Injector Setup Help

[SBuck88]

I have been pouring open pour molds for a couple years and for my open pour sticks, I normally use 2 cups of plastic, 1/4 cup of softener, 1/2 cup of salt and whatever color.  I just bought my first injector and picked up the craw-tube mold.  I used the same recipe as above just to test and I could inject about half the mold and it would never make it to the skirt.  Also, I'm having trouble releasing the plastic from the tube insert.  I added a couple drops of worm oil, but that didn't seem to help.  Is it my recipe or do I need to lubricate the injector and mold more?  I have read a lot of posts and some of you are heating up your injectors too, which I have not tried.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks

[andrewlamberson]

It's your plastic's temperature...(which is my answer to everything!). You plastic is not hot enough and there is not enough flow to get it to fill the mold. Plus...if you don't get your plastic to 350 degrees it does not completely change state and you will get "sticky" baits.

Inject plain plastic (no softner or salt) at 360-70 degrees. You first shot may not fill the skirt...but as the mold warms you will have no issues. You don't want to inject much hotter than this or you will get flashing. There is a bunch of information on this issue on these posts from "Getting flash when I inject??? VERY FRUSTTRATING!!!!!!

http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?topic=3148.0


It may help to rub a little bit of worm oil on the insert (skirt) but that won't be necessary if once the insert gets hot.

[SBuck88]

It's your plastic's temperature...(which is my answer to everything!). You plastic is not hot enough and there is not enough flow to get it to fill the mold. Plus...if you don't get your plastic to 350 degrees it does not completely change state and you will get "sticky" baits.

Inject plain plastic (no softner or salt) at 360-70 degrees. You first shot may not fill the skirt...but as the mold warms you will have no issues. You don't want to inject much hotter than this or you will get flashing. There is a bunch of information on this issue on these posts from "Getting flash when I inject??? VERY FRUSTTRATING!!!!!!

http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?topic=3148.0


It may help to rub a little bit of worm oil on the insert (skirt) but that won't be necessary if once the insert gets hot.

Thanks for the tips.  I will keep my salty recipes for my open pour sticks then.  Is it OK to add glitter and colors when injecting then?

[Billmo]

yes.. but take Andy's advice.. If you have some scrap plastic heat it up 360-70 and inject the mold a couple of time to get themold warmed up.  Once its warm you will see how much easier it is to get the skirt to fill in..

[wubbawurm63]

I agree with Andrew and Billmo, higher temp. plastic and warm molds should solve your problem.

[SBuck88]

OK guys.  I followed your advise and here's the results of injecting for the 1st time.  let me know what you think.
http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1756[/img]

[jl3140]

Those look great! I think that color looks pretty awesome. Here's the picture for everyone else so you don't have to go to the gallery to view it.

[andrewlamberson]

DRAG...those things across the bottom and the bass will kill them! (and the walleyes...and Northern Pike)

Good looking baits. Make sure you write down what you did in your notes...so you can remember the next time you shoot them. It's amazing how fast the memory goes...especially when you have a bunch of molds...and you will end up with a bunch!

[SBuck88]

DRAG...those things across the bottom and the bass will kill them! (and the walleyes...and Northern Pike)

Good looking baits. Make sure you write down what you did in your notes...so you can remember the next time you shoot them. It's amazing how fast the memory goes...especially when you have a bunch of molds...and you will end up with a bunch!

Yeah, I write everything down.  Don't want to lose those! 

[SBuck88]

Guys, I'm having another issue with the CrawTubes again.  I'm using a presto pot and the temp is around 350.  Nothing extra added, just plastic, coloring and glitter.  I shot about 10 or 15 in a row and none of them have a full skirt.  The mold and injector are both warm because I can start to feel it through the glove.  I'm not sure what else to do.  Only thing I can think of is, I only use 1 clamp.  Should I be using at least 2 clamps for this?  Here's a link to the pic of what I get 90% of the time.
http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1824

Thanks for your input.

[pjmcla]

I do not have a tube mold; but maybe I can help some.  Andrew is the tube dude.  Based on the top flipper having flashing; you need more clamping or you are applying too much pressure while injecting.  My guess is clamping.  Do you have a thermometer and are getting 350 degrees or going by the pot temp. ?  Is looks as though your temps are low or not enough injector pressure ( opposite of the flipper issue ).
I would guess you need more clamps ( not clamped real hard ) and either measured at 340 -350 plastic and / or or a tad more injection pressure.  Don't gorilla the injector;  squirting hot plastic is bad news.     

[andrewlamberson]

I agree with Paul...it's your temperature and you need two clamps. You need a digital thermometer (see previous posts on this) to make sure you are injecting at the right temperature ...for the mold you are using. Make sure the plastic gets to 350 degrees to completely change state or you will get sticky or cloudy baits.

I don't have this tube mold (but I have all the others!) and I inject my tubes "hot" at 360 to start..and if I get flashing I let it cool to say 350...maybe even to 340 after the mold gets really hot. If you are not getting complete fills its because the viscosity of the plastic (flow) is low (it's "thick") and it can't travel down those small paths without "freezing off" (setting up).

Plastic at 350 degrees+ (measured!), inject slowly with even pressure. After you figure out the best temperature for that mold...write it down! I never remember if I don't have it written down! This gig is all about consistent process!

Flashing is (typically) caused by:
1. Plastic being to hot.
2. To light of a clamp. Yes..you need two clamps on this mold. Put on with moderate pressure (over clamping can cause incomplete fills in some molds).
3. Injecting to FAST and with too much pressure. Probably the biggest reason for flash.

An incomplete fill is (typically) caused by:
1. Plastic not hot enough ...it sets up before it reaches the end of the mold.
2. The mold is cold
3. The flow path is blocked because of excessive clamp force.
4. You ran out of plastic!
 
Sometimes I run some worm oil on the tail insert...especially if it's not up to temperature yet.

[SBuck88]

Thanks for the notes.  I will definitely be getting another clamp and then I will get back to you guys after I do that and try it.

[MonteSS]

The hindge is NOT a clamp. You need two as said.

Tube molds are very difficult. Its a fine line between temperature and injector pressure/speed. I inject then harder and faster to fill out the skirts. Too hard and fast and you get the flash.

...Bill

[SBuck88]

I'm using 2 clamps now and it's shooting a lot better.  Thanks guys!