Pouring plastics

Muddler · 12-08-2003, 08:58 AM

Who could imagine that with all the plastics available today that one could possibly want another to add to the menu ? Well...I do , I think. Can anyone help me place a foot on the path to learning more about pouring plastics, making molds, etc.? Web sites would be fine. Thank you. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

Hagen · 12-08-2003, 03:25 PM

you might want to look at JANSNETCRAFT on the Web they have a pretty good selection in there magazine of do it yourself fishing gear.

Hagen

Soft Plastic · 12-08-2003, 05:25 PM

Muddler

Lurecraft is where I get my supplies. He has a huge number of molds, and will custom make them for you. The molds can be rather pricey. I pour plastics for use in the salt. They are much softer than anything you can buy in the store. They also work great and the colors are left up to your imagination. If you would like more info let me know.

Private-Aye-Fish · 12-10-2003, 10:14 AM

Muddler,

You can get a free catalog from Lurecraft 1-800-925-9088 or their website at lurecraft dot com and tacklemaking dot com has some plastics as well.

Muddler · 12-14-2003, 04:56 PM

Thank you so much! It must be the flytier gene at work but I want to give it a try. I enjoy fishing tubes and would like to "tie my own" so to speak! Have a Merry Christmas to all and be sure to get out if you can! This rain did a number but we still have a few days remaining on our licenses! Thanks again. :grin:

micropterus101 · 12-15-2003, 12:48 AM

I make my own molds with polyester resin. works great and last indefinetly. go to walmart and buy some cheap little plastic containers that are flexable. get some of your favorite flatsided baits and wash them in diswasher detergeant to degrease them , then glue them to the bottom of the plastic containers with super glue. Mix and pour resin over lures till covered by at least 1/2 inch. mix resin slowly to prevent air bubbles. use wire to wisk away air bubbles on plastic lures before resin cures. After resin cures for a day twist mold to break bond to plastic container like you would your ice tray. pull out the plastic baits and your ready to pour your own.

SafetyChain · 12-15-2003, 02:48 PM

Cool post. I would love to learn how to pour my own soft bait. Any mentors our there to at least show the basics?

Muddler · 12-17-2003, 07:56 PM

An excellent tip! Something like that shouldn't be a copyright enfringement. I wonder how many others would like to pour their own baits, the point being maybe setting up a class or demonstration or a friendly get together. Hmmmm. Something to think about. Thanks for the input. Jim

SafetyChain · 12-18-2003, 07:45 PM

I bought an RTV Silicone mold mix today at TAP Plastics on Sandy. Hot plate on sale at BiMart. Mold pans at the Dollar Tree. Got to order the stuff to make the bait now. Found several(along with instructions) on the internet. Gonna look em again tomorrow :grin:

rebell · 12-19-2003, 05:54 PM

Theres a lot more to pouring plastic baits than one might realize. I have poured a few over the years to say the least.

1st, stay away from the hot plates and pouring pans. Check out lure craft and spend the money for their pouring pouts that look like your every day lead melting pot. The pouring pans and hot plates work for single colors, but if your looking to do 2 or 3 color baits, you will need the pouring pots, and some practice.

Next, remember that the plastic you will use burns!!!! If you get it to hot it will yellow, or worse yet, it can catch on fire (I have seen it happen). Buy the super soft plastic for hand pouring, the soft and saltwater plastics only will work for injection molding. Injection molding is done with a lower plastic temperature than what is used for hand pouring.

You will find that you really need to experiment to get the desired color you are looking for. Theres a lot more to making brown or green than what you would expect. So expect to buy many different bottles of pigments to get the desired color you are trying to acheive. Then there is the different colors of hilites, and flake sizes and colors. If you look in the lure craft catalog, you will see what I am talking about.

If you have any more questions concerning hand pours, drop me a line. I am willing to help out. I still pour a few baits for myself, and am willing to help someone make there own baits. I just wont pour baits for others any more.

[ 12-19-2003, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: rebell ]

Private-Aye-Fish · 12-20-2003, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Muddler:
Who could imagine that with all the plastics available today that one could possibly want another to add to the menu ?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Muddler,

Can there be too many?

SafetyChain · 12-20-2003, 08:12 AM

Got my Lurecraft catalogue yesterday. So many choices so little money :grin:

Here's a question, is there any difference in the Lee melting pots for plastic from the ones for lead?

Rebell,
Is the problem with the hot plates unequal heating?

Why do you no longer pour for others?

PM if you prefer to answer that way.

I understand the precision aspect of using the melting pot, I use a lead one for jigs, it is soooo much easier and less wasteful. But until I decide if will be doing this often enough, I don't want to spend the money yet.

rebell · 12-21-2003, 05:43 AM

SC,

Yes there is one major difference between the lee lead pots and the plastic pots. The lead pots are MUCH hotter. They will burn your plastic and then turn it in to a nasty black sticky jell. You do not want to experience the mess you would end up with.

The only reall problem with the hot plates and pouring pans is keeping the desired temperature of the plastic. It takes more time, and requires some practice. Once you have acheived the color you are looking for, make sure you know exactly how much plastic you used, and how many drops of pigment. You will find that one drop of pigment can change the color dramaticly.

Good luck guy's and have fun. Making your own baits and then going out and catching some fish with them is rewarding.

[ 12-21-2003, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: rebell ]

Muddler · 12-29-2003, 05:31 PM

Well...I guess that the answer in "could there be too many soft plastics" is...nope! We that fish are never satisfied, well not for very long anyway! I'm glad to have asked the question. I am learning much by this topic! Thank you all. Jim

nitroduk · 01-10-2004, 04:42 PM

rebell, thanks for the advice!

SafetyChain · 01-15-2004, 02:49 PM

I received my JannsNetcraft catalogue today. For you guys who pour your own, Is there any real difference from injection system vs Hand pour. I really want a completely round grub. Do I have to have injected?

Lurecraft still less on costs.

rebell · 01-15-2004, 05:02 PM

Safety chain, there are some big differences. Probobly the biggest diffrence is the molds that are used. Injection molding uses a two piece (or more) mold that is clamped together, then the plastic is injected in to the mold. The technology that is available today has made it possible to make 2 and 3 color baits that hand pouring has allowed for years. It all depends on how much the manufacture want's to spend on the cost of the mold it self. The cost of these production mold's is pricey to say the least.

Hand pouring uses a flat open face mold. The plastic must be a higher temperature simply because you are using gravity instead of pushing the plastic in to the mold. There are some companies (Robo worm comes to mind) that have pressurized their pots to allow for cooler plastic temp. This helps in many way's, I could go on and on, but by the time I was done, this post would look more like a book.

As far as a round body grub, it is not entirely impossible to make one hand pouring. But you would still have a small flat spot on one side of your grub. The other problem you will run in to is getting a thin curl tail like you see on a Yamamoto or Kalin grub. It is possible like I said, but it would take the pressurized pot's and a custom built mold.

I would call Anglers Manufacuring in Florence (Outlaw Baits). You can reach them at 541-997-7338. They make a lot of different grubs and will make custom colors. I have talked with them several times over the years and seem like good people. I know they can make the bait you are after.

squirrel fisher · 01-18-2004, 06:03 PM

Muddler

Their is another source for pouring material www.barlowstackle.com I have bought from them for more than thirty years. Whoever gave the address for tap plstic on sandy thanks as the one on powell has closed. Its fun and has many problems as rbell says.

SafetyChain · 01-19-2004, 10:02 AM

squirrel fisher,

Your welcome on the TAP Plastics address. But now I have to get another catalog (Balow) :grin:

OK, down to brass tacks,

is there any REAL difference in the plastic mixes available?

Does anyone have a recipe to make your own?

all commercial plastics are fully round, pouring your own will leave a flat side, does it really matter?

Any real difference between rubber/RTV molds vs hard molds vs injection molds?

[ 01-19-2004, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: SafetyChain ]

SafetyChain · 01-20-2004, 02:17 PM

^bump^

rebell · 01-20-2004, 06:14 PM

SC, As far as hand puring molds go, there is no reall difference between RTV molds and hard molds.

As far as plastic goes, there is a big difference. You can only use the soft, or super soft plastics hand pouring. I don't know of any recipe to make your own.

As far as a round bait compared to a bait with a flat side, it seems to depend on who you talk to. I like a flat sided bait for carolina rigs, and a round bait for flipping and pitching. But there is no reall difference as far as I am concerned.