Custom Baits - Forum

Soft Plastic Bait Making => Getting Started / Customer Support => Topic started by: toHISglory on 05/09/12 21:35 UTC

Title: production
Post by: toHISglory on 05/09/12 21:35 UTC

New to site and pouring my own baits. Question? Roughly how many Croaker 4" frogs can you get from a gallon of plastic? Thanks for your help, toHISglory.

Title: Re: production
Post by: toadfrogbaits on 05/09/12 22:12 UTC

This is only a guesstimate but I'd say about 250 . Depending on how much scrap you produce .

Title: Re: production
Post by: Jason on 05/10/12 09:14 UTC

1 Gallon weighs aprox. 8 lbs. 8 lbs x 16 oz = 128 oz. A 4" Croaker weighs aprox. .6 oz. So, with no waste it would make around 200. I would assume a learning curve, waste, etc. and estimate it at around 175.

Somebody help me with my math if I'm off.

Thanks,

Jason

Title: Re: production
Post by: weltonio on 05/10/12 09:28 UTC

Welcome!!!

Title: Re: production
Post by: andrewlamberson on 05/10/12 09:31 UTC

Just out of curiosity...why do you (and others) do the calculation based on weight vs volume?

I would have filled the bait cavities with water
Dumped the water in a measuring cup
Divided the amount of water by the number of cavities (to get a per bait #)


Divided 128 oz/#oz per bait= #baits/gal

I wonder if you end up with the same number as using the lbs?

Alternatively, if you melt a finished bait....do you end up with the same # of oz per bait??

(obviously...you may need to melt multiple baits to get enough volume to measure.)

Ummmmm?????

Title: Re: production
Post by: Denny Welch on 05/10/12 09:34 UTC

I'm really happy you guys answered before I did.  I was going to guess at around a million.  Welcome to the site, Glory.

Title: Re: production
Post by: Jason on 05/10/12 09:46 UTC

The numbers will be relatively the same. 

There are some variances (x color weighs more than Y, pearl, eyes, dipped vs non, etc).  I used a frog with a pearl belly, eyes and dipped.  It shouldn't get much heavier than that.  This wouldn't yield an exact count, but should be in the ballpark.

It's easier to do it by weight because there are more known factors.  I know how much the plastic weighs, I know how many ounces are in a pound, all I have to do is drop a bait on a scale and then do the math.  The biggest variable at that point is the person making the baits, but this should let you know what a perfect number is, and then you can figure out what is an acceptable margin of scrap, error, etc.

You could also do it by volume, but it would take longer, involve liquid, an accurate way to measure liquid, etc.  Check with your production guys at work.  I'm sure they do everything by weight.

Jason

Title: Re: production
Post by: Dave on 05/10/12 10:06 UTC

Or, if it takes a 1/2 OZ of plastic to make the bait then figure 128 x 2 = 256 with a rough estimate of 3 Oz of waist. But then again my math was not my finest grade either  :D

Title: Re: production
Post by: andrewlamberson on 05/10/12 11:42 UTC

I never thought about just weighing a bait....but  I measure MY fish in POUNDS....and I don't even think my scale could weight 6 oz !!!   :P

Title: Re: production
Post by: Jason on 05/10/12 12:26 UTC

I bought a gram scale specifically for this.  It's an inexpensive one but it works well for what we do.  Ebay...

Jason

Title: Re: production
Post by: andrewlamberson on 05/10/12 13:01 UTC

I know...I was just be a smart *&^%

Title: Re: production
Post by: Dave on 05/10/12 13:25 UTC

 :-[ Uh, am I the only one measuring with a measuring cup?  :-\ 

Title: Re: production
Post by: Posty on 05/10/12 14:13 UTC

A pint is a pound the world around

Title: Re: production
Post by: pjmcla on 05/10/12 15:09 UTC

As usual; Jason is correct ( or real close ).  You are not going to get a 100% usage rate from plastic to finished product.  That's where "subjective" math comes in. Jason's 175 seems to be very reasonable; maybe a little conservative.   

Title: Re: production
Post by: superharmonix on 05/10/12 16:09 UTC

I use a gram scale I bought from Harbor Freight for like $15.  I use Jason's method to get real close.  The only totally 100% accurate way you will get the right number is to shoot nothing but Croakers with an entire gallon of plastisol.

Send me a gallon of plastisol, and I will shoot nothing but Croakers with it and will promptly provide the number here on this very thread.

In all seriousness, the answer is you will get many more out of X gallons of plastic after you practice.  At first you will be scorching plastic, getting dents, and going through the learning curve jsut like anythign else new.  BUT- it is extremely rewarding, a lot of fun, and a fantastic way to spend time (which you will be doing a lot of I am sure!)

By the way, toHISglory is right!  AMEN BROTHER! I LOVE that name!  How cool is it how he called Jason to this business for this season in his life and us to cross paths with him, buy his stuff, and make baits that catch fish while enjoying the Lord's gift of the outdoors!

-Shawn

Title: Re: production
Post by: toHISglory on 05/10/12 21:13 UTC

Thanks for all the input, will let you know how this rookie does with the 1st batch of Croakers!

toHISglory.

 ;D ;D