laminate baits

[Mic]

Does anyone laminate baits with a twin injector, laminating plates, a blending block, or any type of blending system.  Which is the best, easiest to use etc.  I have 200 baits under my belt and I am working through the usual issues, so I am trying to learn from your experiences.  Any advice.

[ctom]

I stay pretty simple and generally make only the smaller, panfish sized baits so doing the laminating by hand-pouring 1/2 of a cavity is what I do. Many others here do blending blocks, twin-injectors and laminating plates. Andrew Lamberson does a great job with the plates, but being a holiday he may not be available to speak up. If I was to get serious on larger baits, I would put my time and money on the plates because the finished product comes out very clean with a well-defined color seperation that looks professional. Jason has done a wonderful job of serving all of the different laminating needs though and can help a great deal too.

[andrewlamberson]

I love the laminate plates...but I'm totally hand pour challenged!!!

The laminate plates give you the opportunity to make a top quality bait...with a minimum of ability!!!

[ghostbaits]

If you are going for production or a lot of laminates, you need to get the twinjector or the other system just out. You can make hundreds an hour if you have the molds.

Laminate plates and hand pouring a portion of the bait is much slower but they have their place. Some baits have to be made with hand pouring....

Deal for me is to find what you are comfortable with and go with it.

I'd get a twinjector if it was me! LOL!!! 

Jim

[Denny Welch]

Jim...what is "the other system just out"?  I don't know that I'm familiar with it.  Thanks in advance.

[ghostbaits]

Jim...what is "the other system just out"?  I don't know that I'm familiar with it.  Thanks in advance.

Another company made a duel injection system that uses 2 presto pots.

Looks like it is efficient.

Jim

[Sparky]

It comes down to how many baits you are going to pour and how much $$ you are willing to spend. I only make baits for myself and friends so here is my 2 cents worth.  I have tried the twinjectors and blending blocks.

The blending block is much easier to use and to get good looking baits but is slow unless you have several molds.

The twinjector is good for quantity runs but takes some practice.

I have not tried the lam plates but the look like they would make perfect lams very easy to achieve but not a good solution for large quantities.

I will probably be trying lam plates for some molds in the near future.

[ghostbaits]

The other consideration in all this is if you want the bait laminted through the tail or end of bait or not.

Some options will not deliver a full laminate down to the tip or tail of bait such as hand pouring.

When I laminate things like the swim shads, I prefer the tail to be laminated rather than one of the colors being the sole tail color. Just a personal preference.

Jim

[biglewers]

I do all three.  I use lam plates, twin injects and hand pour.   Depends on what you are making.  If I am shooting tubes Ill twin inject with a blending block.  If i am making frogs Ill hand pour.  If I am going to do a WUZ ill use the lam plates.   Like some have said.  using a twin injector can be a little tricky at first and there is a learning curve.  Like everything else though, practice, practice, practice.  I shoot ribbon tails with a twin injector and they come out nice.    Get on YouTube and check out what some guys are doing and go from there. 

[shaggy469]

I am wondering if the 3oz or the 6oz twin injector is better or easier to use .. I do have some of Jason's
Laminating plates for my carrot molds and they work great..
thanx, jim

[biglewers]

I have the 6oz twin. I should have went with the 3oz.  But the 6 are nice if you are shooting a few molds all the same.

[Frank]

The 3s are much easier to handle. I still use my 3 on alot of my molds. But have to break out the 6s when alot of volume is needed. The 3s give you about 5oz of usable plastic and that is alot. I know the price is not much more but the 3s truly are easier to handle. Frank

[superharmonix]

I agree with Frank.  I use the 3s and I feel they are nice and maneuverable.  Also, the twin 6s are carrying not only a lot of plastic, but are heavier, and longer to maneuver, which changes your rhythm also.  Unless you are shooting a bunch of molds at once, my feeling is you will end up with a lot more waste with the 6s than the 3s.

[mrex]

Have the BT 6 oz twins and purchased the BT twin 3s about a month ago. Since buying the 3 oz have not used the large ones once. They hold more than enough plastic for my molds.

[Denny Welch]

Ditto re the 3s.  I'm intrigued, though, about CCM's new 9.5 injector.  I keep imagining injector "fights" similar to the kids' water gun fights.