Time/money saving tips

[CTom]

Shooting cold molds can often end up handing you some messed up plastic. Shooting in a cold injector can mean having to take it apart to clean it. I do things a bit out of convention by saving some of the junk plastics in an old microwacve safe cup. When I am ready to be gin shooting, I line up the molds I want to use and melt ythat cup-full of plastic. When its hot, I fill the injector pretty full and immediately shoot it back into the cup. Then I fill it again and fill the mold[s]. I empty any remaining plastic from the injector and then clean out the molds. All of this plastic goes right back in the cup so it can be warmed the next time I am starting up and everything is like ice. Pre-heating this way is easier on everything and cuts down a bunch on messed up plastic because equipment was too cold to get the job done right.

Another hint is to save some of those "good" colors left over at the end of a run. When you are bored and need something to do, warm up a few of those colors and simply play with them. I did that this morning and think I have found a good cloudy day bait.

[snake River]

good looking plastic baits.

[crappieseeker]

looking very good, kind of resembles baitmans work

[crappiefarmer]

CTom, would You share with me that color blue recipe? I have not been able to hit on it and have been trying. You can PM me if you want. I would appreciate it but understand if You don't want to.Thanks.CF

[CTom]

CTom, would You share with me that color blue recipe? I have not been able to hit on it and have been trying. You can PM me if you want. I would appreciate it but understand if You don't want to.Thanks.CF

No problem at all, but beware that it is a blend of two transparent blues. I looked at both recipes and think I can get you real close to it. Maybe start a bit short on each blue and finish it to taste on the bench. Both blues, even though they are transparent and sort of fluorescent incorporate into the hot plastic nicely.

4oz plastic, 10 drops of heat stabilizer, 12 drops CCM transparent blue nb, 6 drops of LC transparent electric blue, a sidge of blue hi lites to start and just a touch of blue .015 glitter if you want some sparkle.

[crappiefarmer]

Thanks a lot CTom. I love that blue and just cant quite hit on it to save my rear. I appreciate it.CF

[crappiefarmer]

Good idea on the pre heating of the molds and the injector. Once You mix plastic with different ingredients, You have a little money tied up there. You don't want to mess it up and have to tear baits apart to re heat or at worst case have a total loss and throw them away. You want them to count. You can also put your molds on a hot plate to pre heat them or in a toaster oven.CF

[shipahoy41]

Those are great tips.

[jaxsprat]

Sure do like that color combination, do you ever put some silver giltter in the purple?

[CTom]

Jax....I really try to do things that others are not and the first glitter everyone gets is silver. I don't even care for silver in chartreuse. I have maybe ten colors of glitter, but not one in silver or in gold.