SaBoFlex Fishing Lure Plastisol - HARD (1kg)
Code: HA006Related products
Product detailed description
SaBoFlex Fishing Lure Plastisol HARD (1 kg) is a ready to use plastisol for making soft baits. The firmest base in the SaBoFlex range, used in our workshop mainly to increase the firmness of softer SaBoFlex blends. It also suits firm specialist castings where the design calls for them. This is ready-formulated liquid Hard plastisol, rather than a concentrated powder hardener. Test any new firmness ratio on a small batch before making a full series.
Easy preparation is its main advantage. Ready to use means the base is already formulated: mix it until uniform, pour the amount you need and begin heating. We recommend SaBoFlex to beginners who want to concentrate on their first castings, colours and mould filling. Experienced makers can equally use it for regular batches, coloured patterns and baits finished with compatible airbrush paints.
In our SAF workshop, we also appreciate its milder characteristic odour during normal processing. This does not replace effective extraction, ventilation or suitable protective equipment. SaBoFlex is produced by the Dutch manufacturer HaBaFlex; its safety data sheet and Phthalate Free product declaration are available in the related files.
Ready to use: mix briefly, then start heating
- Shake or stir the entire cold contents until uniform, including the bottom. In our workshop, a 1 kg bottle usually needs about 20–30 seconds. This is a guide, not a fixed limit: the result should be an even, milky liquid without separate layers. Let any bubbles from shaking settle.
- Pour only the amount needed into a heat-resistant borosilicate cup, such as the 500 ml size. Leave sufficient headroom. Ready to use still requires full heat processing; the cold base cannot be cast straight into a finished bait.
- Heat in short, interrupted cycles and stir slowly between them, including the material at the bottom. For initial heating, we recommend a maximum of 180 °C in the SAF workshop. The whole batch must pass through thickening and gelling to become a uniform, clear liquid. For casting, our best results come at around 170 °C; keep the final reheats at approximately 175 °C or below. Towards the end, shorten each heating cycle, stir frequently and check the temperature with a thermometer after mixing. Even heating without unnecessary temperature spikes helps preserve clarity and good casting behaviour. Around 200 °C is a critical upper limit. A brief spike towards this temperature need not mean immediate damage, but leaves very little margin against overheating. Do not aim for it or exceed it. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific material.
- Shake compatible liquid colour before use and add it drop by drop to the fully heated, processed plastisol. Stir, check the shade and then add suitable heat-resistant glitter or pigment according to its instructions. Keep containers and tools dry. Remove metal stirring tools before returning the cup to the microwave.
Stir thoroughly before using an infrared thermometer. It reads the surface temperature, which may be lower than that of the material at the bottom. First stir the entire volume slowly, including the bottom, then immediately measure the exposed plastisol surface rather than through the cup wall. A surface reading alone does not guarantee the temperature throughout the batch; a suitable contact thermometer can be used to check it.
A SAF workshop tip: remelting and coloured recipes
Heat only what you need and keep clean, dry offcuts for later remelting. In our SAF workshop, we work with roughly five careful heating and remelting cycles as a practical guide before a slight yellow tint may become more noticeable. The actual result depends on temperature, time, additives and the batch; this is not a guaranteed cycle count.
A slight colour shift in otherwise sound, correctly processed material need not end its usefulness: it can still suit coloured, opaque or darker recipes. For clear bellies and very pale patterns, use fresh base. Do not try to hide burnt or thermally damaged plastisol with colour.
Choosing firmness and the right base
All firmness grades within the SaBoFlex plastisol range can be blended with one another. The easiest starting point is to combine neighbouring grades, such as Extra Soft + Soft or Soft + Medium. You can also incorporate clean, sound leftovers from more widely separated grades; the greater the difference, the more carefully you should test the result.
For your own recipe, try for example 70% Medium + 30% Soft by weight: 700 g Medium and 300 g Soft make a 1 kg base batch. Make each original liquid plastisol uniform before weighing out portions, then mix the combined batch thoroughly. Record the exact ratio and compare castings after they have fully cooled. A mixing ratio does not guarantee a fixed firmness grade.
For finer adjustments, we also offer SaBoFlex Plastisol Hardener to increase firmness and body support, and SaBoFlex Plastisol Softener for greater suppleness and easier movement of delicate sections. These are dedicated additives, not complete plastisol bases. Incorporate them into the cold base before heating, following the dosage and mixing instructions for the specific additive. Test a small batch first: greater firmness does not automatically mean greater tear resistance, while excessive softening can reduce shape stability.
As a general guide, choose Ultra Soft Trout for 1–4 cm, Extra Soft for 4–8 cm, Soft for 8–15 cm, Soft Medium for 15–20 cm and Medium for 20–30 cm. Hard is mainly useful for firming up softer SaBoFlex blends. Fine-tune firmness within the SaBoFlex range and test a small batch before making a full series.
Choose SaBoFlex when straightforward preparation and good value matter most. For recipes requiring many remelts while retaining high clarity, also consider Cristallo STP, which has performed well for us in that role but requires more thorough initial mixing. Standard SaBoFlex is not a floating base; floating recipes require a suitable buoyancy additive. The final bait also depends on its ingredients, hook and added weight.
SaBoFlex HARD plastisol FAQ
Is ready to use plastisol suitable only for beginners?
No. Easy preparation makes it a useful first choice, but experienced makers can also use it for regular casting, coloured patterns and baits finished with compatible airbrush paints.
Does ready to use mean that I can skip mixing or heating?
No. First make the full cold contents uniform, then heat-process the amount you need. Ready to use refers to the prepared base formulation and straightforward preparation.
When should I add liquid colour?
In the SAF method described here, add compatible liquid colour drop by drop to fully heated and processed plastisol. Mix and check the shade before casting.
Can I remelt the offcuts?
Yes, if they are clean, dry and not burnt or degraded. Use short heating cycles, stir and monitor the temperature. For the palest recipes, use fresh base when a colour shift becomes visible.
What documentation is available?
The related files contain the HaBaFlex safety data sheet and Phthalate Free declaration. Follow the product label and processing instructions, use effective ventilation and suitable eye, hand and respiratory protection.
→ You will find all detailed technical information in the Product parameters table below.
↓ Below the product description, you will also find related and similar products to help you choose and put together a complete setup.
Additional parameters
| Category: | Plastisol for soft bait making |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 1 kg |
| Weight: | 1000 g |
| Elasticity: | HARD |
| Phthalates: | 0 % |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
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