Twinjector Disaster

I am becoming very dissatisfied with the Basstackle twinjector. Last time I used it, I had a disaster and made me so mad I put it down for a year. When I first got it, I made maybe 3 shots right off the bat that turned out great. The 4th had the plastic bypass and run back up the other injector and ruined two batches of plastic. I ordered some O rings from basstackle recently and replaced all the O rings on the dang thing. I decided today to give it another shot. Its cold in my garage so I heated the twinjector on a hot plate along with the blending block. Got all plastic ready went to shoot and this is what happened on the first mold of 3.....

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...psfi7vdem7.jpg

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...pskzgtxec0.jpg

I would be cheaper to buy my dang baits at this rate. thats about 1 1/2 cups of plastic, coloring and glitter shot to he77. anybody else having any issues like this. I have about had it.CF

Looks like the first mold just blew out. Flashing on the baits everywhere. I went ahead and tried to shoot the other two molds and only got about 6 decent baits out of 36 total cavities. The other baits didn't fill out or did not laminate. I can't figure this out and its getting expensive.CF

Make sure You wear safety equipment. Gloves saved my hands in this deal.CF

I don't shoot plastics so I really have nothing to offer. I had something like that happen to me with lead. That was a hoot. LOL I had been taking lead straight from the propane jet and pouring it into the production pot. I had poured probably 15 (8 oz) bank sinkers then I guess the mold got so hot that it wouldn't flash cool. After holding the mold close for about 30 seconds it was still liquid lead. That happened about 5 times that day. I changed my pouring habits. LOL


Good luck on finding the problem buddy.

Bobo

Rondon is right you do not want to put too much pressure when you are shooting the molds I don't know which molds you're trying to shoot the only thing that I do with the dual injector is heated up before I start making sure that both plastics in the Pyrex cups are about the same temperature try not to shoot into cold molds the reason why insane the soon some parts of the country's extremely cold so I heat lineup any other and sometimes to about 350 anyway warm enough so you can touch the molds make sure that the blending block is secure in the whole of the mold not sure which molds again that you are using.

CF if the molds were clamped tight which it appears they were... My guess would be that either a bur or some debris was between the two mold halves keeping it from closing properly allowing it to flash. Youre not using too much pressure are u? Shouldnt tAke much at all.

That's alot of bluegrass baits :/ I hope you get it figured out you make some great plastics... Keep at it!

Don't know for sure on the flashing. These are bears molds. I clamped the crap out of them. When I went to shoot the first one, i never felt it pressurize. I was paying attention to the knobs and trying to pay attention to the feel of the shot as not to get hurky jerky with it. was making sure it was nice and smooth shot. I did not notice the plastic erupting until it had already begun and did not take but a second before it was everywhere. That is a lot of plastic moving with two injectors at the same time.CF

I bet somethimg was caught in the mold keeping it from closing all the way. Ive been in a hurry and had that happen and not notice it until it was too late.

I noticed that you are using plastic clamps throw them in the garbage put your molds in a regular vice or clamped them with the steel vice or put them back together with the screws that come with it and give it a shot plastic clamps do not hold your molds tight is they should be I know because I've got about four pairs of them that I don't use also for people starting out I do not recommend the clamps of made out of plastic that they are selling on most of the mold sites is I've had the same problem time after time though I know were going to hear about it here probably some a guy say they never had a problem but I do not recommend using plastic clamps and I bet you $1 million what I told you it will work.

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Originally Posted by crappiefarmer

I am becoming very dissatisfied with the Basstackle twinjector. Last time I used it, I had a disaster and made me so mad I put it down for a year. When I first got it, I made maybe 3 shots right off the bat that turned out great. The 4th had the plastic bypass and run back up the other injector and ruined two batches of plastic. I ordered some O rings from basstackle recently and replaced all the O rings on the dang thing. I decided today to give it another shot. Its cold in my garage so I heated the twinjector on a hot plate along with the blending block. Got all plastic ready went to shoot and this is what happened on the first mold of 3.....

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...psfi7vdem7.jpg

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/...pskzgtxec0.jpg

I would be cheaper to buy my dang baits at this rate. thats about 1 1/2 cups of plastic, coloring and glitter shot to he77. anybody else having any issues like this. I have about had it.CF

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your p.m. boxes full.

I use those bar clamps and love them. The actual bar on them is metal and the ends are plastic. Irwin sells 3 sizes of them. The smallest generates 150 lbs or pressure, one does 300 lbs and the big daddy can do 600lbs. THe one CF is using is the 150lbs. The original ones I bought were that size. They still work great 2 years later with 5+ days a week shooting. Now when I buy new clamps I get the 300 lbs. THey definitely bite better. A tip on the bar clamps... If they start to slip you can take some steel wool or sand paper and run it along the metal bar to give the mechanism something to grab.

I still revert back to my 2 possible problems... Using too much pressure on the injector or something was in the mold not allowing it to close. Bear uses thinner stock on some molds and with the big 5/8 runner you can get some flex in the mold if you get on the injector a tad. I found this out with my crappie dancer mold. Should take much more pressure than the weight of your arm to fill the mold.

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Originally Posted by RonDon

I use those bar clamps and love them. The actual bar on them is metal and the ends are plastic. Irwin sells 3 sizes of them. The smallest generates 150 lbs or pressure, one does 300 lbs and the big daddy can do 600lbs. THe one CF is using is the 150lbs. The original ones I bought were that size. They still work great 2 years later with 5+ days a week shooting. Now when I buy new clamps I get the 300 lbs. THey definitely bite better. A tip on the bar clamps... If they start to slip you can take some steel wool or sand paper and run it along the metal bar to give the mechanism something to grab.

I still revert back to my 2 possible problems... Using too much pressure on the injector or something was in the mold not allowing it to close. Bear uses thinner stock on some molds and with the big 5/8 runner you can get some flex in the mold if you get on the injector a tad. I found this out with my crappie dancer mold. Should take much more pressure than the weight of your arm to fill the mold.

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One thing I don't like bear molds yes I do have one of his dancer and molds but I don't like it wastes too much plastic . anyway getting back to the clamps I must have some garbage that I was using myself but anyway I don't like to use the hand type clamps really don't know what to say about the dual injector and what was going on there for sure but maybe you are right may be it was plugged if there are small portholes going into the individual cavities it could be a problem the may want to try different molds to see what will happen this will be interesting to see if he solves the problem.

You should be able to just place your hand on the injector, and the weight from your hand will be more than enough to shoot perfect baits.. As a rule i always wipe my molds out before every use. And if 1 color goes up into the other side of the injector myself that tells me 1 colorant is hotter than the other or more pressure is being used on 1 side. This is just what works for me. Max size bait I shoot is 3inch.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am going to take a couple cups of scrap plastic and play around a little to see what I can come up with using the suggestions. i will try the clamps again. If that does not work, I will go back to the screw in knobs and may get a couple regular C clamps. How many molds do You guys usually attempt to do with a full load of plastic from the twin jector. I know different size baits use different amounts of plastic but I am thinking in terms of haow many do you do before the blending block solidifies and stops the show? Thanks.CF

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Originally Posted by snake River

your p.m. boxes full.

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Just made some room Snake.CF

C farmer i don't shoot with a duel injector but i have a set of the same clamps and i have had more blow outs more than good shot. So i bought the larger clamps and they blow out too. I can put my screws in and never have had a problem. I am thinking that the outside is not flat maybe where the screws have been installed. My thinking is maybe block the outside with some 180 sandpaper you should be able to see if you have any high places that are not letting the clamps hold even. I have seen these same clamps used with no problems so there has to be a problem somewhere.Cub48

If you are using two clamps and having "blowouts" i would bet money you are using way too much pressure.

On my normal runs i clamp 7 molds with 2 clamps. I run three sets like this so i would be working 21 molds At a time using 6 clamps.

Here is a photo of the clamps I made for my mold. Easy on and easy off and I have never had a problem with them. I was able to get all materials free so all I have invested is a little time.

pretty fancy clamps but they sure look good.

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Originally Posted by snake River

pretty fancy clamps but they sure look good.

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:hesaidCF

I have not done a twin injection. However, I did run across this a similar problem with a bass worm mold that I was injecting, The problem I actually figured out was over clamping. I was actually closing down the small vents which were designed to let the air escape so the plastic was finding a lesser path of resistance. I actually had to file the vent grooves slightly. The problem went away.

Did you get your twinjector sorted?

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Originally Posted by gmintimidator

Did you get your twinjector sorted?

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Have not tried it yet. I have been making a lot of 2" twister tails as of late and have not had to have the twinjector. Will post an upsate when I do use it again. Snake River give me a couple tips on that and I will try them out.CF

Cool. Post if you have any issues. I've done a bunch of reading on the forum and there's a lot of good information, so its nice to return the favor and help out others.

I'm new at this twin injector and soft plastic injection.

Two clamps to use a set of welding clamps the ones with pads looks like vise grips with c clamp on the end. The other is a carpenters vise lowe and Harbor Freight has them for 20.00 mount it on bench. i have bought all kind of clamps and these are the best and don't rough your molds up. I don't heat my molds but i heat my injector and blending block after u get plastic to 350F let it drop to 300f then inject i would melt some scrap and use it till i got it down pat. I have a pancake grill i set my injector on to heat it the hot plate maybe getting it too hot in spots and melting your orings i set my grill on about 200f to warm my injector. Draw into injector slow and push into molds slow and steady. Cub48

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Originally Posted by snake River

I noticed that you are using plastic clamps throw them in the garbage put your molds in a regular vice or clamped them with the steel vice or put them back together with the screws that come with it and give it a shot plastic clamps do not hold your molds tight is they should be I know because I've got about four pairs of them that I don't use also for people starting out I do not recommend the clamps of made out of plastic that they are selling on most of the mold sites is I've had the same problem time after time though I know were going to hear about it here probably some a guy say they never had a problem but I do not recommend using plastic clamps and I bet you $1 million what I told you it will work.

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I agree with Bob. I am a vise user also. I stopped using plastic clamps and screws on my molds just because I do better with the screw type vise. This is what I use.

Attachment 273716

Ship the carpenters vice i use is tall enough that it clamps more in the middle. i have 2 of them yesterday i clamped 4 molds and may of been able to do 5. My vise has two 1/2"rods on the bottom the molds stack up don't have to hold them. Also u can bolt a wood board on it if u want i don't but that is something if u liked. Like i said i have tried almost everything as for as clamps i have c clamps they scar my molds works good clamping. I have the vise grip bar type in all size started with the small ones then bought the larger ones the bar is in the way and if u don't squeeze it hard it would blow out. I have even saw some use the spring clamps these were out of the question. I have tried regular vise getting the molds lined up was a problem The vise grip welding pliers the ones with the pads on them work great i used them before i bought the carpenters
vise they are about 6 bucks at HF. If i find a picture of the vise i will post it. Cub48

Ok here is a picture if i can get it to post!!!