Alexei Volkov
Salt is added to soft plastics to make them sink, usually when making fishing bait. The type of salt used is important as it can drastically change the colour of the plastic and make it firmer and less durable. It is recommended to use coarse Kosher salt, and not salt flour, as it clouds up the plastic.
What kind of salt for soft plastics?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of salt | Kosher salt (non-iodized pickling salt) |
| Form | Coarse |
| Amount | 4 tablespoons (60ml) of salt per 100ml of liquid plastisol |
| Mixing technique | Mix a small amount of plastisol with the salt first to create a slurry or paste |
| Temperature | Keep temperature low to maintain viscosity and prevent salt from settling |
| Additives | Salt can be used alongside glass beads to achieve the desired ballast |
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What You'll Learn
Salt can make soft plastics firmer and less durable
Salt is added to soft plastics to make them sink in water more easily. This is useful for fishing lures and baits. However, salt can also change the colour of the plastic and affect its durability.
To add salt to soft plastics, it is recommended to first create a slurry by mixing a small amount of liquid plastisol with the salt. This helps to reduce lumps in the mixture. The recommended ratio is 4 tablespoons (60ml) of salt per 100ml of liquid plastisol. It is important to keep the temperature low during this process to maintain the viscosity of the plastic and prevent the salt from settling.
Some people use a drill-mounted mixer to combine the salt and plastic, but this requires caution to avoid accidents. Another option is to use a coffee grinder to create salt flour, although this can be tough on the grinder's motor. It is recommended to use a durable grinder and not to fill it more than halfway.
While salt can make soft plastics firmer, it can also affect their durability. The plastic may become less durable and more prone to breakage. Additionally, salt can drastically change the colour of the plastic, which may or may not be desirable depending on the intended use.
Overall, adding salt to soft plastics can be a useful technique for creating fishing lures or baits that sink easily. However, it is important to consider the potential trade-off between increased firmness and reduced durability, as well as the possible colour change of the plastic.
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Salt can drastically change the colour of soft plastics
Salt is a popular additive to soft plastics, particularly in fishing lures and baits. It is added to increase the density of the plastic and make it sink more effectively. However, salt can also drastically change the colour of soft plastics, making them appear cloudy or discoloured. This effect can be mitigated by using a finer grain of salt, such as salt flour, which can be created using a coffee grinder. However, this method of grinding salt can be tough on the grinder's motor, and some people recommend using coarse Kosher salt instead.
When adding salt to soft plastics, it is important to keep the temperature low to maintain the viscosity of the plastic and prevent the salt from settling. Mixing a small amount of liquid plastisol with the salt first can also help create a lump-free slurry. However, even with these techniques, it can be challenging to achieve a consistent mix, and some experimentation is often necessary.
While salt can change the colour of soft plastics, it also has the advantage of making the plastic firmer. This added firmness can be desirable in certain applications, such as in fishing lures that need to withstand the stress of repeated use. Additionally, salt is a natural additive that can enhance the appeal of the lure or bait, making it more attractive to fish.
Overall, while salt can drastically change the colour of soft plastics, it also offers several benefits that make it a popular choice in lure and bait manufacturing. By experimenting with different types of salt and mixing techniques, it is possible to optimize the colour and performance of the final product.
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Salt is added to soft plastics to make them sink
It is important to keep the temperature low during this process. Higher temperatures can cause the plastic to become too viscous, making it difficult for the salt to mix in properly. By keeping the temperature down, the salt has better suspension time, allowing for a more consistent distribution of salt throughout the plastic.
The recommended ratio is 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of salt per 100 ml of plastic, which produces a good standard sink rate. Using salt in soft plastics can also change the colour and texture of the plastic, making it firmer and less durable.
When choosing a type of salt, non-iodized pickling salt that is also kosher is a good option. It is important to avoid using salt flour, as it can cloud the plastic and make it look discoloured. Coarse kosher salt is a better alternative.
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Salt flour can be used to add salt to soft plastics
Salt is added to soft plastics to increase their density and make them sink better in water. Salt can also change the colour of the plastic and make it firmer and less durable. However, it is a popular addition to plastic baits.
When using salt flour, it is essential to keep the temperature low to maintain the viscosity of the plastic and prevent the salt from settling too quickly. This can be done by adding a small amount of liquid plastisol to the salt first to create a slurry or paste, which helps suspend the salt and reduces lumps.
Additionally, a drill-mounted mixer or a handheld milk frother can be used to mix the salt flour with the plastic more effectively. However, it is challenging to get a consistent mix, and the frother may not be powerful enough for the task.
Overall, while salt flour can be used to add salt to soft plastics, it requires careful temperature control and mixing techniques to achieve satisfactory results.
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Salt is added to soft plastics to make them denser
Salt is added to soft plastics to increase their density and make them sink. This is particularly useful when creating plastic bait for fishing. It is recommended to use a coarse salt, such as kosher salt, and to avoid using salt flour as it can cloud the plastic. To achieve a consistent mix, it is important to keep the temperature low and to use a drill-mounted mixer. Additionally, creating a slurry by mixing a small amount of liquid plastisol with the salt before adding it to the plastic can help reduce lumps. While salt can change the colour of the plastic and make it less durable, it is a popular choice for increasing density.
When adding salt to soft plastics, it is crucial to maintain a low temperature to ensure the salt has a better suspension time. A higher temperature can result in an inconsistent distribution of salt, with a higher concentration towards the end of the batch. Experimentation is necessary to determine the optimal temperature range. Additionally, using a drill-mounted mixer can help ensure thorough mixing and prevent the salt from settling too quickly.
The ratio of salt to plastic is important for achieving the desired density. A commonly suggested ratio is 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of salt per 100 ml of plastic, which provides a good standard sink rate for plastic stick baits. This ratio can be adjusted depending on the specific requirements and desired density of the final product. It is worth noting that increasing the salt concentration can also affect the colour and firmness of the plastic, so experimentation may be necessary to find the optimal ratio.
While salt is a popular choice for increasing the density of soft plastics, there are also density additives available. These additives have not been extensively used, and salt remains a more popular option, despite its potential impact on the colour and durability of the plastic. The use of salt can also be combined with other materials, such as glass beads, to achieve the desired ballast. It is worth experimenting with different ratios and materials to find the best combination for the specific application of the soft plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
Salt is added to soft plastics to make them sink.
Non-iodized pickling salt that is kosher is a good option. You can also use coarse kosher salt.
A good standard is 4 tablespoons (60ml) of salt per 100ml.
First, mix a very small amount of liquid plastisol with the salt to create a slurry. Then, use a drill-mounted mixer to combine the rest of the plastisol and salt. Keep the temperature low to maintain viscosity and prevent the salt from settling too quickly.
Salt flour can be used, but it may cloud up the plastic and make it look discoloured. It is also difficult to create, as it requires the use of a coffee grinder, which can be tough on the motor.
