Is it worth the effort/cost?

I have inherited my dad's fishing stuff. It's mostly all bass lures though. He does have about 2 walmart bags worth of plastic bait. Is it worth the cost and effort to melt it down and make crappie lures? I don't even really like the colors that much. And we know it's all about what the fisherman likes instead of the fish....haha. I do not have an old microwave or any equipment so would be needing everything. Is this something I should try to mess with or be better off just buying what I want?

If you do not want to melt them down then send them to me. PM me for an address. I will make us some 2" stingers and 1.5" stingers out of them and send you some. If you or a moderator post this in the DIY / Soft Plastics forum you might get more responses. You could also just cut them into 1 inch sizes and add rubber or feathers on the tail by threading them through with a large needle. They call it a jelly and/or hackle jig. Here is how to do that. https://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-...le-jig-photos/

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Originally Posted by shipahoy41

You could also just cut them into 1 inch sizes and add rubber or feathers on the tail by threading them through with a large needle. They call it a jelly and/or hackle jig.

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Now that has potential and is something I could do now. What a great idea. Thanks

Where's one of the best places to find the hair or rubber tail material at?

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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

Where's one of the best places to find the hair or rubber tail material at?

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http://www.lurecraft.com/SOFT-PLASTI...departments/1/

Rod Building Supplies | Lure Making Supplies | Fly Tying Supplies | Fishing Hooks

Thanks "G"

Don’t know if anyone’s thought about this. Talking with a lady I work with whose husband makes large lures for stripers, etc. she said he’s sometimes gone to Walmart and bought the cheap lady feather boas to make lures with. I thought that was a good idea since you can find them cheap and multi-colored too. Just an idea.

So Shipahoy41 you can melt down some old plastic baits and reuse?

Sent from my VS501 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie

So Shipahoy41 - you can melt down some old plastic baits and reuse?

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Not a good idea. Soft plastic formulations vary and some may become a gloppy mess after being heated. If anything, buy some plastisol, pour some into a Pyrex cup, add old lures
and microwave in 30 second increments stirring ever so often. If after reaching close to 300 degrees the fluid mixture pours okay into a mold resulting in a bait you'll cast, you can heat some more new and old plastic.

SuperDave can you take a photo of your collection. I might have some ideas you can use involving fusing parts of lures together using a candle flame. Some of my best catches make use of old plastic lures.

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Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie

So Shipahoy41 you can melt down some old plastic baits and reuse?

Sent from my VS501 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Yes you can. Put them in a Pyrex bowl and melt some in a microwave that you have in your garage. Use an injector and shoot the hot plastic into an aluminum mold. WEAR OVEN GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION. Here are a few videos to help you.

How to make soft plastic lures
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/diy-...ppliers-tools/

Things NOT TO do
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/diy-...115410-thread/

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

SuperDave can you take a photo of your collection. I might have some ideas you can use involving fusing parts of lures together using a candle flame. Some of my best catches make use of old plastic lures.

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I will first chance I get. It’s all stored over at my parents. I just glanced at it one time. Need to dig it all out anyway. Thanks

I take all my waste plastic after i do 2 color pours and threw them in a pyrex and melt them together some colors you get are very interesting.