Stick Questions

[OHBAITMKER]

Just recieved Del's 5" stick mold yesterday. Have been pouring for several hrs trying to come up with a good reciepe. So far I have tried Watermelom

8oz plastic

16 drops LC watermelon

1/2 tsp black flake .015

1/2 tsp. copper .015

1 cap heat stablizer

3 tbs, powered salt flake salt ground in blender.

This is yielding 18 5" sticks per batch. Is this about right amount?

Tested in water and sinks very close to a Senko.

Figured cost is about .10 per stick. How does this measure up with what other members have found. Can't wait to try some , but most all the water is solid here in Ohio. Thank you in advance for any advice or coments.

PS. Del your mold is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dungeonhawk]

First off, i noticed you arent using any softener. The salt offsets the tough quality that the salt adds. For 8 oz of plastic 3 tbs of salt seems a little low. I think most of the folks on the boards will agree with me. In general i think you need to use softener, and you need to use more salt.

BUt if you found a recipe that you like, and it works, then go with it. Everyones is different.

[dsmblack]

I get about 21 5" stick from just over 4 oz of plastic. 18 for 80z seems low. Are you cutting off the cap at the end and reheating it.

[nova]

Dsmblack; I think your calculations are off a little. 21 baits out of 4 oz is impossible; but if you are I'd love to know how you do it. No disrespect intended.

www.novalures.com

[saint308]

I get 10-12 form 4 oz. so your number seems reasonable. Did you weigh any of them? Your cost does not seem too far off either. Good luck. Saint.

[dsmblack]

Hey Nova, I use a little more than 4oz of plastic, probably closer to 5oz, 5 caps softner,1 cap stabalizer and about 7 tbls salt, desires colorant and glitter for whatever color I am making. With that, I get 20-21 5 inch stix. That uses every bit in the cup. I use Bob's molds. I'm not sure if there is a difference in Bob's and Del's. I do cut off the caps after pulling the baits from the molds and remelt back into the original formula.

[nova]

I use Bob's molds as well. I think I reacted too quickly. I get 17 to 18 sticks. I use LC's pouring cup as a measure and it's just over 4 oz so if you are just over 5 oz then it all makes sense.

www.novalures.com

[Predator Bass Baits]

Dsmblack, what salt are you using to be able to put 7 TBLS in 5 oz. ? I put 4 TBS in 4 oz and you can here the salt crunching in the bait when you touch it. is it powdered ? And 21 sticks for 4oz but only 18 sticks for 8 oz ?

[SwampBaits]

I get 16 sticks using 4 oz. plastic, 3 tbs. salt.

I think some people are refering to the overall volume of the salt AND plastic. With my recipe the total volume is around 6 oz. with the salt in it, but it's only 4 oz. plastic.

[OHBAITMKER]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for all the replies and information. I wasn't remelting the caps. Fist time using a 2 piece mold and just plain forgot. Tried angain after work today and come up with 24 total. Sounds like i need mor salt. Saint308 i have weighed them and they weigh 4 grams each, or 3.5 dwt on my digital scale. Will try more salt next time and see if the count goes up. Also I need to correct the size Del's mold is 5 1/4 inches.

Is pounded salt bad to use? Table salt seems to sink and not suspend in the plastic.

Thanks everyone

Jim

[bassn1]

If I use the standard formula I found on this site. 1 cup plastic, 1/2 cup salt ( Del's ) and 2 oz softner for stiks, I can get 35-37 of the 5 1/4 inch ( Bob's mold ). That's remelting the caps too.

[saint308]

4 grams does not seem right to me. I would think you need to be more in the 11-14 range to match senko. Some other guys should chime in on this. Mine weigh around 11 but the deepest water I fish down here is about 5ft. Saint.

[OHBAITMKER]

Saint308

I stand corrected. Went out to the barn and rechecked They do weight 11 grams. Was thinking of my crankbait belly weight. Only took 3 months to find that and it is engraved in by brain.

Thank you

Jim

[Garneau Baits]

I use Calhoun plastic -- 1 cup plastic, 1/4 cup salt 1 1/2 oz softener,color and fleck to taste. I get about 22-24 sticks. they weigh 11-12 grams. thats for small orders in a micro using Del's 5 1/4 stick mold. for bigger orders for stores or just to stock up on colors I use the New LC 5 gal pressurized pouring pot. I can pour about 250 sticks an hour by my self, with someone helping me, handing me empty moulds I can pour 1 stick every 8-10 seconds so about 360 an hour, using 8 seven cav molds. thats not counting the heat up time for the plastic. When doing this I dont melt down the caps. I through them in a bin when i get a bunch I put them in my big pot add a few cups of new plastic some softener, heat stabilizer a few hundred drops of Green pumpkin color some gold and Chartreuse fleck and i come up with a color i call Grand Travers MUD. I sell those on e-bay for 4.99 "buy it now" for 25 Sticks. Its a good way to get rid of my tops

[Predator Bass Baits]

Does anyone know the weight of plastic from the 3 manufactures ? ( meaning same volume of plastic) Like one stick with no salt, flake.

I am using M-F S.S. and the only way I can get my sticks 10.50 grams is

1 cup of plastic 1/2 cup salt but then the bait has a crunchy feel to the touch or squeeze. I use canning or pickling salt and not crushed ( I do not want a opaque bait )

And 1 cup M-F S.S with 3 TBS of salt has the right feel but only weights 9.7 grams.

I just cannot figure out how your getting heavy baits.

Happy, so that preasure pot is nice then HUH ? ( some day )

[Garneau Baits]

Jim,

I use this salt I get it from a feed store in my area its about 12$ for 50LBs. I dont blend it, That takes way to much time. It is about the same exact size as in Senkos. When pouring out of Pyrex I stir every 2nd bait to keep it suspended good. In the big pot it has a built in mixer with variable speed so you dont need to stop and mix. That alone saves alot of time when pouring. and yes I love that pot.

salt link http://www.cargillsalt.com/food/dc_salt_food_topfloevap.htm

so far I think Calhoun is the best for stick baits--I know they have/had bubble issues but they sent me a chemical to put in mine and it got rid of most of the bubbles. With 1/4 cup of salt mixed into 1 cup of plastic you really dont notice the bubbles anyway and it doesn't effect the fall that i can tell. the fish still eat them up!!!

I do like LC super soft for other baits I need to buy some more of it. I have 50 Gal of Calhoun's now i need some LC super soft for other baits. I may be willing to part with a few 5 gal jugs of Calhoun's if anyone is interested PM me

[Garneau Baits]

Predator Bass Baits,

if you use Del's 5 1/4 stick mold -- the stick it produces is a tad bit bigger in Diameter than a senko therefore it needs to be a bit heavier than a senko to have the same fall rate. I found that Senkos are 10-10 1/2 grams. to match the fall rate using Del's molds you need to get your baits at 11 1/2 to 12 grams. Try using 1 cup plastic and just a bit over 1/4 cup of salt. I also use a heaping teaspoon of fleck per cup.

[dsmblack]

I use LC salt. I add 7 measuring spoons to my mixture and make sure the plastic is pretty hot. If not it jams up the hole in my mold. I only have two 4 cavity molds from Bobs and I can make 2 batch's in about an hour. Approx. 40- 42 baits. I try to pour sticks, while cooling I pour Beavers, while cooling I pour lizards or something else. On the salted baits such as my stick's, I mix every 4th bait. Sometimes it gets hectic trying to pour 3 differeant types of baits and after a couple of hours I have to take a break, go outside, get a chew, and come back in and start over. One of these days I will be able to pour on a bigger level, if I really want to. I love it, but I like to fish evn more. Can anyone relate.