Bajachris Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 I pour swimbaits here in So Cal for calico bass. Man this is a great hobby! Been pouring for over a year, make cool stuff but got a prob that I can't figure out. Baits come outta the mold all shiny and pretty, but turn dull after a week or two. Especially where they've been touching each other, I store em in tuperware type containers. Putting oil on them only lasts for a few days. Any ideas??? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrawChuck Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Sorry I don't have an answer but have been wondering why we have to have shiney baits. My baits from the molds I make are shiney but that's only because the mold cavity is shiney. Some years ago we poured baits from some molds with one coat only and were not shiney but caught fish just as good as shiney ones. So is it for the fish or fishermen? They all look the same under water don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVaGitzit Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Well if you are selling baits, they first have to catch fishermen, then they will come back for more if they catch fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Humans are basically like crows. If it shines or glitters, we're attracted to it. It's something leftover from the "caveman days". Unfortunately, some of us are more attracted to it than others,lol. (no offense, just kidding) I guess what I'm saying is that it is just an inherent trait that humans have and there is not much we can do about it. I agree with CrawChuck that it shouldn't (logically) make any difference...........but it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass4cache Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 What type of plastic are you using and the type of molds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrs5kprs Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Scent or oil can help with the "wet look" on dull baits. If using a resin mold you can apply a light coat of worm oil, PAM spray, etc to the cavity before pouring. If RTV, it is sometimes due to the prototype bait that was used to make the mold. I have had some success increasing the shine from an RTV mold by "overpouring" the mold...putting the mold in a corningware type dish then pouring the cavities full and continuing to pour until the entire mold and surrounding area are covered. Not sure exactly what it does chemically or physically, but most RTV molds will start to "sweat" oil and water (maybe breaks down the carbon compounds?) and will then sometimes produce a shinier bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dutchman Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Maybe Chris from Als Worms can chime in here. Last year he stated you can put a RTV mold in the oven and heat it for a while to make it bring back the oil. I don't know the temp of the length of time. Chris!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajachris Posted March 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Okay is it just me? lol But I'm tellin ya, those things go from really really shiney, to butt ugly dull sitting in those containers. And isn't it all about making the best looking stuff we can? Just a hobby but you know how buddies are, if they find one flaw. Looking like something I'm gonna have to live with though. Into my third 5 gal of M-F Saltwater plastic, RTV molds, maybe I'll let em sit out and cure a little longer before I throw em together. Thx for the feedback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Chris doesnt have access to a PC right now and doesnt know when he will be online again. Theres been numorous posts on reheating silcon molds, what it does is draws oils back out to give that shiney finish. It does work I have tried it, works for about the same abmount of baist then you start having problems again. I believe you can only heat the molds up 2-3 times before its pointless to do it again. When I was using silicon molds I had the same problem first few hundred were nice then they got dull. try the oven trick Do A search to make sure. Its not the plastic its 99% of the time the finish of the mold. Silicon doesnt last that long for shiney baits. Might be a good time to make a few more molds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 When Dave still owned LC he told me that if you pour plastic with salt in it the shine will go away a lot sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Chris doesnt have access to a PC right now and doesnt know when he will be online again. I'm temporarily on dial-up until I get back home. It's slow' date=' but I still get my internet fix. :-D Del hit the nail on the head. You can bake RTV molds [i']maybe[/i] 3 times, then it's pointless. DO NOT bake more than 15 minutes at 350 degrees. I learned a very valuable lesson one time. Put 'em in the oven and forgot about it. 45 minutes later the stink forced me back in the kitchen. Ruined over 30 molds. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Thanks Chris for clarifying that, I edited my post so not to have anyone get an early divorce :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajachris Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Well, I've learned that my very first batch outta the molds would be dull, so I started doing a 'warm up' pour. You know, just throwing remnants together to heat up and pour into the molds. Figuring it was pre heating the molds. Sounds like you clarified that, thx. And man do thay come out beautiful and shiney. (it's after that, that they turn dull) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
