Played around with making a few hand pour molds last night to see If I really want to dive off into the world of pouring my own. Does price affect the quality of plastisol? I've seen ranges from $29 a gallon to $75. I melted down some old plastics for last night, but i think I'm ready to try it for real. Any opinions on good or bad plastisol? And one website sells different plastisol for hand pouring and injecting. Any input helps!

I like Calhouns.

 

I heard Baitjunkies is good and I also heard it actually is Calhouns.

 

Do-it was good when was Caney Creek, but not as good now (i heard)

 

Never tried LC, MF or Spike it.

 

Medium is best all around and buy softener and heat stabilizer too

Awesome, so could you explain heat stabilizer a little bit? Is it to maintain heat in the plastic while still hot? And is it best for me to get a small injector due to the fact I'll only have a few molds at once?

I get mine from Bear's.  The last I bought was $75 for a 2.5 gallon jug.  If you buy from him be sure to get a pair of his gloves.  They are the best I have ever used.

 

Heat stabilizer is to help keep you baits from scorching when you reheat.  This is especially important when doing light colors.

 

What are you using for a heat source?

Yes Heat stabilizer helps keep the plastic from burning on reheated. Just need a few drops.

 

Bears plastic is Calhouns brand.

 

Medium injector will fill most standard molds.

My plan is to use heat from a hot plate, unless they have some school time deals on a small microwave. I have not tried it but my younger sister offered me a candle maker, which reminds me of a lee lead poring pot, but for candles. I need to see how hot it will get cause I have my doubts on if it will get hot enough. Has anybody tried the lurecraft 548 extra medium?

No the candle heater wont get hot enough.

 

Hot plate will help keep plastic warm but wont be hot enough to actually cook the plastic to temp.

 

Microwave should be like $10 at a garage sale. Or try Craigslist. A small low power on actually works best.

 

548 is pretty stiff for bass baits. 

Good suggestions. So let's back up a little for the guy who has no experience. I just melted down some old lures until they were liquid, then poured them. So by the way I understand now, I need to bring them up to temp. What is that temp? And the lures I made ended up terribly soft. Is that due to the fact I did not bring them to temp?

The first time you heat virgin plastisol it needs to get to about 350*. Any reheats after that 300-325* should be good. Dont want reheats too hot or plastic will scorch, change color, and glitter will melt.

 

I would use a couple ounces of virgin plastic and then add a "squirt" of heat stabilizer and then some used plastic for remelts. If it bubbles or foams that means there is moisture in there. Water and plastisol is a bad mix. Stir stir stir.

 

Keep batches small till you learn so you dont waste plastic. Go at least 4 oz and no more than 8 oz. 

 

GL and stay safe. ALWAYS wear gloves

If you have a Harbor Freight Sales in your area you can get an infrared thermometer for around 25 bones.

I've got some stuff on order, so we will see how things go. I'll have to see if I can snag a microwave. And I'm headed to Des Moines on friday, and they have a northern tool, so they might have a thermometer. So, to answer my question, if I get them to the right temp will they be harder?

Possibly. If the plastic got to a liquid and you stirred and their were no lumps then it was hot enough. Should pour like a thick pancake syrup.

It seemed a little more runny than that so most likely I got them too hot? Thanks for all your help

I get mine from Bear's.  The last I bought was $75 for a 2.5 gallon jug.  If you buy from him be sure to get a pair of his gloves.  They are the best I have ever used.

 

Heat stabilizer is to help keep you baits from scorching when you reheat.  This is especially important when doing light colors.

 

What are you using for a heat source?

The 5 gallons I got from Bears pours better then all the rest I have tired. I can pour around 50% more baits also before heating it back up .

Pete

Starting to get the hang of pouring. Did somebody say that baitjunkys plastic is actually calhouns? Because I ordered a sample from them and I like their plastic way better than what I'm using

I just got some BJ and it is excellent

I've had zero issues with M-F so far.

That said Bait junkies CS is excellent, and I like supporting companies that take care of their customers.  I'll probably be trying theirs next.

Only complaint I had when I ordered from baitjunkys was that my order was shipped back and forth between Georgia and Des monies iowa 3 times before it landed at my house in Southeast iowa...but that might not be there fault

Only complaint I had when I ordered from baitjunkys was that my order was shipped back and forth between Georgia and Des monies iowa 3 times before it landed at my house in Southeast iowa...but that might not be there fault

 what baits are you making just worms?   this is new to me and have been thinking about it for a little while  could you show pics of how your doing this?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvL36ErjNhc&list=UUF12IUaBYvTWQx2OUVd5woA

Comfortably Numb is who showed me how it's done and helped me get started, the man knows what's going on for sure