Pouring Stik Molds

[wolfman148]

I am having a hard time pouring the 5" 2 piece stik mold. Can anyone give me some pointers on how to do this or can i use some type of injector to do this?

[Lager7]

I used a hotplate, with a spouted pan, to warm the plastic. After a few pours I had noticed that I was getting air bubbles near the tops of the worms. I tried holding the mold on a slight angle, and pouring the plastic slowly, this seems to work for me. It seems like your pouring forever, but the worms came out great.

[Delw]

Wolfman

Can you be more specific on what the problems are.
Also tell us exactly how your are pouring and cooking the plastic.



Delw

[wolfman148]

The mold has a screw with a wing nut. when I pour the hole plugs and that ends that. I melt the plastic as much as I can ( very much like syrup). Lager 7 may be on to something. I will give it a try. But I was also wondering if a cake decorating injector might work.

[Delw]

Anything you use needs to be heated.

remember when you put taht plastic into something its about 350-400 degrees make sure what ever you stick it into will handle the heat or it will melt all over your hande and burn you really bad.

[DaveM]

I had the same problem when I started a couple of Months ago. I use a pan with a pouring spout bent into it. (Just a thin aluminum saucepan with the edge bent with a screwdriver shaft and a hammer in a vise) I have found that my best pours come with the pan about 4" above the mold. THis lets me pour a fine straight line, and aim right down the center of the pouring hole. I try not to let the plastic touch the side of the hole once the pour starts. I also heat the mold up to about 150 degrees or so before I start. After the mold fills, I keep pouring until I have reached the top of the mold, and I make a slight rise. THis keeps me from getting a bubble when the plastic contracts back into the mold.

[wolfman148]

I don't think the stik mold I have is a del-mart. I might ought to try one of the delmart molds, because from the looks of it, I think they are more geard toward pouring.

[wolfman148]

Thanks DaveM. That is a great idea. I will definitley try that. I haven't been pouring but about three weeks. I have been and still do paint and customize crankbaits with my airbrush. I have been doing this for along time and then I thought what a great way to be more creative with the plastic. I am really enjoying it, but I am finding out that this is not as easy as I thought it would be, but I am a patient person and with the great advice I get from this site I will be good at this after a while. Thanks again guys

[wolfman148]

Thanks for the advice everyone, because of your advice I poured my first successful batch of srik baits today.

[mbreuning]

how do you heat the molds up

[Delw]

You can heat the molds up in your wifes oven.

Place the molds on a flat rack, make sure they are flat .
most guys heat them up to about 150 degrees.
of cource the alum being hot you will want to use your wifes pot holders. but since men and flowers really dont go together and you dont want your buddies see you with them (trust me fishing buddies dont like those kinda things die off) get ov gloves from walmart, they are cheap and work really well from what I am told.

Delw

[emeryj]

I generally pour the molds cold until it heats up from the plastic. If I get a stik bait that doesn't look right I'll remelt it. That aluminum will stay warm if your pouring right along.
Sometimes it gets so hot from just pouring baits I have to use gloves to handle the mold.
Basically, I don't have an oven out in the barn.
The molds will stay warm.
One other thing to consider if you are getting air bubbles in your baits. Make sure that you are not stirring in air bubbles before you pour.
I always explain it like this... if you've ever made gravy before
You have to stir the bottom of the pot, like making gravy.
Not like soup.
If you don't understand, call your mom and have her show you how to make gravy.
You'll get less bubbles that way.