A Little Tip For Repairing Soft Plastics

[maq88]

as stated, many of you might already know of this already

grab a small knife, heat it up over the stove and once it gets nice and hot

run it through the torn part of your soft plastic

by doing this, you melt the plastic, then once it cools down it will mend itself back together, and won't have any of its tears anymore

im not sure if I'm being clear enough, but you have the general idea

[Marty]

I think you made yourself clear enough. However, I'd like to offer up an alternative. Use a candle for hands-free work. This works very well when you want to fuse two pieces of plastic together.

[maq88]

I think you made yourself clear enough. However, I'd like to offer up an alternative. Use a candle for hands-free work. This works very well when you want to fuse two pieces of plastic together.

sounds good I'll give it a try

thanks

[BassThumb]

A solder iron would be another alternative, and is more precise. I use them all the time to repair Senkos and Sweet Beavers that get torn up after a fish or two.

[roadwarrior]

Wow!

I'm thinkin' throw it away and use another. I don't think any of that stuff is

worth saving. How much do you think you save over a year's time, a buck-fifty?

Man, save money buying stuff on sale not on going through the trash.

[CWB]

Try Mend-It

At a buck a pop, it fixes up my Rage Shads in a few seconds and also has fixed a good dollar amount of Senkos and Shadalicious Swimbaits.

Work good as new. I've repaired about $20.00 worth of Senkos and Rage Shads the last 3 times out alone! If your in the middle of the lake and you're on a hot bite and you're down to your last bait, you can always fix up a few torn ones but you probably won't be able to or want to go buy new ones.

Works on any plastic except Elaztec.

Now if you get your baits for free from a sponsor.......

[collegefishing12]

I think you made yourself clear enough. However, I'd like to offer up an alternative. Use a candle for hands-free work. This works very well when you want to fuse two pieces of plastic together.

Hahaha.. Only if they made a craw- or garlic-scented candle, nothing like flippin' a warn vanilla coca tube to get the bass all stirred up. Uh oh, I think I just discovered the newest scent technology for years to come!!

[atlbassin]

Hahaha.. Only if they made a craw- or garlic-scented candle, nothing like flippin' a warn vanilla coca tube to get the bass all stirred up. Uh oh, I think I just discovered the newest scent technology for years to come!!

genius

[Captin Obvious]

I'm with RW on this one toss it out and forget about it.

Now if its your last one or its one of those $15 swim baits by all means try it.

Capt.O

[BrianSnat]

Wow!

I'm thinkin' throw it away and use another. I don't think any of that stuff is

worth saving. How much do you think you save over a year's time, a buck-fifty?

Man, save money buying stuff on sale not on going through the trash.

If the fish are biting I can easily go through an entire bag of plastics in one outing, esp if they are Senkos. At $5 bucks a pop on sale, if I could repair them that is a significant savings after a few trips. In a years time I bet I'd be saving close to 50 - 100 bucks. That is actually pretty significant.

[Ratherbfishing]

Will this trick work for Berkley Powerbaits?

[Hooligan]

If the fish are biting I can easily go through an entire bag of plastics in one outing, esp if they are Senkos. At $5 bucks a pop on sale, if I could repair them that is a significant savings after a few trips. In a years time I bet I'd be saving close to 50 - 100 bucks. That is actually pretty significant.

And your time accounts for nothing, right? I mean, if we're going to get finite, you've got to figure your time in there. If you spend 2-3 hours fixing baits at a relative wage for a guy that makes roughly $50k a year you're talking about roughly $24 an hour. So, in a years time if you spend 2-3 hours you're spending $48-$72 of your time fixing baits to save $50 or so. The math doesn't pan out. Particularly when that 2-3 hours is time I could have spent fishing.

[Lucas412]

If the fish are biting I can easily go through an entire bag of plastics in one outing, esp if they are Senkos. At $5 bucks a pop on sale, if I could repair them that is a significant savings after a few trips. In a years time I bet I'd be saving close to 50 - 100 bucks. That is actually pretty significant.

I totally agree with this.

Luke

[BrianSnat]

And your time accounts for nothing, right? I mean, if we're going to get finite, you've got to figure your time in there. If you spend 2-3 hours fixing baits at a relative wage for a guy that makes roughly $50k a year you're talking about roughly $24 an hour. So, in a years time if you spend 2-3 hours you're spending $48-$72 of your time fixing baits to save $50 or so. The math doesn't pan out. Particularly when that 2-3 hours is time I could have spent fishing.

2-3 hours for what? From what I've seen a product like Mend It can fix a bait in about as much time as it takes to rummage through the tackle box and select a new one. Yeah, if it took 2-3 hours I'd probably agree with you, but you're talking seconds per bait. And what about the time and gas spent driving to the store to restock? While you're driving to the tackle store I can be on the lake fishing.

[Avalonjohn44]

MEND-IT MEND-IT A THOUSAND TIMES MEND-IT!!!

[CWB]

2-3 hours for what? From what I've seen a product like Mend It can fix a bait in about as much time as it takes to rummage through the tackle box and select a new one. Yeah, if it took 2-3 hours I'd probably agree with you, but you're talking seconds per bait. And what about the time and gas spent driving to the store to restock? While you're driving to the tackle store I can be on the lake fishing.

Well said. How long does it take to change hooks on a crankbait? A lot longer guaranteed. Or sharpen a hook?

I know alot of guys just throw out a dull hook but what if it's on a crankbait you're tearing 'em up on? Do you throw the bait out? What if it's the last one you have. I'll take the time to sharpen the hook or switch it out if it's too far gone. Also, stuff like this can be done in the "man-cave" while watching the tube and no time is wasted at all.

[OH-bass614]

been trying to do this recently with a lighter and it hasnt been working too well. i go through multiple packs of space monkeys in one week from bluegills or bass tearing them up. At 5$ a pack for 6 this will save me alot of cash if i can figure it out. im going to try your method to see if i can get it to work.

[Hooligan]

2-3 hours for what? From what I've seen a product like Mend It can fix a bait in about as much time as it takes to rummage through the tackle box and select a new one. Yeah, if it took 2-3 hours I'd probably agree with you, but you're talking seconds per bait. And what about the time and gas spent driving to the store to restock? While you're driving to the tackle store I can be on the lake fishing.

I'm talking about through the year. If you spend 2-3 hours total per year. I know guys that are like that, seriously.

[Randall]

Mend it and a regular trickworm = not worth my time. Pack of Zoom H Toads fixed in minutes and I will save over a dollar a minute or $60 and hour. Senkos and Magnum trickworms could go either way. No more lighters and candles for me since Mend-it though.

[BrianSnat]

I'm talking about through the year. If you spend 2-3 hours total per year. I know guys that are like that, seriously.

Hey, if you live up north and aren't into ice fishing, it's time well spent on a snowy winter afternoon. And as I mentioned it saves time driving to the tackle store to restock your box. The time devoted to mending plastics vs. just buying new ones is a wash.

I wish I could find Mend It in my area. I went to Dicks and the local tackle store today and neither sold it.

[CWB]

Hey, if you live up north and aren't into ice fishing, it's time well spent on a snowy winter afternoon. And as I mentioned it saves time driving to the tackle store to restock your box. The time devoted to mending plastics vs. just buying new ones is a wash.

I wish I could find Mend It in my area. I went to Dicks and the local tackle store today and neither sold it.

Check E-Bay.

Make sure you get the glass bottle version:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Mend-It-soft-plastic-lure-fixer-/300370266347?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ef7688eb

http://cgi.ebay.com/Senko-glue-welder-Mend-it-soft-plastic-lure-fixer-/300370266662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ef768a26

[Bass Dude]

Can't a guy just repair his plastics if he wants. Why are you guys jumping on him for it----jeeesh!!

[bilgerat]

Check E-Bay.

Make sure you get the glass bottle version:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Mend-It-soft-plastic-lure-fixer-/300370266347?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ef7688eb

http://cgi.ebay.com/Senko-glue-welder-Mend-it-soft-plastic-lure-fixer-/300370266662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ef768a26

Still on sale @ Tackle Warehouse - $5.99 for 1/2 oz, $10.99 for 1 oz. I bought the 1 oz, I realized I should have got the 1/2 oz. You won't go through 1/2 oz in a year...

[Marty]

Can't a guy just repair his plastics if he wants. Why are you guys jumping on him for it----jeeesh!!

You said it before I could.

[Getfished]

I'll collect em off the floor of the boat and when I get a fair amount I'll give em a shot of Mend- It. I didn't purchase any plastic in 2010 and I'm on track not to purchase any this year. If you really want to extend the life of your trailers get some Uncle Josh. I use it regularly.