I had a spot in my box where I would put used soft plastics until I finally got around to packaging them back up nicely.  I had a few different types of soft plastic worms and what not in the same slot for a while and they were fine. Then I added a new worm and the next day they melted.   

 

I also had this happen with a spinner willow leaf touching a plastic band holding a jig skirt in place.   It was a color coated willow leaf that was chipped a little and left a puddle of red from the willow and melted plastic from the band. 

 

Both these issues where in thier own water tight 3700 cases.  

 

I also just bought a new frog that warns it will melt anything in the same box if left. I store this in a side pocket, but wondering if it would need to touch other plastics or just being open near other plastics could cause melting.  Not worried this was the issue stated above, but wondering how this whole melting process works. 

 

Anyone have some input on why they melt or guide of what not to mix?   I'd like to understand a bit more on why they melt and how close these plastics can be to others in the same 3700 box. 

 

 

 

 

Different plastics have different formulations that can react with each other. It's best to keep them in bags - either the original they came in or a 'heavy duty' bag. If I re-bag plastics, I use Plymor 4mil - usually the 6" wide x 4" high as they fit neatly in my 3607 open compartment boxes and store most of my plastics straight.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZZY972/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Longer worms can go into larger bags - they have up to 24"x24"...

 

I've tried other brands - always come back to Plymor...they're just better.

I keep my soft plastics on the original bags.  It was the best solution for me.

I use 3700 and 3600 boxes that I configured to store all plastics horizontally by using dividers so they remain flat when storing and transporting 

They are separated by style and color so nothing gets mixed. 
 

The only thing that will melt plastics is an inordinate amount of heat over time. That will happen no matter what you use. 

 

 

 

Mike

10 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I use 3700 and 3600 boxes that I configured to store all plastics horizontally by using dividers so they remain flat when storing and transporting 

They are separated by style and color so nothing gets mixed. 
 

The only thing that will melt plastics is an inordinate amount of heat over time. That will happen no matter what you use. 

 

 

 

Mike

There was no heat involved, all other plastics were fine except the ones touching. This all took place in a cool garage over one night.  

 

i feel  like It was definitely some sort of chemical reaction going on.  only the items touching the new worm melted. there was a long worm shaped groove carved through all other plastics it touched and the new worm wasn't melted or affected at all, only the items it contacted had melted grooves in them and the plastic was in a jelly slime state and wouldn't harded back up.  

They have different plasticizers that do not mix well. These are the chemicals that keep them soft. Original bag usually works best. Failing that, not mixing brands/colors helps.