon worms and got 24 4.25" senkos out of 1/2 cup of plastic !!!! Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 Luke, Unless you have some kind of automatic mixer, that's really the only way you can do it. Before I added a mixer, I would mix the plastic really well, then transfer into 5 different 1-gallon containers. If you use any softener or heat stabilizer, it's best to add it to the 5-gallon jug before the transfer. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercury Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 THats one thing I will say about calhoun plastic. Keeping it mixed is SO easy compaired to Lure crafts. I added 5 thinck flat washers to the jug so I can mix it up faster. Even then it takes 10-15 min's to get the plastic mixed the way it was supposed to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 I'm not a plastic expert, but unless there is a problem with air bubbles when mixing, :idea: I would think that a paint mixer that attaches to an electric drill would mix the plastic in the 5 gallon bucket then transfer to 1 gallon containers. : Pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrav Posted July 27, 2003 Report Share Posted July 27, 2003 I was wondering about the mechanical type of mixing techniques myself, namely the drill attachment. I've been using the plastic in 1 qt bottles and found them easy to shake and observe the progress of the mixing by checking the bottom of the bottle and how much of the setled product has entered the mix. Seems the splashing of the liquid slowly erodes the settled content and works it into the mix gradually. Does the drill attachent do this effectively by creating a current or does it tend to break the settled content into gooey chunks and suspend them into the mix temporarily? If it's the latter case, that might be bad. This is one thing that scares me away from large quantity purchases. I don't have a fancy bottle/bucket oscillator and no way am I going to shake a large bottle that long. I assume the drill mixers suspend the bit just above the settled contents and let the current do the erosion work or is it different? jrav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJMLuke Posted July 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 A drill attachment should work extremely well, just keep mixing till it is ready! That will do the job for any kind of mixing. I am just not sure I want to fool around with all the mixing and the cleaning up and transfering and then shaking up the 1 gal. jugs. Have to look at the prices again. If it is worth it or not??! I think my recipe works! I have tried some more worms and the weight and stiffness looks good. Can you believe that I got 24 worms to 1/2 cup of plastic today!!! 1/2 cup plastic and 1/2 cup salt, salt makes up for alot of expensive plastic!!! It catches bass like you wouldn't believe!! Luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthworm77 Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 I pour the five gallon bucket into five 1 gallon containers. This way mixing is easy. That syrupy gak on the bottom is your hardener, if you fail to mix it, you won't have consistent pours and in the end, it will burn up on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 Do you pour into any special kind of container : Pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthworm77 Posted July 29, 2003 Report Share Posted July 29, 2003 you can get 1 gallon bottles for about 1.50 ea from LC. You can also just rinse out a windshield wiper fluid cont. and use that....same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
