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Making soft plastics help

Posted on 1/24/21 at 10:53 am
Posted by TIGERBAIT84
Member since May 2007
1958 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 10:53 am
I am looking to start making my own soft plastics. I want to do this mainly because I have a few baits that I love fishing, but I’d like to have them in colors that aren’t available.

Has anyone tried their hand in this craft? What are pros and cons? Any must haves and must avoids?

What was your way of getting a mold? Did you make it? Buy it? I’d like to have a combo swim/shrimp mold.

Thanks,
Posted by jsmoke222000
Lake Charles
Member since Oct 2007
6317 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 11:10 am to
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28201 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 11:18 am to
My son wanted to try this. He’s 14 and he bought the mold and injector. He used my toaster oven (used for cerakote) until he got a microwave from his grandfather.

He’s made quite a few but usually have 1 or two that have voids and have to be redone.

It’s pretty neat watching him make them.
Posted by dawg23
Baton Rouge, La
Member since Jul 2011
5066 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 12:47 pm to
Barlow's

I haven't ever tried pouring/injecting soft plastics. But I have bought stuff (blades, baits, etc.) from these people for years. Very reliable.
Posted by jsmoke222000
Lake Charles
Member since Oct 2007
6317 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 6:30 pm to
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
29858 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 8:43 pm to
I made my own years ago but could never get the same feel and action as the brand names. Takes a LOT of trial and error. Finally Gave up.

But it was fun making different colors.
Posted by Tchefuncte Tiger
Bat'n Rudge
Member since Oct 2004
62816 posts
Posted on 1/24/21 at 9:34 pm to
Can you still melt old plastics and pour them in to molds? This is how a friend of mine and I used to make our own. We just recycled old ones. We made our own jig heads, too, from old tire weights.
Posted by DMAN1968
Member since Apr 2019
12632 posts
Posted on 1/25/21 at 5:33 am to
quote:

Can you still melt old plastics and pour them in to molds?

I was playing around with this not long ago, it can be done, but I sure did find some new smells that I didn't know existed before. Granted, Some of the stuff I was playing with may well have been as old as I am.
Posted by JamalSanders
On a boat
Member since Jul 2015
12214 posts
Posted on 1/25/21 at 11:13 am to
Email spotsticker and ask him what you want. He's a poster on the Auburn board and a professional guide. A bat signal was sent to him so he may jump in this thread.
Posted by TIGERBAIT84
Member since May 2007
1958 posts
Posted on 1/25/21 at 3:43 pm to
What’s his email?
Posted by JamalSanders
On a boat
Member since Jul 2015
12214 posts
Posted on 1/25/21 at 7:56 pm to
Ryan@lanierspots.com

his website

Posted by LanierSpots
Sarasota, Florida
Member since Sep 2010
70001 posts
Posted on 1/26/21 at 8:59 am to
There are a few ways to go about it. Two different methods are hand pouring (into a open cavity mold) and injection (clam shell style mold). The open cavity method will always have a flat side on one side of the bait.

Hand pouring gives you a better action on the bait but is more difficult to do. Injection gives you way more options on sizes. They make hand injectors that are pretty cheap and you can do a few baits at a time.

I did hand poured drop shot worms for my company for many years but eventually got so busy that I had to have a big injection mold made and have someone else do it. Glad I did that.

But for making your own stuff, there are kits out there where you can have a mold made or buy a existing mold and shoot enough worms for you to use pretty easily. You will need plastic/ flake and color. There are some pretty good sites out there and tons of youtube videos of guys guiding you along. Its pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

I used production pots to melt my plastic but lots of guys who do their own stuff just use a cheap microwave and pyrex dish. It is quick and easy, you just cant make a lot at one time

This is a open mold or hand poured mold. With this style, it takes more skill but you can do multi layered baits. With injection, you are stuck with one color or laminates unless you get very creative.





If you are trying to do some kind of shrimp, you probably want a two piece or injection type like this






If you need any help with it, email me and I will get you some help..... Its a fun thing to do but take some practice

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