Hookset Posted March 6, 2007 Report Share Posted March 6, 2007 Unfortunately I'm stuck up here in the Northeast and it's .....well cold. My wife has me banished to the basement with my new hobbie and I'm having some trouble getting the plastic to pour smoothly without setting up too quickly. I've read in a previous thread that the temp should be around 70 degrees but I wasn't sure how much of a difference that made......until now. I think my basement is about 55-60 degrees and my latest pour attempt started ok but ended like I was pouring Cookie Dough Ice cream.......do I need a space heater or something.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted March 6, 2007 Report Share Posted March 6, 2007 Hookset - We pour in conditions from 10 - 100 degrees fahrenheit. If your pouring in a 55 degree environment consider yourself lucky . I would look at how often you are heating the plastic. Lets assume that you have a stick mold and use a microwave to heat your plastic. Heat your plastic up to around 300 - 325 fahrenheit. Once you get it to temp make sure that you are mixing your plastic very well with a metal mixing stick. Pour your sticks, let them set up, and remove them from the mold. Before you pour your next set of sticks, try and heat your plastic for like 20-30 seconds, stir and pour again. Hope this helps.... If not post the mold your using, type of plastic, and heating method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 6, 2007 Report Share Posted March 6, 2007 I'm farther north than you are and I pour in a shop attached to my garage. It's insulated but not heated very well. I don't have a problem. I think maybe you aren't getting your plastic hot enough and/or you are taking too long to pour and the plastic is cooling in the pot. I take it that you are using a micro. It's much easier to learn with a hotplate because you can maintain the temp of the plastic. Where with a micro you have to give bursts every now and then to keep the temp up. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted March 6, 2007 Report Share Posted March 6, 2007 I made up something that might help. http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8629 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookset Posted March 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 Thanks guys! jmik26 I did read your post before I got started but I'm probably screwing something up. The plastic got really lumpy but I don't think I was taking too long to pour.......thought at first I might have heated it up too much? I held off pouring anymore or heating any further until I talked with you guys. I'm trying to pour into some one piece molds I got from Barlows...the Little Tail and the Split Worm.......I think I have the Eel also. I did read somewhere that it's tought to pour into these molds using a Pyrex or Anchor cup.....which it what I'm using and .......yeah it's tough. I guess I need some advice on what kind of molds I should start with.....1 piece/2 piece.....and then maybe I might need to purchase a hot plate like you said.....any suggestions on a good one? Thanks again for all the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I think that you are not heating your plastic long enough by what you are saying. The hotter it gets the runnier it will become. Of course you can heat it too much and burn it. That's where the learning comes in; and it never stops. I'll burn a couple of pots a year; but I like to push the pouring. Some things that I do require a hotter temp than normal. Any way; keep at it and don't be depressed if you burn a pot or two. We've all done it. Keep going and it will come; it's a great hobby. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmik26 Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I agree with nova. Heat it about 45 seconds longer for starters. Another thing to consider is the type of plastic being used, Calhouns super soft, Calhouns floating, LC Super Soft, etc.... All these have different pouring characteristics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 When in doubt, buy a candy thermometer. If the temp is not 300 degrees give or take 10 degrees, you have a problem. Stirring keeps the plastic uniform in temp and clumps should be melted or removed before pouring so that the thinnest details can be poured. At present, my basement is 55 degrees and using my microwave, I can still pour 8 cavities - single or 2-sided. The more pours or the thinner the plastic detail, the hotter the temp. needs to be. My two burner hot plate sits collecting dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookset Posted March 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 OK tonight I'll give another shot........burned pot or not this plastic is getting NUKED.......thanks again for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 7, 2007 Report Share Posted March 7, 2007 I start mine at 1 1/2 minutes; take it out and stir it. Put it in for 1 minute; and then stir. After that it's 30 sec bursts till it comes up to temp. Don't try to do it all at once. Also; each micro is different so you may have to play with the times I gave you. Good luck. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookset Posted March 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Awesome.....you guys were right on.......I didn't heat up the plastic enough. It poured great and I was able to pour much more accurately this go-round. Even pulled off the split tail worm without completely hacking it up. I'm pysched to practice and then start experimenting on coloring etc etc... I'm sure I'll be hitting you up for some more advice as I move on but thanks a million......... I took a bad pic with my cell phone........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 From what I see there's nothing wrong with those baits. Glad we could help. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doomdart Posted March 9, 2007 Report Share Posted March 9, 2007 Also, beware that most of the scorching starts at the bottom center of the Pyrex. Make darn sure you stir that part well. Try to lift it to the top, then stir some more. Especially if you are using glitter. Sometimes the glitter will settle to the bottom as the mix gets thinner from the heat. Then the scorching starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
