Newbie question. Some baits are coming out hollow

[Caleb901]

Hello everyone, my names Caleb and I’m just getting into pouring my own soft plastics.
I’ve watched video tutorials over and over and I’m trying my best to follow every instruction from the videos. I’m using the ES XL Ripper mold and  No matter what I do, some of my baits always end up coming out hollow inside. I bought a nice digital thermometer and I make sure my plastisol reaches the 350° before I add my colors and glitter. I’ve been getting the temperature to 350° before I fill my injector and start filling the mold. I have tried using the injector to suck the plastisol in it, and I have also tried pouring directly into the injector and making sure that I have plastisol coming out before I start injecting.  Can you guys give me some suggestions on what I could be doing wrong or different methods to try so my baits don’t end up hollow?

Thanks

[Fishermanbt]

Welcome aboard. Here’s a few quick things to try. Once you have your raw plastic cooked to 350° shoot the mold at around 300-320°. Drawing plastic into the injector or pouring it in, always burp out some plastic back into the cup holding the injector at a slight angle before injecting. You are wanting to expel any trapped air. Place the injector into the mold upright for just a second allow any air bubbles to rise and slow down on pushing the plunger. Hold slight pressure for a 2-5 second count. Hope this helps

[Lamar]

  Also do as said above but also keep filling the spur as the bait cools it will suck plastic from the spur and if there isn't any plastic to suck then it will draw air that makes the bubbles. So I shot the bait then tip my injector to the side and slowly add plastic until it stops drawing it.

[ctom]

Welcome to the Do-It forums Caleb! Great advice guys!

[Bass Boys]

  Where in the bait is the hollow section?  At the tail, middle or at the head?

[Les Young]

Probably a little hot & injecting it fast.

[efishnc]

Air bubbles was one of my biggest problems in my early days... I would recommend slowing down your injection rate (and maybe boosting your temp by 5-10 if your plastisol starts to solidify before getting all injections are complete).

Keep posting your questions and the forum team keep helping! 

[Caleb901]

  Where in the bait is the hollow section?  At the tail, middle or at the head?

The hollow part is at the head. I have been doing my best to get the plastisol around 330° before I start injecting it. Period. I also make sure to get the air out of the injector and have plastisol slightly coming out before I put it in the mold. Even with me doing all of that it’s still tries to start hardening up on me before I’m even finished shooting the baits. I go back to top off all the holes to make sure that the baits don’t have any holes or denting but a lot of the times the plastisol will have already solidified and blocks any from getting down in the cavities. I have even ended up with a complete body, but no tail on a couple occasions. I’m starting to think that it could possibly be from the temperature of the mold causing it to immediately begin to solidify so I’m going to try warming up the mold on my griddle and see if it starts pouring smoother for me that way. I need to slow down and make sure I keep even pressure because I end up getting in a hurry because I’m worried about it starting to solidify so I end up injecting too fast without keeping steady pressure. That is probably a large reason why my baits aren’t coming out perfectly. Which injector does everyone prefer using? I plan on purchasing a dual and a triple injector soon but I want to know the pros and cons so I don’t spend a lot of money on one that sucks.

[Lamar]

The hollow part is at the head. I have been doing my best to get the plastisol around 330° before I start injecting it. Period. I also make sure to get the air out of the injector and have plastisol slightly coming out before I put it in the mold. Even with me doing all of that it’s still tries to start hardening up on me before I’m even finished shooting the baits. I go back to top off all the holes to make sure that the baits don’t have any holes or denting but a lot of the times the plastisol will have already solidified and blocks any from getting down in the cavities. I have even ended up with a complete body, but no tail on a couple occasions. I’m starting to think that it could possibly be from the temperature of the mold causing it to immediately begin to solidify so I’m going to try warming up the mold on my griddle and see if it starts pouring smoother for me that way. I need to slow down and make sure I keep even pressure because I end up getting in a hurry because I’m worried about it starting to solidify so I end up injecting too fast without keeping steady pressure. That is probably a large reason why my baits aren’t coming out perfectly. Which injector does everyone prefer using? I plan on purchasing a dual and a triple injector soon but I want to know the pros and cons so I don’t spend a lot of money on one that sucks.

 If the plastic is getting solid on you then heat your mold up first. I just put mine on a hot plate and get it good and warm.

[olsarge]

Plastic solidifying is a big problem in the winter especially for larger molds.  I always place my molds, injectors and blending blocks on my griddle and set it to warm.  By the time my plastic heats up to 350 they are already hot to go.  Solved all of my problems

[rmturner54]

Heat is your friend. I always preheat my molds and my injectors. You just want the mold toasty warm and not so hot that you cant handle it. Same with the injector
And what everyone else has said. Each mold has its own issues. None will shoot the same. I keep a cheat sheet once I find the sweet spot on each mold. Good luck

[Lines]

The ripper mold needs to be injected slowly. Slow and steady until you feel it stop, hold there about 4-5 seconds, then fill the sprue hole.

[basscatlildave]

All great advice but I'll add all molds inject different. Play with temps and speed and see what what best.