I did it.....

Finally jumped in and ordered a starter kit along with some molds that I like.. afraid I'll be spending the weekend trying them out. As they came today! I hope it's not addicting . Lol

"I hope it's not addicting ."......

Ya, well good luck with that.

Yea one weekend and you will be hooked

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I realize there is a learning curve but trying to cut it down some. Any suggestions on a good thermometer and approximately how does it take to heat the plastic? Also how much softer or harder does a person use or is that a personal preference?

The Do-It store site in the plastics area has a digital thermometer that is dynamite for this. $15.00.

Your plastic has to reach 350 degrees to convert but you can re-melt and re-heat fully cooked plastic to as little as 320 for injection. If you are doing two color baits by laminating or cutting and re-injecting you're going to have to figure out how hot it has to be for a solid weld between the colors. As for total time to cook to conversion, figure somewhere between a minute and forty seconds to 2 minutes [maybe even longer]. On a 4 ounce batch in my 1100 watt microwave I heat on high one minute, then stir the heck out of it. Check the temp. The next shot of heat is for 30 seconds and stir again. Check the temp and then 15 second heatings until I hit the magic number. Lots of things can influence the cooking time such as glitters and even the colorants. White and chartreuse have a ton of pigment solids in them and these "solids" heat at a different rate than the plastic so stirring and reading the temp is paramount to getting your best results. Glitters reflect the heat being generated in the plastic during cooking and can create mini-hot spots so stirring well again is not an option. It may help to wait until you plastic is cooked to the 350 degrees and then add the glitter. The colorant should go in while the plastic is raw and cold from the jug. Hi lites and pearls can go in cold too. Regarding firmness or softer plastic, you'll have to work your way thru those preferences. You can have softener and hardner on hand and use them with medium plastic to go in either direction your baits may need to go. 1 teaspoon per 8 ounces is a good ratio to begin with. Add these components at the beginning to your cold plastic.

First order of things is to get a thermometer and use it religiously. Always. Second is to get a spiral notebook and write down every drip or drop of this or that when you are putting a plastic batch together. If things go wrong this will help find the issue. And if you hit on a color you really, really like you won't have to make it from scratch or try color matching if you have the exact recipe you used the first time.

Second order of things....take your time and don't hurry things. You'll be dealing with plastic that sticks to anything it touches at 350 degrees. Be sure you are working in an area that keeps you safe and make sure that any other persons in your work area are not being a distraction because you will want your entire focus on what you are doing. Keep yourself protected. This is supposed to be fun but if you somehow get a fifty cent sized splash of plastic at 350 degrees on your anatomy within four seconds you will be the owner of a fifty cents sized 3rd degree burn with the initial blister and then a fifty cent sized hole in your hide that will result in a same sized scar. And I can assure you that the 4 to 6 weeks getting from blister to scar will be a new kind of He// for you.

Baby steps. Think in terms of baby steps. It doesn't take long to get to walking but you have to learn to take the steps. You'll do it. You'll love it. You might hate it once in a while too. But this injection stuff will allow you to do things that no commercial bait maker can do.

CTom stated "Baby steps. Think in terms of baby steps. It doesn't take long to get to walking but you have to learn to take the steps. You'll do it. You'll love it. You might hate it once in a while too.:".................................

Here is my advice in three simple rules to live by when creating soft plastic lures

Rule 1...Have fun
Rule 2...Practice safety
Rule 3....See rule 1

Yes, it is very habit forming. Enjoy the ride

Thanks guys for the advice and insight...made my durst batch of stingers. I can see where this is going to be addicting. Now just figure out how to get the color right...

Let see some pics

I'll try and post some....do have a question....some of my larger b as its i.e. 3.5 stingers I've noted I'm getting air bubbles or pockets in some of them. What causes this or what am I doing wrong

How are you getting plastic into your injector? I pour mine in and then purge the first little bit out at an angle back into my cup to get the air out. If it's an old injector could be the o ring is no good. Could be injecting too quick. Could be not getting all the bubbles out of the plastic before you put in injector.

I just use it like a syringe..tried another batch got it s little hotter 355 was able to inject into mold a little slower and this time it was all good. Maybe I was trying to put it in to fast trying to keep it from setting up on me..I'll keep records of it...thanks for the ideas

Kiss those green backs in your wallet good-bye!!!!!!! LOL Plastics are one thing I don't do, it's just cheaper to get them from the folks on here!!!!!!

See! Saved money already!!!

you'll get hooked on buying molds it is very addictive hobby.

Safety safety safety I got 2nd degree burns using a spoon to break the skin on top in the pyrex it burped on my hand and fingers causing intence pain! Forgot my gloves for 10 seconds.Over a month to heal! This hobbie has brought me some of the best moments in my fishing experiences of over 40 years! To have days on the water catching my personal best and 79 fish is about 3 hours! Another day a series 15" of slabs in a few mins. All on my creations! So gratifying ! Enjoy be safe