Is it worth saving plastics to melt down and repour into "menaces/senkos/paddletails".  From my understanding if I keep all the plastics similar color it wouldn't be too bad just need to add some plastisol (not sure if this is the case). 

 

Looking for anyone that has done this or if its worth it as I was going to be making some aluminum molds cheap.

 

TIA

I keep all of my broken and segmented plastics just to cut them up into other shapes and use them as trailers or other things. I keep them all in a separate ziplock bag with the handwritten word, "IDIOTS" on it. It's my own island of misfit baits. You never know when you will have a small or micro jig that needs a very special trailer.

You don’t have to add anything. Just cut them up into small pieces so they melt easily. Do It molds are what I use. They’re reasonably priced and sometimes you can get them cheaper at Tackle Warehouse. Pouring your own will save you money in the long run , and it’s fun. 

You will have to go through a bunch to have enough to pour many baits of the same color.  You also need to be careful of what you mix.  Do not mix in any elaztech baits.  If you want to come out ahead you probably should get open pour molds, if not you will have a considerable start up cost.

Yes...its worth it.

Another option is to just add an old lure or two to the plastisol and create a lighter colored version it.

I forgot to mention Fusion X open pour molds. You might check those out as well. They’re not aluminum, but they’re way cheaper. 

or just repair them with Mend-it.

Absolutely worth it. I keep a plastic container in my boat to save used baits for recycling. I went through hundreds of Ultra Molds Sweet Craws this season. The ones I'm fishing now are 3rd gen remelts. Good as the first time they were made. I probably have less than a nickle apiece in those baits at this point.

 I like to heat a little bit of virgin plastisol and add the recycled baits to that, but it's not necessary. You can just heat the copped up old baits. I've been checking the local goodwill for a used food processor. The finer you cut them the faster they melt into the mix. One of those oughta make it a breeze to grind them up into fine pieces. 

I'm saving mine. I have a mix of red, bubblegum, lots of white, and orange. I'm going to try to reproduce Merthiolate trick worms. 

I plan on doing this.  I'm going to use a marinade injector (because they're essentially the same thing, as a plastic injector, only cheaper) and make some molds out of Durham's water putty from a clay model.  I plan on trying out my own designs, which probably won't work, but will be way more fun.  I'm thinking something like a trilobite.  I figure it's a design that goes back over 500 million years, so there's a lot of evolution baked into eating them.  Or maybe not.  

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

...I'm thinking something like a trilobite.  I figure it's a design that goes back over 500 million years, so there's a lot of evolution baked into eating them.  Or maybe not.  

...or a waptia.

On 11/4/2021 at 11:39 AM, dgkasper58 said:

Is it worth saving plastics to melt down and repour into "menaces/senkos/paddletails".  From my understanding if I keep all the plastics similar color it wouldn't be too bad just need to add some plastisol (not sure if this is the case). 

 

Looking for anyone that has done this or if its worth it as I was going to be making some aluminum molds cheap.

 

TIA

Back when I was in H.S a few years ago I went to the art teacher and asked if I could make clay molds and bake em in the oven for pouring worms, they let me and they have been working really well, the are not as perfect as a zoom trick worm or robo worm but they work just as good.

Thinking about using all of mine to make the world's largest senko!

I have about half a shoebox full of used up baits which I one day plan to re-melt and make my own plastics, but I don't have any of the equipment yet. I plan on getting an open pour mold, to save some of the cost. 

If all the colored worms are melted together , brown will be the result .  I did it .

23 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I have about half a shoebox full of used up baits which I one day plan to re-melt and make my own plastics, but I don't have any of the equipment yet. I plan on getting an open pour mold, to save some of the cost. 

Some good gloves, a nor pour silicone cup or pyrex cup, a cheap microwave, and a mold will get you started.  
 

My first pours were an open mold, one of my wife’s pans on our kitchen stove.  That was a very bad idea.

I save all my old plastic, use what I can for trailers. Then melt down everything and I have a couple of open pour molds my friend gave me. I get weird colors, but it is fun.