Trick: Fixing kinked SP tails

[sbarnden 397]

Had a pack of the old Z-Man grubs that were sitting mashed up at the bottom of the bag, before they included that plastic insert to keep them separate and sorted, which had gone all kinked, twisted and generally misshapen.

 

So thought I would try something I've seen on the net for fixing up some types of SP's when they get out of shape.

 

Boiled up some water and dunked them. Once they are hot remove them and immediately try and flatten and shape the tail. They cool off very quickly when removed from water so you need to be quick and work at it a few times.

 

Managed to get a few into shape. Need to do them one at a time otherwise they will stick to each other in the water and get even more out of shape. The best ones were ones I had mounted on jigheads, so it would sink to the bottom of the glass and the tail would float up, in the hot water it formed the right shape and pulling it out with a spoon I could press it straightaway and it turned out looking good.

 

Couldn't get all the kinks out but I was satisfied with the end result. One thing to be aware of was pulling the tail too much, when hot it seems to weaken the plastic and the tails can be pulled right of the grub body. Seemed fine and strong again once it cooled.

[AquaticResearch1 1,046]

Cheers that's pretty handy. How hot do you think the water was? Hot enough to burn you?

[projoe 261]

boiling water, yes I'd say that would tingle a little.    

[sbarnden 397]

I just boiled the kettle and it seemed to work.

 

Not sure if slightly cooler water where I could keep my fingers in there working on the tail in the water itself might be better.

 

Doesn't seem to need it really burning hot.

[projoe 261]

well that last post took the tingle outa me, so not boiling hot but hot enough, huh ok got some z mans to straighten out.   

[AquaticResearch1 1,046]

lol projoe

 

Yeah I figured you wouldn't put them in super hot water because I've found Z Mans less heat resistant then other plastics. I know you can dunk squidgies and the like in boiling water quickly to soften them should you get a dud batch, but any longer and I reckon you'd denature the plastic too much.