perhaps an odd question

[javelin225ho]

sweet! 

[hornytoader]

As far recycling old soft plastics, I've cut them into very small pieces into a glass measuring cup and put into microwave and start off with 35 secs., check and stir if possible , hit it again for 40 secs. and should be in a melted stage if not , back in microwave for another 25 secs. Plastic will smoke and should be bubbly....stir and pour slowly into mold, bubbles will rise to top and pop. Times will differ depending on what brand of soft plastics your melting and some baits have more salt than others which is the reason stir well before pouring as the salt will settle. Also I wear a pair of good welding gloves to handle glass measuring cup and to prevent any burns on the skin. Safety glasses not a bad Idea either. Good Luck with your pours.

[bearwithfish]

As far recycling old soft plastics, I've cut them into very small pieces into a glass measuring cup and put into microwave and start off with 35 secs., check and stir if possible , hit it again for 40 secs. and should be in a melted stage if not , back in microwave for another 25 secs. Plastic will smoke and should be bubbly....stir and pour slowly into mold, bubbles will rise to top and pop. Times will differ depending on what brand of soft plastics your melting and some baits have more salt than others which is the reason stir well before pouring as the salt will settle. Also I wear a pair of good welding gloves to handle glass measuring cup and to prevent any burns on the skin. Safety glasses not a bad Idea either. Good Luck with your pours.

thank you this is the general plan at this time as i move forward.. at this point its just waiting for the basics.... you know time, funds, weather, etc..... its raining now so the snow should be gone soon i can not wait until spring is fully here....

[SenkoSam]

Good intro to remelting plastic!
Here are some other observations and experiences:
1. plastic lures or plastic left over for remelt, most times will have no bubbles and if you keep the temp below 280 degrees (candy thermometer), you should have no or very little vapor. White or black smoke and chunks of black plastic mean you have bad plastic or that you've exceeded the heat tolerance (over 325).
2. Plastic lures vary in hardness - salt water plastics have more in general; freshwater lures are generally softer and have less hardener. After melting a batch of the same plastic, it pays to make a lure, wait one day before making a large batch. What may seem super soft today, may be much harder tomorrow or days after.
3. Softener is sold by Lurecraft, M-F and others and will add softness to harder plastic or you can just add and remelt super softer plastic with the harder stuff.
4. Reheated clear or light smoke plastic will turn slightly amber the more it's reheated. Add dye (pumpkin or a little bit of another opaque color) or glitter to alter the color.
5. You can always increase the transparency of old plastic by adding new plastic or old clear lures.
6. Remelted salted plastics lose the salt to the bottom immediately, so your lures won't have much salt in them unless you stir like crazy and pour immediately. I add super fine salt from the supermarket for weight if needed.
7. A pyrex cup and a razor blade are all you need to get started! You don't even need a mold!!! Just use a large serving spoon and pour some remelted plastic to form a wonderful finesse minnow or frog chunk with a tablespoon. The cup's handle is cool enough to hold without gloves for the first 3 or more reheats as long as you don't exceed 300 degrees.


I have tons of old lures waiting to be melted down and I can pretty much tell what has to be added and which will turn out as expected. As hornytoader said, it takes much less time to remelt plastic than new, so be careful. Ventilation fans to the outside are preferable along with a mask.
I smoke a pipe and don't need to inhale more crap.

[bearwithfish]

Good intro to remelting plastic!
Here are some other observations and experiences:
1. plastic lures or plastic left over for remelt, most times will have no bubbles and if you keep the temp below 280 degrees (candy thermometer), you should have no or very little vapor. White or black smoke and chunks of black plastic mean you have bad plastic or that you've exceeded the heat tolerance (over 325).
2. Plastic lures vary in hardness - salt water plastics have more in general; freshwater lures are generally softer and have less hardener. After melting a batch of the same plastic, it pays to make a lure, wait one day before making a large batch. What may seem super soft today, may be much harder tomorrow or days after.
3. Softener is sold by Lurecraft, M-F and others and will add softness to harder plastic or you can just add and remelt super softer plastic with the harder stuff.
4. Reheated clear or light smoke plastic will turn slightly amber the more it's reheated. Add dye (pumpkin or a little bit of another opaque color) or glitter to alter the color.
5. You can always increase the transparency of old plastic by adding new plastic or old clear lures.
6. Remelted salted plastics lose the salt to the bottom immediately, so your lures won't have much salt in them unless you stir like crazy and pour immediately. I add super fine salt from the supermarket for weight if needed.
7. A pyrex cup and a razor blade are all you need to get started! You don't even need a mold!!! Just use a large serving spoon and pour some remelted plastic to form a wonderful finesse minnow or frog chunk with a tablespoon. The cup's handle is cool enough to hold without gloves for the first 3 or more reheats as long as you don't exceed 300 degrees.


I have tons of old lures waiting to be melted down and I can pretty much tell what has to be added and which will turn out as expected. As hornytoader said, it takes much less time to remelt plastic than new, so be careful. Ventilation fans to the outside are preferable along with a mask.
I smoke a pipe and don't need to inhale more crap.

i agree with all above and thank you so much for the tip on a spoon (i think you told me this before) just waiting to find a cheap or free microwave and then i am gonna start trying it out..... out side LOL i think with all the animals, kids and my wife in the house its best to not take any chances....

[theBaitBar]

I started pouring about a year ago and have about 6 molds.  I found injection molds have better results for me.  Once you learn temp and injection speed it is very easy.  By the time you go through your first gallon of plastic you will be a pro.  The tool I can not live without is a inferred thermometer, helps keep everything consistant.  Molds are expensive so you are limited to how many items you can pour at one time and that gets frustrating, but worth it.


www.thebaitbar.com

[SenkoSam]

How much did you pay for your infra red thermometer?
I was thinking about getting one.


One thing I forgot. Some new plastic bubbles within; remelted plastic, never, in my experience. Just reheat it and the tiny bubbles are gone. Some think it may be moisture in the plastic regardless how it's stored but it is more prevalent for certain brands of plastisol. No big deal, just a pain in the * .

New plastic that foams bubbles on the surface has some serious defect in chemical makeup and I would ask for a refund same as for plastic that stays a gooy mess.

[theBaitBar]

How much did you pay for your infra red thermometer?
I was thinking about getting one.


One thing I forgot. Some new plastic bubbles within; remelted plastic, never, in my experience. Just reheat it and the tiny bubbles are gone. Some think it may be moisture in the plastic regardless how it's stored but it is more prevalent for certain brands of plastisol. No big deal, just a pain in the * .

New plastic that foams bubbles on the surface has some serious defect in chemical makeup and I would ask for a refund same as for plastic that stays a gooy mess.

you can get them at harbor freight for about $20