Thread: What to get to start

Throw some greens in with the colors too.Thumbs Up

Here is how I do two colors. I shoot the mold with one color. Wait about a minute before handling the lures. Cut the head off and reinsert the tails back into the mold. Heat the second color until it is syrupy and reshoot the head or top of the lure.

You asked the following......

How do you know how much to mix up for filling the molds you are working on? Trial and error and best guess?

I have only a 12 cavity mold so I make enough for what I am shooting. You can store leftover colors in individual zip lock bags. You can always reheat in the microwave.

Probably lots more questions later but that's enough for now. I don't have anything yet so asking too

On the colorants.....be darned certain you are getting non-bleed colorants, Reds and the motor oil can mess things up pretty good because they can bleed terrible.

Regarding doing one color and trimming a piece off to inject another color with, sure thing. I make sure I have a bunch stabilizer in the second color and heat it up to like 365 degrees and keep just a slight pressure on the injector handle for about 12 seconds after the mold has filled and the plunger stops. Not a lot of pressure, just enough to know you're pushing down.

I shoot a lot of small plastics so I mix my batches in 4 and six ounces for the most part. Larger baits call for more plastic so slightly larger batches can be whipped up once you develope some good colors.

Keep a notebook handy and write down every single thing you add to each new color . When you hit on a keeper, keep a second copy in a safe place so you create a reference list that you can go back to to replicate those keeper colors.

Originally Posted by fish_4_all

Well, Snake River has me going in the right direction, can not thank you enough Bob.

Now I have a few questions:
Basic colors to start off, I am thinking the following:
Black, white, red, orange, pink, purple, chart and a root beer/motor oil color
How much of each? Think 4 ounce because of the lower cost and so it will last a while. Not sure how much 4 ounces will dye but should be a lot more than a couple gallons.

2 colors: can you pour one color in another mold, let it cool, insert it into part of the other mold and inject another color and have them stick together properly?

How do you know how much to mix up for filling the molds you are working on? Trial and error and best guess?

Probably lots more questions later but that's enough for now. I don't have anything yet so asking too much too early aint gonna do me any goof.

your questions are basic questions the colors that you picked are good ones all word of caution on where you buy your colors I buy most of mine from the Lurecraft because they do not bleed yes you can shoot one color in a mold let it cool for a few seconds open it up and tear the body off and leave the tail and shoot the second color also you can reverse the mold flat side to the cavities and shoot half make sure that the backside of the mold is clean with alcohol or acetone for ounces of color will go a long ways you only need a couple of those colors to start out with and I would only buy a gallon of plastic at first to see if you like it to work with hot plastic I'm sure the guys have lots of comments to make about this subject here you have some mighty good ones already posted if you need any more questions answered let us know I'm sure the guys will give you plenty of information.

One more question, if I want to mix 2 colors to make a total new color, should I do that in a small container and then add it? I am thinking getting 3 primary colors gives me a lot of colors I can mix myself, of course getting black and white along with the 3 others.

For my first plastic order, it will likely be the one I have found a couple places with very little odor and a medium strength. Unless someone has a better idea. I don't know if I will be getting any strengtheners or other stuff right off the bat. Just basics so I am learning right and not messing with too much stuff confusing myself.

I love the Caney Creek X2 colors they do not settle out and a few drops will do you. Prefer my glitter from Lurecraft.