Soft Plastic S.O.S!

[Rebel Son]

I'm trying to get started in doing my own baits and getting them out there around my area, but I'm stuck with a drawback.. I don't know which plastic to use. I first started doing baits with 2 quarts of Plastisol from Jann's netcraft. I didn't notice anything wrong with it, but they don't offer bulk. So I was looking at lurecraft's #502 formula, and it looks like a great product from what I read.. I mean it has a heat stabalizer added to it, it's odorless (doesn't have the plastic smell), they claim that they don't use fillers, they claim it has a "natural" feel and that it's action is unsurpassed, and they claim that it doesn't yellow with age. Sounds like a pretty great product, however.. on another forum someone said that after they left a gallon of 502 on the shelf, that the hardener sank to the bottom and then hardened (which makes the formula terrible). A lot of people have said that they prefer M-F plastic, but it's pretty expensive.. Calhoun plastics, I heard have a really strong plastic smell, so I'm not very interested in that. Bait Junkys claim that their plastic is made from high quality raw materials and they've got the cheapest prices I've seen..
My real concern is how good of a product the LureCraft #502 formula is, because I got really excited and skipped my research and purchased a 5 gallon bucket of it. So should I open it and get going, or should I send it back and buy plastic elsewhere? I just received it in the mail yesterday, so I'm sure I could send it back, because I never cracked the seal and opened it up.

I still feel like the #502 would be a good plastic, but one person's negative feedback has me second guessing it.

I'm open to all information, but please support your reasoning

Thank you very much
-Charles Minzey

[Dunham Fisher]

I've used it.  #502 is a good plastic.  I've found the folks at LureCraft a pleasure to deal with.  Stir and or shake well.  I've used them all too, and #502 is as good as any of 'em.  I would order LureCraft or M-F first.  Calhouns if not overheated will turn out good baits also.  Be sure to order heat stabilizer also.   It is not a gimmick, it does work.  Colors stay truer, and clear plastic will not discolor NEARLY as much.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!

[Rebel Son]

I've used it.  #502 is a good plastic.  I've found the folks at LureCraft a pleasure to deal with.  Stir and or shake well.  I've used them all too, and #502 is as good as any of 'em.  I would order LureCraft or M-F first.  Calhouns if not overheated will turn out good baits also.  Be sure to order heat stabilizer also.   It is not a gimmick, it does work.  Colors stay truer, and clear plastic will not discolor NEARLY as much.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!

They certainly are nice people! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't making a mistake by cracking this 5 gallon bucket open! :p
Thank you very much, sir!

[Bountiful Waters]

You are fine dealing with Lurecraft. If you are using a 5 gallon bucket, get a paint mixer and attach to your drill and mix well every time before use. Make sure you run it on the bottom to get the hardener off the bottom of the bucket.

[jonboy]

If you haven't got the hint yet from the other post... The hardener will dissolve back into the plastic but it takes a lot of mixing.

[Dunham Fisher]

They certainly are nice people! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't making a mistake by cracking this 5 gallon bucket open! :p
Thank you very much, sir!

You're welcome, Rebel Son.  Bountiful Waters is right on about the paint mixer, too.

[Rebel Son]

Thank you all for the feedback, I'm going to just crack this bad boy open and start pouring after I get some new molds I've got my eyes on! 

[SenkoSam]

LC is a pain to get the hardener mixed and the reason I like M-F, though Spike-It also sells different grades of plastic I'm interested in. Their site has quite a few types of plastisol I'm curious about for different processes and lure softness.

[jesse1378]

i have only had the gallon size jugs. i put a couple big egg sinkers in the bottle. helps mix that stuff very well. all the bait makers that buy the 5 gal sizes and the drums use paint mixers.

[DocIrv]

I now use and sell Chemionics. It is the clearest and does not smoke much at all and makes a very nice bait. If you want to buy some from me let me know.... http://www.plasticforbaitmaking.com/

[joefisher310]

I think I should pay attention to this too....

[Sarcazmo]

I've had good luck with M-F plastic and have never heard anything bad about bait junkys either.

I'll probably try bait junkies next just because I like trying new things. 

[SenkoSam]

Baitjunkys (Calhoun) is good so far in the salt water grade. Will report on medium after I try it.

[Pz3]

I was thinking about pooring my own and making my own designs as well. Thanks for all the replies. Its going to help a lot.

[SenkoSam]

BTW, Chemionics link not working.