Hard Soft Plastic

Hi all,

Looking at another production run of ScorcherZ, and I have an idea I have for a different shaped lure that will have a slow glide to the bottom, but its wings need a little stiffness. So....

Need a plastisol that won't be as likely to be shredded by toothy critters.

Barlow's carries MF plastics Extra Hard saltwater formula.

Seeing several sources for other brands.

X-Sol-507 is supposed to be hard for saltwater apps. and it's on Amazon.

and I see other brands from other suppliers.

What I want is a really durable plastic, and I'm leaning toward the X-Sol (it's like 30% less money). Anyone have experience with that brand, good or bad? $50/gallon.

Or do you have a source for a durable goo that costs less? I don't wanna dork around with hardener.

Thanks in advance.
Rob

 

Found a company called baitplastics, with gallons selling for $32.95 free shipping on ebay. I ordered a gallon of supertough formula, easier than cadging some from a friend.
For 29.95 they have a sampler with 8 ounces of 6 different formulas from "super soft" to "super tough."

I woulda gone for the 55-gallon drum for $645...but the shipping's not free.

CK

 

What do YOU know about plastic?

But seriously, I just want it tough so the spotties don't shred it. Hoping this stuff get thin enough (viscosity-wise) enough to dip a thin-wall tube.

 

Only took a couple days to get here from MO. Free sample of a fluorescent red color. And a free sticker!

 

Yep. Finally got around to using the stuff and it works as advertised. Next time i might go one click softer..the super tough truly is. For tube baits it's great but I want to pour some SIG grubs which will need a little more wiggle.
The free sample of 'red' wasn't great. It didn't darken up enough and the finished result was...dark pink. Except when I overcooked one batch which ended up sorta tomato colored (below). Caught a few spotted bay bass on the tomato tube. Haven't tried the pink yet.

 

No...just no.
No more rabbit holes...too many variations just making different colors, layered, rat-tails....
I meant, no thank you.



I suspect the fan's not preventing the inhalation of some fumes....otherwise, how do you explain the clear-with-green ribs tube in the middle of this shot?

 

I am dipping different diameter tent pegs and aluminum rod.



Heads? Using your basic Do-It Ultra Minnow (like the HookUp baits have inside). I already had a Diner Shiner mold when I started, but those heads aren't well-suited to tube baits. Originally I just wanted a cheaper alternative to the HUBs, but it morphed into making longer baits. The rat-tailed versions are dead sexy to me, but the fish don't seem to care about the overall shape.



And yeah, I have made enough tubes to last a couple of lifetimes. Fiddling around with colors and once it's dialed in, might as well keep dipping because every subsequent re-heat means the colors get darker (or less transparent) and the plastic stiffer.

 

Holland Specials. Not available in stores...
(Holland, MI is where the LifeSaver factory was until the Canadians stole our jobs. Be a hoot if I get a fish with one of these....Butter Rum and Five Flavors ScorcherZ....)