Total newbie with a couple questions

[SoCalFishing]

Hi all, I've decided to take the plunge and start making my own baits. The three questions I have right now are how important is Worm Oil? Can I use a digital meat thermometer to get the temp of the plastisol when I'm heating it? And does Do-It Molds ever put out any promo codes? Thanks in advance, I'm sure I'll have more questions as I dive into this new hobby.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Promo Codes...I've never seen one, but I've never searched for one, either...

Meat Thermometers may work, but only if they reach 350F (I look for a little higher capabilities than 350F).  I, like many here, recommend (and use) the Digital Thermometer sold here at Do-it.

Worm Oil...nyuk nyuk nyuk.  I don't use Worm Oil but it IS good to have in this Game.  Lube Injectors, Oil Tube Inserts, a little in the bag when Bagging Baits helps settle the Baits in.  I use Almond Oil for Injectors and Inserts (I had it on-hand so I utilized it).  I use Scent Oil when Bagging.  I cook in a Stainless Pot on an Electric Burner and when working with mixes that have Flake in them, sometimes some Flake will stick to the Pot and I use a little Almond Oil and a Paper Towel to remove the Flake after I pull the scraps out.  I would like to have a bottle of Worm Oil, though, to use in-place of the Almond Oil...but I'm OK with what I am currently working with.

[Lamar]

 I use worm oil when I make tubes. It helps when pulling them off the spline. Other then that I don't use it much.

[1boom]

The do it thermometer is what I use as well. I use the worm for lubing the injector and in a few molds that may not want to mold perfectly every time.

[SoCalFishing]

Cool, thanks everyone. I've looked high and low for a promo code, was hoping for free shipping or something, but haven't found anything. Starting out I'm only going to be doing hand pours, though I'm sure I'll move up to injecting at some point. Thanks again.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Do-It offers Free Shipping on orders over $150 (I don't know if Plastic Liquid is included in that).

I Highly Recommend a Stainless Steel Drizzle Spoon for Hand Pouring.  Available at Amazon.com.

[SoCalFishing]

Yeah I'm not planning on spending that much quite yet. Just getting my feet wet right now.

As far as the drizzle spoon goes, this is the first I've seen mentioned in everything I've read or watched related to hand pouring over the past few weeks. What are the advantages?

[Carolina Fisher]

Once you get your feet wet keep in mind that a gallon of essential series plastisol is $46. 5 gallons is $135 , add in shipping costs for a gallon jug 5 times and that's a little over 2 gallons almost free .

What I did because it comes in a 5 gallon pail is buy 2 1 gallon gas jugs and a Prestone syphon pump . I pump the plastisol into the gallon jugs because it's lighter and easier to shake .

I learned quickly that this hobby is addictive and I needed lots of fuel to supply it .

As for the worm oil , I use alot of it well not at once, what I mean is I use it on everything I make except jerkbaits .( 4 drops per bag) . It helps the salt to adhere to the bait . Unless it's a senko I don't put salt inside the bait because I want the tail to stand up . So I put it on the outside . I use garlic scented worm oil , grape , coffee, and crawfish . Even washing thoroughly , it takes days to completely get rid of the garlic smell on my fingers . That's what I want when I'm taking a bait for a swim

[BareKnuckleJigs]

The Drizzle Spoon is superior to other spoons in several ways.  Most spoons don't have a Pour Lip and are almost flat so stopping the pour results in plastic running around the tip and running down the bottom of the spoon.  Also, most spoons, other than larger Kitchen Cooking Spoons, have little capacity.

The Drizzle Spoon has plenty capacity for most Hand Pour Cavities and has a Pour Lip designed for precision and stopping the flow when You need to stop, and with little (or no) running down the bottom of the Spoon so Your Pour is much more clean.

Hand Pouring, for me, was a nightmare until I searched around and discovered it...then my Hand-Pouring results improved dramatically.  Now, I enjoy making my own OP's (from Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty) and fishing my own customs.  I can also hand-pour some Injection Molds' Halves, whether for the first step of a Laminate or to make a bait just from the Mold Half.

I think the reported capacity of the Drizzle Spoon is about 3 ounces.  The Tip is the most-major benefit, though.  I have also come to know that using the Drizzle Spoon, on its side, to stir plastic (in my Stainless Pot) does a great job of keeping Particulates (Salt, HD, Flake) suspended better than my Stirring Tool, and does so while mixing fewer Air Bubbles into the melt.

http://www.amazon.com/Endurance-Stainless-Steel-Drizzle-Spoon/dp/B002AB0N4U

[ctom]

Welcome aboard SoCal. You'll find plenty of help and some cool tricks here.

Bkj's spoon is nifty in that it has a spout right at the end. It resembles a soup ladle except the spout is not on the side. Personally I use a teaspoon with a more pointed body at the end....sort of  like a grapefruit spoon.

Anyway...welcome and enjoy your time here.

[SoCalFishing]

I feel like I've learned as much in this one thread as I have in the 3 weeks I've spent reading articles and watching YouTube videos. Thanks everyone for chiming in and offering words of wisdom. I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions as I go along and it's great to know that there is an awesome community out there.

[kevin]

I might add ,If your hand pouring? i would check out the norpro silicone cups. Don't fill over halfway ,so get the larger size ,They squeeze together so it makes hand pours easier.  Wear gloves

[SoCalFishing]

Just bought gloves yesterday, and I'll take a look at those silicone cups. I've got everything ready, just waiting for my stuff from Do-It to get here now.