plastic waste....

[knifemaker3]

Hey all Merry Christmas!

I was out this afternoon after church shooting plastics.  I pour mainly crappie size baits and have a lot of sprues to remelt.  After several remelts I get the inevitable color change even with adding heat stabilizer.

I know I can add black to the color and just shoot black baits....which I plan on doing in the morning with some green chart. I have left that is turning colors.

But, to reuse all the plastic I would have several thousand black baits! 

So, what do you all do with all your plastic that you have reused so many times it changes colors?  Send it to be recycled, add black and make black baits, or ?

Just curious what others do.

Later!

[pjmcla]

What Colors?  I too shoot mostly small baits.  Is there glitter involved?  Do you have a good IR Thermometer?  How long is your maximum heat time between stirring?  Green Chartreuse is very temperature sensitive, esp. if glitter is added or trying to shoot a very transparent bait. It will react with contaminates as well.  You have to keep it real clean.   I shoot them a little cooler than normal and then when I think the color is getting funky, I add white pearl and / or maybe a touch of green hi-lite and shoot a pearl-treuse.  Some Chartreuses are more stable than others.  Is this a CCM color?

[basshunter5]

I make frogs with all my leftover sprues I don't really sell them just use them myself.  The fish don't seem 2 care what color frogs they eat lol I'm guessin mainly bc its a reaction bite bait.

[Dave]

Honestly when I make a large batch of plastic, I shoot multiple molds. If I am going to shoot one or two molds I make smaller batches to keep from burning it so bad. Less waist for me.     

[knifemaker3]

I shoulda clarified a little more....sorry.  It don't get the color change until after 8-10+ remelts and then it's pretty slight but enough to be noticeable in the same batch laying side by side.

I may have to try adding pearl powder to it and shoot pearltreuse.....hadn't thought of that.

I'll play with it some this morning as I'm heating up the shop to go shoot some now.

I have enough molds to shoot a full injector in one shot.  I've tried the presto pot thing and will again but I use calhouns plastic (sorry Jason) and it smokes really bad when using the presto.  Plus unless I just need lots of baits it takes too long to shoot up all the plastic in the presto.  I can shoot 100 baits using my remelted sprues on most of the baits I shoot out of 8 oz of plastic.....so using the presto is a little overkill for me...unless I'm shooting worms or craws then it is the best to use.

I guess I just need to shoot all my molds at once....but many times I don't need but a certain bait in a certain color because I'm out at the store......so shooting them all at once leaves me with too many baits that might not sell....

Just trying to figure out ways to create less waste and get the most out of my plastic.

Thanks guys!

[pjmcla]

I work in 4 - 6 oz. batches if I am going to pour just crappie baits.  It amazes me how many baits ( esp. small fries, and carrots up to 3" skinny ) that can be made out of 6 oz. of plastic when remelting sprues.
  Adding white pearl and maybe a touch of a green. Or no pearl and green and brown and glitter for a motor oil.  Kiwi and olive will stretch the use as well.  I play a lot with 4 - 6 oz. batches;  shoot two or three runs "as first color" then start tinkering by adding other colors.  Found some neat colors that way.   The kiwi and olive powders will override the other colors much like black does if you use much at all.