Denting in Hatchet Craw Claws?

[4n2t0]

Is anyone else experiencing major denting in the claws of the ES XL Hatchet Craw mold? High temp, low temp, heavy pressure, light pressure, absolutely nothing stops the denting. I now own 6 Do-It molds and I can say with some level of certainty that this mold seems to be defective in its design.

[21xdc]

The arms are not big enough to draw more plastic to keep the claws full. So they shrink. Shoot cooler and hold pressure longer is the only way. A very hot mold will help.

[4n2t0]

Thanks for the reply and advice. Unfortunately, I have done all that already, and this mold is still a huge pain in the rear. I keep all my molds warm on a griddle. I've shot at ~325. I hold tons of pressure for a good amount of time. I've even brushed some worm oil over the cavities prior to shooting. Nothing ever works.

Don't get me wrong, I obviously love Do-It products, but this mold is a stinker. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[21xdc]

Shoot colder. Heat mold hotter.

[4n2t0]

If I shoot any colder, the plastic will be solid, lol, and my molds are plenty hot. Sorry, but that advice will not help this mold produce good-looking baits. Also, I'm clearly not the only one experiencing these problems. Every video, every single one, available of this mold on YouTube all shows baits with significant denting problems in the claws.

Oh well, thanks anyways.

[ctom]

Single color or are you doing a twin injection? Are you topping off each  injection port on cavity ?

[4n2t0]

Single colour. That's all I do. All ports are topped off initially and re-topped off after the last cavity is filled.

[21xdc]

Many other brand craws do this. It's only because of the thin arms not being able to draw more plastic through them as claws shrink. The hotter the mold, allows the arms to stay fluid longer... It's just the design in a craw mold. I can shoot at 310*F as long as I shot fast.... Try it. If you don't like any of my advice, I guess you just don't want to succeed.

[4n2t0]

Many other brand craws do this. It's only because of the thin arms not being able to draw more plastic through them as claws shrink. The hotter the mold, allows the arms to stay fluid longer... It's just the design in a craw mold. I can shoot at 110* as long as I shot fast.... Try it. If you don't like any of my advice, I guess you just don't want to succeed.

I'm assuming you mean 110C, correct? 110C = 230F? If so, I can't even get plastisol to come out of its gel phase at that temperature. You'll have to tell me exactly how you're shooting solidified plastisol!

[ctom]

You'll have to tell me exactly how you're shooting solidified plastisol!

Cook it to the 350 to get full conversion then allow it to cool down before pulling it into the injector.

[4n2t0]

Cook it to the 350 to get full conversion then allow it to cool down before pulling it into the injector.

I'll try it. I have my doubts that I'll even be able to suck it up at 230, but I've been wrong many times before. I'll report back soon...

[21xdc]

Sorry. I did mean heat past 350* and try injecting at 310*F or lower if you can....  Personally I don't care about any denting, Neither do the fish.

[21xdc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVg00SCgcMY

[anyfish]

Thanks for sharing the video.  I found it very informative.

[Lines]

So did I. Very interesting.