QA

Quick Answer: How To Make Soft Plastic Molds

How do you make soft plastic softer?

Boiling will also make a plastic bait softer. We did that a lot years ago when some of the better shapes and designs were made from plastic that could have been used on an automobile tire. Now, you can boil them to get more action and movement.

How do you use soft plastic baits?

Use an offset shank hook, and insert it in the head of the bait, then back out about a ¼ of an inch below the head. Slide the hook through the bait and rotate it back around so the head sits in the offset shank. Then push the hook point back into the body of the bait, making the bait weedless.

Are soft plastics better than bait?

Lures, especially the metal and hard plastic ones, are capable of catching multiple fish without much damage. Soft plastic lures are less durable but make up for it by being cheap. You do have to buy lures but you don’t have to waste time collecting them fresh before you can start to fish.

Do I use a sinker with soft plastics?

You do use a sinker with soft plastic lures based on certain fishing scenarios. Adding a bullet weight type of sinker to a soft plastic is a great way to punch through thick vegetation to get at those big bass that like to spend the day under floating weed mats.

How do you make hard plastic soft again?

Spray the rubber with silicone spray. Keep the rubber in the plastic bag for three to seven days. Lift the bagged piece of rubber and bend it to check for pliability. Heat some water in a stew pot on the stove. Set the stew pot in the sink and submerge the rubber in the water to soften it.

How do you reshape soft plastic?

No More Bend! The Hot Water/Cold Water trick should work on most types of pliable plastic. In fact, if the plastic was soft enough to get bent out of shape in the first place, it’s soft enough to be bent back into place.

Why can’t fish catch fake bait?

If it is too hot or cold, you might not catch any fish on lures. The cold is a much more negative situation for fishing. There are times and areas when cold air advances and transitions into warmer areas, which we call cold front. If you come across a cold front, you should try to fish deeper and use smaller lures.

Can all soft plastics be recycled?

Soft Plastics Most supermarkets accept plastic shopping bags for recycling, look for the plastic bag recycling collection bin at the front of the store. Many other types of soft plastics (including plastic bags), can now be recycled at selected supermarkets through a scheme run by the REDcycle program.

Do fish like fake bait?

Artificial lures are amazing for catching all types of fish, both big and small. As you will see below in the “amount of fish caught” section, artificial lures have been known to outfish live bait in terms of total fish, but in general, they don’t match up to live bait if you are only targeting big fish.

Do you need a swivel with soft plastics?

Soft plastics generally track straight, so no swivel and no snap, and if I can see to tie one, a loop knot gives them the perfect action.

What hooks to use for soft plastics?

Worm Hooks for Soft Plastic Baits The most popular hook is an EWG Worm Hook, and the most common sizes range in 2/0-4/0. Use a 3/0 EWG Worm Hook for the majority of soft plastic Bass baits. Round Bend Worm Hooks are also a popular option and are often used in more finesse situations rigged with slender plastic worms.

What do Spoon lures catch?

Fishing spoons have a simple design, an oblong shape, concave on one side that catches water producing a wobble and light reflection flash imitating a fleeing or crippled bait fish. Spoons work best for larger fish species such as northern pike, largemouth bass, muskies, walleye, salmon and trout.

What wood is best for fishing lures?

As a general rule, softer woods (balsa, pine, cedar, white cedar, basswood) are lighter and thus have faster action and a tendency to float. Harder woods (maple, oak, ash, and walnut) are more difficult to shape, but make excellent suspending lures with tighter action.

How do you make your own Swimbait?

Here are the steps to follow: Measure out the right amount of plastisol. Heat the plastisol. Add colorant and glitter, then stir. Caution: Extremely Hot! Allow the bait to cool for at least five minutes. Open the mold to remove the swimbait. Place baits flat side down on the baking sheet to cure overnight.

Will vinegar soften rubber?

Wherever you find rubber, don’t clean it with vinegar. The acid can eat away at rubber just as it does natural stone, causing it to degrade. Instead, use soap and water or a solution of soap and baking soda.

What is used to harden plastic?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to harden plastic.

Does WD40 soften rubber?

WD40 is just a penetrating oil spray – it’s not a caustic rust remover or some aggressive chemical. Just a “water displacing” (WD) oil spray and its generally pretty safe (safe for paint, chrome, rubber, glass, body plastics – most materials cars are made out of).

How do you melt plastic without burning it?

Plastic can be melted using a medium-temperature heat gun. I’ve heard of people using soldering irons, but that’s messy. Using a lighter or alcohol-burner can work if you keep the plastic part moving and don’t hold it over the flame. The best tool for the job, however, seems to be a solder rework station.

What is worm oil?

This material is used when packaging worms and other soft plastic lures. It makes them feel alive. Worms can be soaked in worm oil and then packaged or a small amount can be added to the package.