Dipping plastic

[crappiefarmer]

I have done this before but had a problem. I heated a half a cup of clear plastic for dipping. I take the pyrex cup out and sit it on a hot plate. The hotplate will not keep the plastic melted with it set on 400 degrees. I get about 30 or 40 baits dipped and then have to reheat in the microwave to loosen the plastic back up. Even with stabilizer, You can see the clear plastic browning and being very careful not to overheat and stiring. It does not seem to hold up long. So I end up with almost a half a cup of browned plastic that is not very good for brighter colors and has to be used in a dark color which I have plenty of. The plastic is Cahoons. i'm about to run out and am going to try some spike-it. It is cheaper and may be worse than the cahoons for holding color. Any suggestions? Thanks.CF

[Percidae_Papermouth]

Man I swear I never get my plastic over 360 and I have that problem, if I reheat pearl white more than 6 times it starts changing to off white, still catches fish though. I'm anxious to hear what the pros say.

[crappiefarmer]

I have that with White too PP. I have found the best way to work with that is to just use it up as fast as possible. Make a run on baits and use it up with just a couple reheats. Don't mix more than a 1/2 cup at the time. That's all I know to do. Now when dipping clear on the baits, any browning will show up on the baits especially on the brighter colors. Now some of these fellas are selling baits that are dipped and there has to be a way to keep that plastic clear for a good period of time to do a couple hundred at least. I'm dipping quickly and then throwing the baits in a container of water (away from the plastic) so I can quickly keep dipping until it starts to thicken. Then reheat and go as fast as I can again.CF

[snake River]

all I can say about plastics is you have to watch the temperature real close if you're using white it will turn yellow about to three times on warm-up also chartreuse doesn't same thing just make sure you watch her temperature real close in the course it really doesn't matter but you have to maintain that temperature at 360 or 350 and you only get about three times to warm up your plastic and that's it I use Calhoun and I swear by them.

[jackie53]

Not the Pro's like snakeriver or the other guy's but it takes a little practice may have to cut you batch down some more below 1/2 a cup also have two cups one you are dipping into and one heating up. We have a hot plate we got from Wal-mart heat it up and set the cup on it wil dipping keep stirring also.Lurecraft has a video that seems too help .Still learning myself but by trial and error this method has worked for me. Hope this helps.

[shipahoy41]

I only make about 1/2 cup of anything at a time. I am making the lures primarily for myslef. If I need to put eyes on and redip the lure then I use another pyrex measuring cup and make 1/2 cup again for dipping. I just dip one at a time until I have a dozen made. Those of you who sell bait / lures by the 1000's are just awesome. I have learned a lot from Bob Hinkle and Keith Pace. Their work is top shelf!

[Spoonminnow]

I would like to see some dipped baits.
I never go above 300 degrees and only fill to 1/2 cup when I want clear plastic for pours. M-F has been okay with Lurecraft second.