Custom Baits - Forum
Soft Plastic Bait Making => Soft Plastic and Plastic Baits - How To??? => Topic started by: TheFrugalAngler on 12/30/17 12:39 UTC
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Just ordered a 6" Do-it Senko mold and was wondering what I should use as a starter recipe. I am wondering if I should order the HD additive or use fine salt. Any tips and tricks would be appreciated. I have heard that the HD additive messes up coloration. I am looking for a GY fall rate but still want flake and Nice colors.
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2 tablespoons/4 oz of plastic
Search (start at top level of the forum):
Senko
HDA
Glass Media
Senko fall rate
And combinations of those words and you'll find hours of reading enjoyment!
Yes, HDA is gray so it does mess with transparent colors. I fish a lot of black/blue flake and dark watermelon brown red flake so HDA works great with those colors. It also makes baits a lot tougher so you will get a lot more fish per bait.
Just say NO to salt! (You will read why in the posts)....unless you don't mind one fish per bait!
Andy
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Thanks Andy. I have read a few but they were older. Just wanted to see if anything had changed in the last year or so. I plan on making green pumpkin and watermelon mostly. Will those colors be messed up with the HDA?
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Andy convinced me to ditch the salt and go with the Glass media. I am very happy I did the lures work well and visually are so much better. The salt distorted the color IMO
Welcome to the forum
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I would go with the glass bead media. There is a link to a source of the glass bead media in the first thread.
http://custombaits.com/index.php?topic=8202.msg62862#msg62862
http://custombaits.com/index.php?topic=9243.msg76353#msg76353
You won't need softener with media like you do with salt.
Normally I prefer to use floating plastic for my wacky worms and drop shot baits....but the glass media in Senkos is pretty cool!
Thanks goes to MonteSS on figuring this all out!
Andy
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Thanks for the tips guys.
I have a 50lb bag of Silica which I got for free. Has anyone come up with a mixture using Silica that won't mess with the clarity and still sinks at a decent rate. Would like to make do with what I have instead of making any more purchases at the moment.
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I've never done Senkos, but welcome aboard TFA!
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I use popcorn salt and glass media 50/50 seems to work very good. I have used the HD but it changes the color a little to much and the flake does not show up as well but it doesent seem to matter to the bass but if your selling the product customers will prefer all salt or salt/glass media.
all salt baits work well to without the glass media. the glass media does make a softer bait and a little heavier.
I use the cc soft plastisol.
I t works very well for me.
I have a couple of the 6" Do-It Stick bait molds I did not like the way they shoto the top cavity would never fill completely to the tail, visually you couldn't tell but the tails would not fill completely and I would get dents occasionally shooting at lower temperate does help.
I recently open up the gates more and now that mold shoots great every time.
Good Luck.
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I make mine with media and use 2TBS to 4oz plastic. It works great. With that mold make sure you purge then shot and hold for ten seconds and then top off the spur. If not you'll get dents. It makes a great bait.
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when do i put the HDA in? after i melt the essential plastisol and get it to 350 or before i melt it???
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I always put mine in before I heat it. The product page recommends the same:
The benefits of using HDS Additive vs salt:
1) Increases plastic durability without impacting formulas action
2) Specifically formulated for plastic
2) Less discoloration of baits (requires less colorant vs salt)
3) Doesn't degrade bait durability like salt (actually increases durability)
4) Suspends in plastic better than salt
5) Doesn't require softener to maintain formula specific action
Directions for use:
1) Stir or shake before using
2) Add prior to cooking plastic and mix well
3) Stir cooked plastic throughout use to ensure continued suspension
4) Cure baits like normal
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Does anyone have a few pictures of a senko made with glass bead media.