Author Topic: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment  (Read 3973 times)

Offline ctom

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Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« on: 02/17/20 09:44 UTC »
Andrew Lamberson slipped a comment in another thread regarding E-core's play time with the Valentine's Day cores he came along with. I sort of picked it up from there. Color shifting pigments are hoot to work with as long as one understands that the absolutely do their best when used over a black base color.



I shot the 4 ounces of clear plastic with an average amount of "Delta" color shift pigment added to it, nothing else at all, just the blue to purple color shift pigment which is a white particle product and basically disappears in the plastic until light hits it. The clear baits at the top of the runner show little of the pigment's presence except for some very faint blue casting in it an a couple near the runner and were left in the mold as a reference to how the color shift needs the black. The pins were pulled from the baits on the other side of the runner, the tails clipped off to open the "core" fully, then re-injected with a plain black plastic.

There was an issue on a couple of these small bodies that went back in with the black shooting in under the bodies as well as thru them so you'll have to pardon that. And the bait with the eyes has some cold air bubbles in the cover coat which needs to be over-looked. The focus here is the way the color shift works wherever there is black underneath it, as in the core. Where the color shift is in gear you'll be able to see both the blue [primarily] and the purple coming out of the blue in a couple areas. Not being able to be seen in a still photo, as the baits are turned the blue follows the light so from any angle there will be a line of color. I know from having fished baits using the color shifting pigments that in the water the colors are just flat out electric, stunningly beautiful colors. In the case of this bait, the lateral line will appear to be either a blue or a purple line of color and eyes help to orient fish to the line....gives it some realism.

I'll post a picture a bit later showing the mold and the pin orientation for those that may want to play with a similar sort of injection technique. Fair warming though....the Nano is SMALL and you can expect some of the little glitches like I had if trying an e-core, however the baits you'll get are very much worth the time and fuss especially on a small jig in front of big sunfish or crappies. 

« Last Edit: 02/17/20 11:24 UTC by ctom »
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Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #1 on: 02/17/20 11:20 UTC »
Here's a better picture of the pins I use in the bottom half of the Nano mold. If I am doing a repeat of a core color I pull the pins from all the plastic and lay them in again as shown.



I'm going to note here that the difference between the bottom of the Nano and the top piece is very small and actually can be hard to decide which is which when re-inserting the bodies for a core number. I orient the string of plastics top side up on the runner and start with the bottom bait, removing it from the stringer and nipping the tail section off always right side up and then finally re-inserting it in the cavity from which it came. One needs to take care to be certain the body is fully forward in the cavity before closing and injecting the mold again. The small nails shown in the mold provide plenty of room for the second plastic to flow without a whole lot of pressure being applied. Too much pressure will result in plastic slipping under the bodies or over them as can be seen on a couple of these in the previous picture.
There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline DF

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #2 on: 02/17/20 11:51 UTC »
 Great work ctom, that color combo is electric.

Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #3 on: 02/17/20 12:16 UTC »
With the clear plastic and color shift nearly invisible surrounding the black core there will always be a blue or purple line, depending on the light. When it shifts to the purple it too is every bit as electric.
There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #4 on: 02/17/20 12:52 UTC »
Picture isn't as clear as I would have liked but you can see more of the purple coming out here.



There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #5 on: 02/17/20 14:07 UTC »
I went out and did a 2 1/2" fry bait the same technique using a colorshift that goes from a nice green to gold to purple to red. The pigment is slightly coarser in micron particle size and it has a coral colored tint to it but the end result is a super, natural, appearing bait.



« Last Edit: 02/17/20 19:14 UTC by ctom »
There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline efishnc

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #6 on: 02/17/20 18:45 UTC »
I went out and did a 2 1/2" fry bait the same technique... the end result is a super, natural, appearing bait.

That's one where I was thinking of operating, with a natural minnow size and color scheme.

Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #7 on: 02/17/20 19:33 UTC »
The color is called Andromeda. The green then gold come out pretty easy by shifting the bait's angle to light or by going from a well lit area to shaded one. I haven't seen this color in the water yet and now I'm really wanting to. Maybe merits a stroll to the creek behind me just to check color transitions. That blue is called Delta and is one of two fine,  white particle, color shifts I have on hand. Delta is my favorite of all the color shifts I currently have....maybe 22 or so.

Now I have to make a pin that will allow me to put a chartreuse tail in the mold and shoot the clear, color shift plastic, then the black core.

I'm not sure how much of this color shift stuff you've gotten into E, but most of the fine particle products have a color dye in the powder that will also stain the clear like the Andromeda did. I've gotten to where I don't let that bother me anymore but for a while I was put off by it and often times come up with a really natural appearing bait just like the Andromeda handed me. And I am primarily interested in fine particle colors so my air brush will handle them in a clear coat. Too coarse of micron size and my fine head blocks up. I've tried doing laminates with the soft plastics using the color shift in clear over dark blue, deep purple, and dark green but honestly the best color shifting comes with the black underlayment. This black core really makes that blue bait fire up regardless of what side you're looking at. The green color shift also does the same thing. Thanks for the inspiration with your core mania and thank Andrew for getting me going in this direction. I've had it on my mind for a while now and with the nice weather of late I needed to get out in the shop and toy with something. Now I'm happy I did, in spite of the bubbles that come with cold raw plastic in the microwave.
There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline efishnc

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #8 on: 02/17/20 19:54 UTC »
I know the water can really make a difference on hologram flakes (as far as making it really pop), so you may have the same case here as well.

Offline ctom

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #9 on: 02/17/20 20:06 UTC »
Working in the water with any of the baits, hard plastic or soft plastic,  done with color shift really lets the color shift kick into high gear. Its mind boggling to watch a small crankbait or any motion type of soft bait go thru the water going from one color to another in a blink. Its a shame that the work involved with these color shifting pigments makes numbers production of bait a sad affair, but there's nothing like the feeling when fishing along side someone and they ask just where in the heck did you buy that bait at and then tell them you made it. Its even better when you give them one and after a few casts they hang a real honker.
There are good ships
and wood ships
ships that sail the sea
but the best ships are friendships
and may they
always be ......An Irish Toast

Offline WALLEYE WACKER

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Re: Nano meets e-core, meets color shift pigment
« Reply #10 on: 02/17/20 23:47 UTC »
Awesome bait’s there Tom 8)
May your days be filled with sun shine and you always have a tight line. AMEN