Softner

[Fishfulthiking]

Just received some Essential Series Plastisol.  I am looking forward to trying it out.  How much softener would you use per 4 oz?  I have used Lure Craft 536 for several years and I am very accustomed to that degree of softness for my baits and would like to duplicate that with the ES Plastic.  Any suggestions? 
I have also purchased some CC in soft and I am looking forward to trying that out as well, but I am looking for suggestions on amounts of softener for ES Plastisol.  Thanks.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Generally Speaking, I would add 1.5 ozs Softener to 10.5 ozs of Essential to achieve 12 ozs of "Soft"...or 2 ozs Softener to 14 ozs Essential to achieve 16 ozs "Soft".

I would add 4 ozs Softener to 12 ozs Essential for 16 ozs "Super Soft".

[ctom]

Whoa.....that's a bit much unless you like mush soft baits.  I add 32 ounces to 5 gallons for an 8% or thereabouts reduction and that is equal to or softer than the Crystal Clear soft. There is a point where too much softener will not be your buddy and Gary is about at that point I feel. I wouldn't soften it that much ever.

[ctom]

The experience was I added too much softener and even after cooking to 370 degrees the Essential was mush, the elastic quality was gone and the baits tore about as easy as toilet paper.

[Apdriver]

I sure don't want in on any arguments. When adding too much softener, along with HD for some senkos not long ago, my baits were really sticky. I backed off the softener and that helped a bunch.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

I apologize.  Today has pushed me beyond my threshold.  What I'd stated, then removed, is fact, but harsh, nonetheless.

[Lamar]

  I like the ES regular just like it is. Never used softer and never thought I needed to. I make a ton of senkos with no softer and they work and hold up great.

[Fishfulthiking]

Thank you guys for the response to this question.  It is wonderful to have a forum that allows this type of discussion.  I am new to hand injection.  I have hand poured plastics for a few years and have always used 536 from Lurecraft.  I am on the West Coast and the guys I fish with won't fish with anything that isn't soft.  So can any of you give me suggestions on how much softener I might need to add to 4 oz. of ES plastisol to get it to a similar softness as the LC 536 that I am used to?  I will certainly do some of my own experimenting but was hoping that someone has traveled down this road before.  Thanks again.  I sure appreciate those that take the time to respond.

[ctom]

Try 1/2 tsp to your 4 ounces. That's teaspoon. Start with that and be sure to mix it well before cooking. Check the resultant plastic. By check I mean put a hook in it and pull it out to be sure the plastic isn't too soft. Feel for stickiness but be certain you have gotten the plastic heated to the 350 degrees needed for conversion...both under-cooked plastic and plastic with too much softener will be sticky.

This is something that you need to just sit down and play with making sure to take good notes on how much of this or that you are using and which plastic you use. I make a note for each shoot and I do an initial study right out of the mold, but I also set the plastic and baits and note aside together for three or four days and go back and re-study the baits/plastic. Many times the plastic will loose some elasticity after having time to set or stickiness starts to become apparent.  Like everything with this plastics stuff it can get to be a "process". You figure it out.

[Bass in the hood]

Just received some Essential Series Plastisol.  I am looking forward to trying it out.  How much softener would you use per 4 oz?  I have used Lure Craft 536 for several years and I am very accustomed to that degree of softness for my baits and would like to duplicate that with the ES Plastic.  Any suggestions? 
I have also purchased some CC in soft and I am looking forward to trying that out as well, but I am looking for suggestions on amounts of softener for ES Plastisol.  Thanks.

I use CC Soft and add no softer it works great and the worm re very soft.

[Fishfulthiking]

After some experimenting, I found that 1 tablespoon of softener per 4 ounces of Essential Regular Plastisol is just about perfect for the softness that I am trying to achieve.