Custom Baits - Forum
Soft Plastic Bait Making => Soft Plastic and Plastic Baits - How To??? => Topic started by: Brent on 04/12/12 19:27 UTC
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I dont even have my first mold yet, but I have so many questions.
When does the color get put in? before heating or after?
How about glitter? is it ok to Nuke the glitter?
How about scent? is that just added after the bait is done?
Does adding worm oil "soften" baits?
My main interest will be making micro baits, for panfish and ice fishing
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You are on the right site to get your info. Everyone has a preference to their own practices. I prefer to add my colorants after the plastic has been heated past the thick stage and has started to liquify again. I tend to add my glitter after another 30sec. of heating. Have yet to scent my baits but I am still very much a rookie. I will be posting a few pictures of my baits/colors and recipes hopefully tomorrow if the storms don't wipe out the man cave.
Drew
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thanks for the response Drew ;D
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I'm sure many more experienced Mad Scientists will give you better advice, there are many kind brilliant minds here.
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Hello, I am Shawn, one of many mad scientists here. ..and I am a Christian to boot so a lot of folks think I am double crazy. :P
Anyway, Once you have your recipe down you will find it easier to add color to the liquid plastic before heating. It is much easier to stir this way and you don't have to worry about introducing the enemy- air bubbles which can come if you stir too quickly. Some glitters handle heat VERY well, but others DO NOT. I add some of my glitters prior the heating and some I will wait for the last second before I add, and I use a microwave. If you are using pots there are different variables. You will find part of the beauty of crafting baits is the learning process. That is the part that really gives you that "Ah-Ha" of your efforts. The more you experiment, the more you will fall in love with this in my opinion and there are others here that share that. There are many, many, many variables in this labor of love. Other will chime in with their thoughts. All of the sudden so many things come to mind but I won't write a novel here.
Welcome to the forum, and know that CCM is a family business, and Jason will treat you as such. You are in the right place. ;D
-Shawn
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Here are a couple videos you may want to watch. They are a little dated, but have some good basics in them:
http://youtu.be/hIxwjX9dwG0
http://youtu.be/vX6ra2vm2dw
Once you know your recipe you will get a richer, more transparent color by adding your colorant prior to heating. For making a new recipe it is easier to add after the fact, but with some colors there will be a slight difference vs. cooking in. I always, without exception, add glitter at the end (once it's ready). You can add it earlier, but it will be the first thing to bleed, curl, etc. in the process.
Keep the questions coming!
Jason
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Thanks Shawn and Jason!!!!!
I'm looking forward to my sample package, so that I can decide where to start. I started clearing a work shop area, which has a nice sturdy bench and a egress window, which I thought I could push a vent to.
Again Thanks for all the info!!!
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Jason -- Do we need a category for the "Just Getting Started ". There is a lot of valuable info scattered here and there throughout the forum; But not in one basic area. Maybe a sticky "master post " of the step by step process of an injecting cycle; along with a posting area for the beginners. This would put most of the "I am New" questions together. This may expedite the basic learning process for the new recruits.
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Ok another newbie question:
There are a lot of different scents out there, scouting around most are added to the melted plastic before the injection,are there ones that you dont add to HOT plastic? I do a fair share of cooking High heat and garlic= not good. Are there any scents like that?
What about Berkley Gulp/Alive scent?anyone ever add it to a bait?
Might as well add this one as I'm on a roll has anyone ever tried to add mylar to a mold? I guess sort of like the Storm swim baits?
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Good idea, Paul.
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I never add scents to my baits until I am ready to fish them. I may add a certain scent to a few the night before if I have been having recent consistent luck with it . I know most baits are packaged or poured with a scent; but I want the flexibility to see which scent they want today. Or sometimes, right now. Bream may want shrimp better today, yesterday ( or even this morning ) it was night crawler or craw fish. This is especially true in the winter months.
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Ok another newbie question:
There are a lot of different scents out there, scouting around most are added to the melted plastic before the injection,are there ones that you dont add to HOT plastic? I do a fair share of cooking High heat and garlic= not good. Are there any scents like that?
What about Berkley Gulp/Alive scent?anyone ever add it to a bait?
Might as well add this one as I'm on a roll has anyone ever tried to add mylar to a mold? I guess sort of like the Storm swim baits?
Make sure they are oil based. If there is water in the ingredients, you can get a violent reaction with the plastic.
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Did my first shot this morning
(http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/gallery/medium_473-240412202558.jpeg)
But I do have questions, my first batched did not turn out very well, infact the plastic never harden it was like slime, I had mixed Lurecraft plastic(had it want to use it up first) couple drops of LC watermelon color, and a couple drops of anise scent. In a silicone mixing cup. Not sure where it went wrong, but switched to Pyrex and just color and glitter and it worked pretty good. now need to get some more molds!!!
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Brent; Do you have a thermometer? What was the peak temperature of your plastic? If you don't have a thermometer; you probably did not get the plastic hot enough to polymerize ( right around 350 degrees ). The peak temperature can be touchy as you need to get the plastic to 350 degrees; but not much more at all or you will start scorching the plastic. Subsequent re-heats can be cooler; just hot enough to inject well.
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X2 KipBass...as per the Berkely Gulp Alive, the Gulp and GulpAlive are Water Based Plastic, and use Water Based scents. Walmart had a clearance on alot of tackle and I picked up a bunch of Worms for $1 and $2 per pack...mostly to work on remelting so I could add what I wanted to. They melted great, but wouldn't re-solidify.
Water and Plastic do NOT mix, so please don't aim to add the Gulp or GulpAlive Juice to a Plastic mix.
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Brent; Do you have a thermometer? What was the peak temperature of your plastic? If you don't have a thermometer; you probably did not get the plastic hot enough to polymerize ( right around 350 degrees ). The peak temperature can be touchy as you need to get the plastic to 350 degrees; but not much more at all or you will start scorching the plastic. Subsequent re-heats can be cooler; just hot enough to inject well.
No thermometer ....YET still trying to get all the parts together, thought I had enough heat, as the next batch I did was in for the same amount of time, and worked great. , Thanks for the insight.
BKJ don't worry, I decided the only scent to be added will be after the plastic is cooled and bagged, :)