reusing soft plastics

[stcroixman]

this can't be done in a basement - correct?

I recall the smell from melting old LMB worms as a kid.

[MarkB]

I wouldn't bother with old baits - you'd have to have a pile of them to save any money, and you're mixing different kinds of plastic with color added, etc. Once you're pouring your own, then you might reuse your own. When you reuse colors, they just come out dark usually. Don't reheat old plastic with metallic flakes in the microwave - flash bang! IF you're working inside, use ventilation.

You dont' need to carve molds - you form them around a model. Pure silicon calking with just a little water added will make a nice mold. Start with a sluggo or the model of your choice - I bought some modelling clay for small money and formed my own. fill the block with silicon, and drop the model in the top. Let set, pull out the model and you have a mold.

IF you bounce plastics of the bottom of the Canal, you can definitely save money making your own. At the rate you lose them to snags, the payoff doesn't take long. There are some really good video tutorials and write-ups online - do a search.

[timmah]

All the pink and green / "motor oil" ones are re-melted plastic from all kinds of old baits and the purple is a mixture of new and old. It works fine if you sort similar color to similar color. I find pouring a touch of virgin plastic or softener in with the old stuff will make it melt a little smoother. Where a respirator. If it does have bunker oil it melts a lot faster and sets up much slower.

[Johnny]

am I seeing the start of Plasticsfest 2012 in the works?

[Sea Flat]

I would be more apt to skip the tedious melting and pouring and creating molds etc.

If you have full baits that are just mangled then I would invest in some Pro's Soft Bait glue. I think it dries quick and is quite flexible. I know this does not help with bluefish bitten off nubs, but for those baits that you have that are whole but just really beaten up this will work.

Good Luck

[fish4striper]

Originally Posted by Sea Flat

If you have full baits that are just mangled then I would invest in some Pro's Soft Bait glue. I think it dries quick and is quite flexible. I know this does not help with bluefish bitten off nubs, but for those baits that you have that are whole but just really beaten up this will work.

Good Luck

No glue needed. Use a lighter to get a flame on both sides and then weld them back together

[beamie]

I use old rubber as Cod Teasers don't bother trying to repair......