Recycling Used Plastics To Hand Pour?

[NC_Bass6]

is it possible melt old plastics and repour them? i think it would make some sweet looking colors and save a little bit of money. if anyone has any experience doing this let me know, thanks!

[bassinjody39]

Yes  i do it all the time makes some prtety  cool looking baits , but be carefull about doing it indoors it seems to smoke alot more .

[Jig Man]

You may end up with a lot of browns and greens but it can be done.  If they have salt be sure to stir stir stir as the salt will sink to the bottom rapidly.

[slammerhead]

cut the old worms up in to pea size pieces then use an electric camping range stove and start out at low temp an increase slowly to reach the desired melt rate! use just enough plastic to do one or two worms at a time so it melts easy and it doesnt sit on the heat too long ,if its smoking its burning turn down the heat! i use a regular aluminum can cut in half cheap an discardable and the top can be squeezed a bit to creat a pouring spout! another thing it makes it easy to peel out the plastic and be able to change to another color easily! if using white always use a new can because the dye from the worms that stays in the can will cause the white to tint!

[CPBassFishing]

As others have said, cut up the baits into tiny chunks, melt it in the microwave for a minute, stir, then add increments of 30 seconds when needed until all of the plastic is melted. It will make smoke no matter what you do. You really need to have a few windows open. Use a pyrex cup to melt the plastic. If you are handpouring make sure that after you pour the bait, take a bbq lighter and move it over the surface of the melted plastic. This gets rid of all bubbles. If the baits are heavily salted, you have to stir it very 30 seconds so the salt does not sink- it sinks really fast. Good luck and be careful with the hot plastic.

[SteveKickinBass]

I have done this multiple times.  I will look for people selling tackle boxes and stuff and buy the box cheap just to get the plastics to re-melt.  I also save any plastics that tear when I fish and reuse them.

[Felix77]

http://howtomakebait.com/soft-plastic-baits-mak-your-old-soft-plastic-baits/

[Felix77]

Listen to CPBassFishing.  You need to stir and stir some more with baits which have salt.  You can also add more salt.

[SENKOSAM]

One way I've found a bit easier to melt old plastc and prevent some of the smoke common with old plastics is to buy a qt. of new plastisol from any of the luremaking companies on line. The process stated above is the same except you submerge the small chunks in the new stuff. You don't need much and it is the safest way to reheat old plastic directly from old lures. Once the unused plastic is saved, you don't need to add new plastic unless you want to extend, change or dilute a favorite color.

 

Diamond the finer salt is sold in  the supermarket and it seems to suspend much longer. A corn cob against a red background is on the outside of the container.

 

Plastic never needs to be heated above 300 degrees and heating over that temp will result in color changes you might not like. The darker the color, the less a noticable change. Plus, especially with old plastic, the smoke is a dangerous and occurs to a greater degree above 300. Keep the temp to one you are just able to pour and zap again for 15 seconds to pour more. A meat thermometer gives you an idea of the lowest pouring temperature possible.

[EdithDeff]

Yes this is a great way of recycling commomnly followed by many people.You can contact companies like Replas who work specially for plastic recycling and prepare stuff like Boardwalk,Sleeper,Post,Garden Panel,Femce,Bench by recycling plastics.You can get really great tips from them!!