Injecting Sticks

[Cormorant Lures]

Hello again all!!! I am trying to convince my wife that injection is in our future... I would like to be able to expand beyond the one bait we are currently focused on... Before making any type of decision, my wife has concerns that I would like to address on here:

#1. Starting with sticks, what are the general pro's and con's between hand-pouring and hand-injecting?

#2. What do you use to heat up your (salty) plastic for sticks? <--- Let me explain, currently I have two of Bear's awesome presto pots with stirring mechanisms. The stirring mech. really helps to keep the salt suspended, but must be a pain in the butt to work around while injecting. So I imagine some people use different heating methods?

#2B. Having to leave your injector outside the pot (if using a presto with stirring mech.), do you just place it on your working surface or on a hot plate of some type?

From all my research I have already done, it seems that people are divided between hand-pouring or hand-injecting as being the fastest method for sticks.

#3. Based on your opinion, which is faster for sticks, hand-pouring or hand-injecting. (To answer this question I'll let you know ahead of time that I plan on having at least 6 or so molds to work with.)



If I am missing anything, or you need more information on my plans or process, please let me know!!!



Thanks!!!



Cormorant Lures

[BassDetective]

I have never really hand-poured except for a little bit in the very beginning and saw the advantages of injecting.  Injecting can be faster and more thorough for beginners.  Hand pouring takes a lot of skill.

Most guys are using Microwaves and heating plastic 4-10 oz at a time.  I can heat 16 oz in 5 minutes and hit 6-8 swimbait molds easy.

[kipbass]

I have 4 5.25" stick bait hand pour molds, and I wish they were injections. I think it would be soo much faster, which would allow me to make more baits during a session.

[Denny Welch]

I agree with Rick.  I've got a 4 cavity 5.25" mold and a 5 cavity 6.25" mold, both of which are hand pours and made by Del.  For me, the hand pour molds take forever to pour.  These are the only molds where I use salt and I have to continually stir the cup.  I lose heat and often have to reheat which is a real pain in the patoot.  I'll probably get rid of them in the future and replace them with injection molds.  For me, it's a no brainer.

[kipbass]

I agree with Rick.  I've got a 4 cavity 5.25" mold and a 5 cavity 6.25" mold, both of which are hand pours and made by Del.  For me, the hand pour molds take forever to pour.  These are the only molds where I use salt and I have to continually stir the cup.  I lose heat and often have to reheat which is a real pain in the patoot.  I'll probably get rid of them in the future and replace them with injection molds.  For me, it's a no brainer.

Mr. Denny, do you have a griddle? I do and I put my pyrex on it while I demold the sticks I poured. I leave it on 300-350 degrees, stir occasionally to keep the bottom from burning. It decreases the amount of microwave time when I do have to nuke it again. I also put my sprues and clippings in a empty pyrex, this also helps keep them hot for adding back to my pouring cup. I forgot who I learned that trick from, but it was someone on this site with a lot of experience. On that note, if I did it over again, I would be more frugal and find a used griddle..I payed $30 for mine ..that's about half the price of a new mold!

[Denny Welch]

I use a griddle too, but I think I paid about $15 for it at K-Mart.  I guess you get what you pay for because it barely keeps plastic warm at 400 degrees.  That's a good idea about putting the sprues in an empty cup.