Glitter Question For Worm Pouring

[preach4bass]

I am about to order a starter kit from Del-Mart Molds (Thanks Bassman for reccomending them). I have the options of three different (sizes?) of glitter:

.008

.035

.040 (hex)

I have no idea what to get. Any advice and an explaination of the differences would be appriciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh yes, I'm going to be pouring stic baits (probably 4 1/4 and 5 1/4 inch if that makes a difference.

[BronzeBack]

Only one thing to say about the glitter from Del's it has a tendacy to sink to the bottom of the pan. You will have to add more glitter to your formula to get what you want.  

The .008, .035, .040 refers to the size diameter of the glitter.  .008 is the finest that I have seen on the market. It's about the size of a salt grain I think.

035 is a good medium sized glitter that is square.  I consider this the standard size of glitter that is used from all major manufacture of plastic baits.

040 hex is just what it is.  the glitter is hexagon shaped and just a step up in size from 035.

Glitter is used to add flash, offset a color, or even darken a bait.  Case in point, green glitter mixed with black grape colorant will give you something close to a Junebug.  In fact the green glitter is what causes the bait to become darker and giving it the black look.

[preach4bass]

Thanks BronzeBack, that was helpful.  One more question, would I be better off to get my glitter from somewhere else?  If so, where?

[SENKOSAM]

Variety in colors and sizes are nice to have around, especially if you see a bait at the store that you want to duplicate. That is pretty much the key to duplicating color schemes, unless you're experimenting, but many baits require only one size.

Rule of thumb:

Larger baits do better with .035 (.040)

Smaller baits do better with .015 (.027) and .008.

Color is always arbitrary and the amount of translucence and actual hue, determines what will shine through. Ie. Gold and chartreuse glitter does better than silver in chartreuse plastic; red and black do well in watermelon versus emerald; fuscia does better in purple plastic than blue grape.

There are 23 colors on my site and there is a place for every one of them. M-F Mfg. also sells a fine color variety of quality glitter in most sizes, as well as great plastic.

Glitter will eventually shrink and fade with multiple plastic re-heats, so it pays to have extra on hand.

I sell and use glitter and have never had it settle to the bottom. Salt yes, glitter no.

A few colors will bleed a little  (violet and fuscia), but in most colors except clear, it is neglible.

There is one color  - watermelon chameleon- where bleeding is preferred. The plastic is green when the light comes through, but reflects a pumpkin color with purple flake flash.

Too much dye and the plastic will be so dark that glitter will be masked. When I use dark colors and want the glitter to be obvious on the surface, I'll slightly heat the lure by rolling it over a candle flame and then roll it in some scattered glitter on glass, ceramic plate or flat aluminum foil. The technique  makes grub tails flash like the blazes! Great for black plastics and saves on having to use glitter in the plastic.

I use to think that hex glitter was better than square, but the fish can't count sides, so I doubt it matters. Square is nice for a more textured color look and I like it also.  

[preach4bass]

O.K., I'm trying to put this all together.  This information might have already been posted somewhere else that I just don't know about, if so, just send me in the right direction.  But I primarily want to make red shad and junebug senkos.  Take junebug for an example.  Do I just order junebug color or do I have to mix a certain (exact?) amount of different colors and glitter to get it.  Say I want to make a 4 1/4 inch junebug senko, is there a certain set of specifications I should follow to make that bait?

[SENKOSAM]

But I primarily want to make red shad and junebug senkos.

Delmart site has a cookbook of many favorite and often used color combos, but to answer your question:

1. June bug requires grape purple color for the plastic. - 5 drops per cup of plastic; add kelly or emerald green glitter and that's it.

2. Red shad is a laminate and requires two pours - pearl and red pearl - half one side /half the other side. It requires pearl powder and drops of red dye. If you're pouring a Senko (2-part mold), pour one side; close the mold up after the plastic cools; pour the other half. It can also be done in a one part Lurecraft mold and is much easier. Don't worry, the hot plastic half will fuse to the cooled plastic as long as the temp is 320 degrees. (A Candy thermometer is invaluable! Normally plastic will pour fine between 260 and 280 and is safer for glitter, as well as for reheating plastic. Note: you are at the proper temp if the milky plastisol turns gin clear, right from the jug or bottle. If new clear plastic begins to take on an amber tint, it's beginning to sear or is bad plastic. Lurecraft plastic has a lower heat tolerance and will sear and smoke at 300 degrees.)

Zoom color 54 is watermelon dye with black and red flakes (.035 black and .015/.035 red flakes).

With experience, you can spot all the colors that make up a color comb and can add the right amounts to plastic.

[preach4bass]

senkosam, I'm looking on Del-Mart and planning on ordering their starter kit for stick baits.  They don't list a grape purple for color or kelly or emerald green glitter.  Do they have different names or will I have to go somewhere else to order the right stuff to make junebug?

[SENKOSAM]

Lurecraft.com has grape dye and nine glitter colors. I also sell glitter (23 colors in 4 sizes).

LC is under new owners and I think the service will be better. Request a catolog from their site.

(Unless they changed the formulation, stay away from LC motor oil and chartreuse.)

[BronzeBack]

Here is the one thing that I have learned about pouring my own worms, I have yet to duplicate an exact match, I have come pretty close to it and they seem to do as well if not better than whats on the market.  As you will find, experimenting is the best part about pouring the baits,  I could spend all day pouring colors that I have never seen and then seeing if it works.   Hmm how can I get a job doing that?

For colorants and glitters try going to MF Manfacturing Co. They have a pretty good selection of stuff and have found out they even supply some of the bigger producers of worms and a major hunting/fishing retail store.

[BronzeBack]

Variety in colors and sizes are nice to have around, especially if you see a bait at the store that you want to duplicate. That is pretty much the key to duplicating color schemes, unless you're experimenting, but many baits require only one size.

Rule of thumb:

Larger baits do better with .035 (.040)

Smaller baits do better with .015 (.027) and .008.

Color is always arbitrary and the amount of translucence and actual hue, determines what will shine through. Ie. Gold and chartreuse glitter does better than silver in chartreuse plastic; red and black do well in watermelon versus emerald; fuscia does better in purple plastic than blue grape.

There are 23 colors on my site and there is a place for every one of them. M-F Mfg. also sells a fine color variety of quality glitter in most sizes, as well as great plastic.

Glitter will eventually shrink and fade with multiple plastic re-heats, so it pays to have extra on hand.

I sell and use glitter and have never had it settle to the bottom. Salt yes, glitter no.

A few colors will bleed a little (violet and fuscia), but in most colors except clear, it is neglible.

There is one color - watermelon chameleon- where bleeding is preferred. The plastic is green when the light comes through, but reflects a pumpkin color with purple flake flash.

Too much dye and the plastic will be so dark that glitter will be masked. When I use dark colors and want the glitter to be obvious on the surface, I'll slightly heat the lure by rolling it over a candle flame and then roll it in some scattered glitter on glass, ceramic plate or flat aluminum foil. The technique makes grub tails flash like the blazes! Great for black plastics and saves on having to use glitter in the plastic.

I use to think that hex glitter was better than square, but the fish can't count sides, so I doubt it matters. Square is nice for a more textured color look and I like it also.

SenkoSam have you tried lining the mold with a particular glitter befored you poured your worm?

[SENKOSAM]

I've done it and then found it's a hassle to get excess glitter out of the mold. It sticks with a vengeance! Besides, I ensure a nice glossy finish in plaster or silicone molds by using Original Fish Formula oil brushed lighly in the cavities. (Much cheaper than worm oil and a little goes a long way!!)

(I coat the plaster molds with Valspar Glaze vs Mod Podge for a gloss coat and use the oil for a super gloss finish.)

Sprinkling glitter on oil does not allow it to stick very well, in my experience. (I don't store worms in oil until I'm ready to use or sell them.)

[David A]

what is an average of how many 6'' stick baits you can make with 2oz of 15 size glitter and also how many of the same baits you can make with 4oz of colorant.

[paulmandude]

On 5/24/2024 at 6:13 PM, David A said:

what is an average of how many 6'' stick baits you can make with 2oz of 15 size glitter and also how many of the same baits you can make with 4oz of colorant.

A thousand or more