Colorant

[Slow Burn]

Has anyone ever had a problem with colors fading on their soft plastics? If so how can this be corrected?  When I started playing around with doing this stuff over a year ago pretty much all of the color combos I have done turned out great except when I use my Violet NB color.  I noticed that they are moving away from that brand of colorant to the new X2 stuff and was wondering if this was why.  When I would shoot a violet/purple color it would turn out the way I wanted but after a couple of weeks it would completely fade and turn a cloudy white.  Im assuming that this is not normal or I am doing something wrong in my process.  I cook my plastic slow (1 min stir/ 30 sec stir/ 15 sec stir and anther 15 if needed) and stir constantly until its clear then add my colorant and glitter and such.  Any help or suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Also, all of my colorants are the older brand sold on CCM. 

[MO QWACK]

What kind of plastic do you use? The old CCM plastic had a bad rep of clouding over time. The I hear the new stuff doesn't fade and is good stuff.

[Botanophilia]

I had this problem when my plastisol wasn't mixed well.  But it affected most colors, not just one. 

[Slow Burn]

I used the CCM Medium.  I have since thrown that out and have new stuff from CCM.  I have only made 3 colors of the new stuff so far and it seems to be holding.   But I only started shooting lures again about 2 weeks ago.

[andrewlamberson]

"but after a couple of weeks it would completely fade and turn a cloudy white."

Sound like you did not get your plastic up to at least 350 degrees and it did not fully "change state".

Just because the plastic gets clear...doesn't necessarily mean it got hot enough. You also need to complete mix (stir) the plastic.

Strongly suggest you purchase the digital thermometer that Do-it sells.

[jmatheny9]

Strongly suggest you purchase the digital thermometer that Do-it sells.

how fast does this thermometer read? I picked up a digital one from Wally World and I hate using it because it takes like 45 seconds to actually get up to the right temp. Very frustrating


                   -Jeremiah

[andrewlamberson]

It takes about 10 seconds (a guess) but it is probably the fastest you can buy for a reasonable amount of $$. Actually, if you use it to stir your plastic, by the time you stir it is reading accurately. The thing is, your plastic continues to heat even after you take it out of the microwave, so the temperature going up while your reading is as much a result of the plastic continuing to heat as anything. Google "Standing Time". Here's some really good info on using a microwave (for cooking):

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/b1539e27-362d-4a32-84f4-334aa0870b7a/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

It is a National Science Foundation certified thermometer and was recommended by my Daughter who is a Microbiologist and it is the thermometer that they use in their "standard operating procedures" in the Microbiology Lab that she is the Manager of.

http://www.caneycreekmolds.com/Proaccurate-Digital-Thermometer_p_407.html