Use A Thermometer!

Been reading a few post about scorching plastic. One of the best tools You can use is a cooking thermometer. You can get one for $20 bucks or less. I went for a long time without one. I scorched plastic, underheated and overheated and did not want to buy a thermometer because I was trying to build up my plastics inventory and did not want to spend the money on a thermometer. stubborn about it. I finally bought one and it was one of the best moves I have made since starting this hobby. It will save Your plastic. It will save Your colors that You work hard to dial in on. It will save You time because You didn't heat Your plastic good enough for a second color shot in a mold and the two colors did not weld or the plastic will not fill the mold properly. It will help You dial in what You need to do with the little quirks of some molds using different shooting temps to compensate for some minor flaws. It can turn an unworkable mold into a workable one.

I used to have problems with browning out of plastic in about 5 shots. Not anymore for the most part because I am not getting my plastic too hot. Heating up plastic that I just shot for another shot is where You can really overheat Your plastic. If You are just below 300, and are running low in the cup, it may only take 15 to 20 seconds to get back to shooting temp where as 30 seconds may be putting You up there around 375 to 400. The secret to keeping color good is keeping the plastic between 350 and 320. If You don't have a good thermometer, You are heating blind. Don't trust consistency of the plastic. It runs like water at 350 just as loose as 400. You don't know where You are at without a thermometer. If your thinking You don't want to "waste" money on one, I'm here to tell You, it is money well spent and You are spending more money without it and just don't know it. It makes a huge difference. Hope this helps some of You fellas that are not using one. I'm so glad I bought one. It has payed for itself ten fold in wasted time and plastic.CF