Colors fading

[Fishfulthiking]

I injected some laminated worms the other day and was pleased with the result.  The initial heating of the plastic was just beyond 350 as checked with an infrared thermometer.  Additional heatings never exceeded 350 degrees.  The resulting worms were vibrant but 5 days later the colors were not as impressive as when they were first poured.  It's almost as if the colors faded with time.  The colors that faded were MF Strawberry and LC purple.  Is this a common problem?  According to MF's website, strawberry is not a color that should bleed.  Do I need to use heat stabilizer?  Any suggestions? 

[ctom]

First, welcome to the Do-It site.

Fading is usually akin to the plastic not going thru a full conversion. Your infra-red thermometer reads the surface temp, not the needed core temperature of the plastic. You should use a submersible-probe type digital thermometer and read the temperature at the center of the plastic mass in whatever you are heating it in. Plastic that hasn't gone thru the conversion will fade or become opaque.

When cooking be certain to break up the heating process into 20-30 second segments and stir the plastic well at each stop....this is especially important when using a microwave to cook the plastic.

[Justin9j]

I'm not sure. But I think lc purple maybe a bleed
Color.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

What plastic are You using?

[bassinfool]

LC purple is for sure a bleeder.

[Fishfulthiking]

I was using Lurecraft 536.  I am expecting my shipment of CC Soft in two days.

[Fishfulthiking]

Is there a purple out there, similar to LC purple, that does not bleed?

[ctom]

"Is there a purple out there, similar to LC purple, that does not bleed?".....

X2 from Do-It does not bleed and will last a lot longer than any LC color.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

My Preferred Purple is Do-Its X2 Junebug.  RICH.  And smells like Grapes to the Mind...really, You will literally smell Grape Scent that isn't really there...nothin' but Smuckers.

[Lamar]

  You can't go wrong with this. And it doesn't bleed. Just back off on how much your use to using. This stuff goes a long ways.
http://store.do-itmolds.com/X2-Colorant_p_312.html

[bassinfool]

I concur with the rest on the X2, but lure works from spike it also has a purple that doesn't bleed but it isn't nearly as strong as the X2 and I've had to use a good bit to get a nice deep purple color.