Have a few questions

[Cygarbuff]

Hey guys, I've been watching and reading this forum and have learned a lot. I have a few questions. Ive tried to do searches but not always find my answers and sometimes get detoured and spend way too much time looking for an answer I don't find. Everything interests me so I get side tracked easily. Here we go with just a few for now to keep it simple.

1) for those who inject stick baits with hand injectors, What is the percentage rate for quality baits to bad ones (flat spots, air pockets or micro air bubbles)? To keep it simple out of 10 shot baits are there any that bad? I'm trying to figure out if its just a learning curve or its just part of the game. Ive adapted certain tricks to keep bad baits at a minimum. Since I only have four 4 cavity molds, if I make a mistake or a bad bait it really cuts down my production time

2)What is the best most accurate laser thermometer you guys have used with success. I'm not looking to break the bank here but understand you get what you pay for also. I bought a digital thermometer from Amazon that I got from a recommendation on this forum but I figured it couldn't hurt to have both. If it can help me be more efficient then I'm game.

3)On colorants when you see that its a non bleed color, what does that mean? It wont bleed into the glitter while cooking or once the bait is shot it wont bleed into other baits if you have them touching. I try to keep each color in its own bag but sometimes I throw sample bags together for friends and notice some colors rub off on other baits.

4)I tried to eliminate a few steps and instead of dropping some worm oil in a bag then a few drops of scent I combined 3 parts oil to one part scent in an empty squirt bottle. For some reason it doesn't smell the same, I cant figure out if it will when everything settles or if I'm losing my mind. I cant see how it would change the properties of the two. How much oil does the bait suck up? I don't want the bag to be full of oil but I want to make the bagging process easier. If I can get them coated nice then the bait sucks up some then I'm good, if the bait doesn't absorb any then I need to take that into consideration when I'm applying the oil

Thanks guys
Jay

[pjmcla]

I will attempt to help some.   1. Bad baits.  Each mold to a certain extent has it's own "personality".  You should learn the mold relatively quickly.  Especially if it is not your first couple of molds.  Flat spots are usually a heat vs length of holding light pressure issue, air pockets are sucked up air in the injector and not purging,  microbubbles are typically moisture and / or incomplete plastic heat cycling.  Once you get a good feel for how the process works and a feel for the mold; there should be very few bad baits.  When one shows up you will almost always know what you did wrong as soon as you see the bait. 2. I have a Klein +/- $85.00 that several here also use and like.   3. Non-bleed means it will not change the color in any other plastic bait it touches or the color of any laminated bait it is used in.  4. Can't help you there,  I add scent after they are on the hook.

[jl3140]

pjmcla answered many of those questions perfectly, but I'll weigh in too.

1. I inject 5" skinny carrots. Out of 10, usually I have 10 perfect, occasionally I'll get 1 or 2 with air bubbles but that's because I accidentally sucked up some air while I was sucking up plastic. The micro bubbles might be because of humidity or too hot of plastic.

2. I can't help with this one. I've never used a thermometer while making baits.

3. Non-bleed means that the color won't "leak" into another lighter color. I strictly use non-bleed. I like to cut down on package costs so I bag several colors in one bag.

4. I put maybe 10 drops of scent in the bag instead of oil when I bag the lures. After a couple of weeks, the only think in the bag is some slightly oily baits. I found they suck up nearly all of the scent but I'm pretty sure that will depend on the brand of plastic you are using. If I remember correctly, CCM(now Do-It) plastic is drier than other brands so it will suck up more scent/oil don't quote me on that though.

Hopefully I answered some of your questions

Josh

[t-billy]

 I've been using the same cheap IR thermometer for several years without issue. I think it's an Acutron or something like that. I don't remember for sure, and the name's worn off. It's a little orange colored job I got off ebay for around $20. I just stir well before checking temp, and go by the high temp reading, not the average.
 I store my baits in plano boxes instead of bagging them. I add scent as I use them. I keep a ziplock baggie in my boat with a little Kick'n bass scent in it. When I put a bait on the hook I drop it in the bag and rub some scent on it. One application is all that's needed with this scent. It's powerful stuff and stays on the bait a LONG time.
 

[siscojj]

WELL THE GOOD THING ABOUT A FEW BAD BAITS IS YOU CAN ALWAYS REMELT THEM AND IN MY CASE IF I DONT HAVE A SAMPLE  COLOR I'M WORKING ON AND IT'S A COLOR I LIKE I USE IT FOR MY RECIPE SAMPLE SO I CAN COMPARE WITH THE NEXT TIME I MAKE THAT COLOR