Custom Baits - Forum
Soft Plastic Bait Making => Safety / Do's and Don'ts => Topic started by: ghostbaits on 11/15/10 09:04 UTC
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Thought I would chime in to this topic real quick as some may want to get started pouring/injecting but also want to be safe in their new found hobby! Take it from one who has made some mistakes ;), you can pour/inject safely with some common sense and some equipment/tips.
I am sure I won't cover everything so hopefully others will chime in with other added tips and ideas. Here goes...
Work Area: Makes sure you have adequate area to work and that you have a comfortable counter top for your height. Makes sense but I have knocked plenty a mold off towards my foot juggling counter top space!
Equipment: As far as equipment goes, a lot depends on how you melt your plastisol (microwave, hot plate, pot, light bulb set up, etc) but many things are common. You need eye protection for potential splashes. Any safety goggles will do. Be sure to wear goggles over your regular glasses or contacts!!! Goggles have a better coverage area. Always wear long pants and either a long shirt or something to cover your arms. Hot plastic is ROUGH on skin!! Shoes or boots should be closed (no flip flops!!) to protect against a spill or falling object! You may even want to wear a heat resistant apron to further protect your clothing. Heat resistant gloves are also something to have on hand. Whether you are handling a hot injector, hot molds or hot cups of plastic, gloves protect your skin and fingers nicely.
Ventilation and Masks: This is a real important area that some may choose to skip because of cost but will regret in the long run! Asthma induced from plastisol fumes will end your pouring fun in a minute. Your area needs good ventilation! Some use kitchen exhaust hoods, some just pour in the garage with the door open. Regardless of where you are, get the fumes out so they don’t build up in your work area! Some recommend masks to further filter out particles. It is your health, don’t skimp!
Other tips: You will get burned at some point if you pour or inject for enough years. Keep some yellow mustard close by! A quick coating of mustard will reduce the blistering and burning of your skin. Apply very liberally and let remain on skin until mustard is dry. Go to the doctor if your get burned badly or are not sure!
Keep your cups, pots, and other heating/stirring devices clean and DRY!!!! Water and hot plastisol DO NOT MIX! You will get bubbling, spirting, etc if you get water in your plastisol or visa versa. That also goes for water based scents. Add BANG to hot plastisol and you may get more of a BANG than desired!
Get a nice floor mat if you stand a lot. It can easy your pain in your legs, kness etc and is well worht the money!!!
Don’t pour in your kitchen or heat your plastic in your wife’s nice microwave. This is for your own personal safety as you might get knocked out by a frying pan to the head!!!
Kids and pets don't mix with 350 plastic either! Clear your workspace prior to starting any work!
Well…. I think that is it for me. I know other have plenty of good tips as well so I hope more posts appear in this area as safety is really important!
Jim
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Great advice Jim! The two biggest mistakes I have made were related to getting hot plastic on my hand. So here are a couple lessons learned the hard way:
- Wear both gloves
- Keep a bucket of water near by (on the floor)
- If you do get plastic on your skin - don't try and wipe it off - it only smears and makes it worse. Use the bucket or mustard
- Clamp your molds well - when in doubt use multiple clamps - hinges are for the convenience of keeping the mold halves together and should not be relied on for safety
- Don't ever force the injector - our injectors are very smooth - if it's not pushing plastic with less effort than the weight of your hand something is wrong. Forcing it will not result in good things - stop and find out what's wrong.
- Cold weather... Don't set a hot cup on a cold surface, it can explode...
- A lot of people have reported having problems with cups other than the Pyrex brand
- Always inspect your equipment and make sure it is in good working order
- Never use a clamp once it has slipped - it will do it again
- Don't cool your baits with the spru / runner on in water and then try and remelt them. They have water in them and as already mentioned - water and plastic do not mix. Remove the spru / runner before putting in water if you want to remelt them.
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Also, spend the money on good clamps! If you use worn out or some sort of clamp substitute, you will get flashing around your baits and will spend time trimming! Plastic can also leak out of the mold and you risk getting some on you again.
Jim
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Hi everyone this is my two cents on safty.I weld for a living that said im around alot of hot stuff I wear the same gear for pouring as I do welding.you can get a lite weight pigskin jacket and a pair of pigskin gloves that form nice to your hands at lowes home depot or welding store.
shawn
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I've read a lot about fumes from the plastisol doing a number on health, anyone have any recommendations on where to get a mask/respirator?
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Fumes can be bad news!!! I don't wear a respirator or mask, just get the fumes out with an exhaust fan and you are set. Mask and respirators annoyed me to much.
If I smell the plastisol fumes though, I kick mine on high.
Jim
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I started the econo way - in the garage, door open with a fan. I've stepped up to a vent hood made of sheet metal with a 1,000 CFM fan and pipe it outside. Works great. Very easy project and not very expensive considering the alternative (health). I can post a picture if you want to see it.
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I wouldn't mind a piture as I am setting up my new shop now. Ventilation is a must in this smaller, but more efficient space.
Jim
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Here is the vent.
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-mSBFWFDJv8/TSJGLkJwVnI/AAAAAAAABEg/NaxgkAESau0/s640/2011-01-03%2015.53.38.jpg)
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Snap!!!! That might suck me up in!!!! :o :D
Jim
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It moves some air!!!
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Were can you get something like this?
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I was reading around tackleunderground.com and saw an interesting topic regarding Pyrex cups exploding when introduced to an extreme temperature change (such as a hot cup touching a cold counter top). One member suggested using Borosilicate Glass Measuring Cups instead of Pyrex because that type of glass is designed to handle extreme temperature changes (from -22° F to 900° F) without exploding or even cracking.
Does anyone have experience with Borosicilicate glasses? What is your opinion on the subject?
I'd also like to know how those silicone cups are working out, Jason, and if you're still using them.
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Underdog: You can build it. It's just sheet metal, screws, tape, duct and the fan (and 2 pieces of chain). Lowes should have everything you need.
GoneFroggin: I have never used the lab stuff but I know some have. I would like to get a small one for dipping baits. I have been using silicone bowls and think they are awesome compared to pyrex. The clean easier and hold heat, plus all the safe stuff. Here's a link to where I bought mine:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#silicone-bowls/
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Thanks jason
will be off to lowes soon ;D
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I'm a newby to bait making...but not a newby to gassing myself...burning myself...dropping things...etc etc....! So here is my new work station. Being the paranoid safety person that I am (for good reason) I wanted an area that:
1. Ventilated really well. I noticed that in my previous area I would get a real burner of a headache after pouring. That is NOT good! So I made myself a confined space hood...out of some plywood from the Big Box Store and invested in a pretty good stove hood that pulls 200cfm, which means it sucks all the fumes out of that box in a hurry!
2. I'm getting old...55...so I need all the light I can get. The hood gave me two really nice halogen lights.
(https://by1.storage.live.com/items/DF34E8245A7098A6!872:Scaled1024/work-area.jpg?psid=1&ck=0&ex=720)
3. It vents out the back...and then out the garage door. I will probably move my set up down to the basement during the winter...and vent out a window...or have the heating/ac guy come over and drill me a vent out the side of the house. Note that the hood, burners and microwave plug into a switched extension...that way I know everything is OFF !
(https://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pgZPFeEYb9goep01rXs2FrcRTaKo2fX0p4pWf29zRu_Ry4ucS5EyfIMl0fvLU6NcW4wR8zmX1pfUk6TddRnQL6A/workarea%20back-1.jpg?psid=1)
4. I use the Silcone measuring cups...cut down to 2 cups size and they drop into a boat beer can holder (that's screwed into the table) so they don't get knocked over..... strategically positioned so the microwave door doesn't knock them over when opened. Between the Silicone cups (from Target) and the holders...my plastic stays hot enough for at least 3 pouring sessions! Since I live in Minnesota..and whole concept of a hot Pyrex glass...and a cold working surface...and a big bang...scares the *&^% out of me!
(https://byfiles.storage.live.com/y1pFM5Qqw2Ur4oqZ1_g-9oqJU5BiRK6enWmtCeW5azVA786tFgfMpmAUiEOLyLe-TTELrRl6ja3unw/workarea-1.jpg?psid=1)
5. I ALWAYS wear gloves. Heavy duty for taking plastic in and out of the oven (just in case I stick my finger in the cup!) and for injecting. I think switch over to a lighter pair of nitrile gloves to unmold (I always seem to unmold a little too soon and there still is hot plastic in the sprue ! And I try to always where my welders apron....just in case! There cheap insurance and you can buy them at any home improvement store.
Remember....They don't call it an "accident" because you did it on purpose! At 350 degrees...even a "little" accident could be a big deal!
So for less than $200 (I got the desk at the ReClaim store for $10!)...I think I've got a pretty good...and pretty safe working area.
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Man I just love this Do"s and Don'ts The only things i did rightup to my accident was useing a extractor fan one of those 18 inch Expelair jobs and the use of a multi temp Glassco Boro 3.3 melting cup, thanks to Ghost baits for putting it down so nicely.I wont be doing any cating now for some time so it is back to the Moldmax for some (nice and cold) creative mold making.
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A big thanks for everyone for putting this topic up. I had my first day of making baits with plastisol yesterday. I managed to have the injector "pop" on me, but because I took precautions, I only had to clean up a mess, not deal with burns. Thanks again.
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Challenging, get an injector with a locking pin: won't pop again.