softening plastic

[KP Guard]

Does anyone have tips on how to soften plastic. I noticed today that my stick baits are not as soft as some of the leading manufacturers, and I noticed the same with some of the craw baits. I add softener to my plastic at 3 tbls per 32 oz (3 times manufacturors recommendation) any tips or suggestions?

[kipbass]

I think you should use 2 tbs of softener for 4oz of plastic. Especially if you use salt.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

For 32 ozs, I'd add 6-12 TBSP of Softener, depending on how much I wanted to soften.  A little extra stabilizer is also a good idea when adding that much additive (additive here being softener) because I believe additives (hardener, softener) to be void of stabilizer, but I could be wrong.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

3 TSP = 1 TBSP, 2 TBSP = 1 oz., so 6 TBSP = 3 oz.s which is almost 10% of the original volume.  Take this into account when figuring Stabilizer and Colorants.

[MonteSS]

With 4 oz medium plastic and 2 heaping tbsn salt, 1 tbsn softener makes a good soft bait. 2 tbsn softener makes it very soft like a real senko.

[KP Guard]

thanks all ! I will run with the 10% factor and see how that works!

[BareKnuckleJigs]

KP, I do want to add (this eluded me yesterday), that Kip and Monte are adding 25%, and both of them are using salt.  I despise salt so I never use it, so I'm not sure what percentage of Softener is needed for a given ratio of Salt/Plastic.  I use a bit of Softener, just no Salt.

[TTDuckman]

What used to be referred to as the senko recipe is:
1 cup medium plastic
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup softener

Tim