A Deep Dive into the Moose Ridge Molds Reference #150 "Dreaded Ned" Open Pour Mold
Today, we're taking a close look at the Moose Ridge Molds Reference #150 "Dreaded Ned" Open Pour Mold. This innovative tool is designed to produce a soft plastic 3" Ned style bait, which loosely resembles a small dreadlock. With a 10-cavity capacity and a price tag of just $20 each, available through Moose Ridge Molds' Facebook Page, this mold is ideal for both hobbyist and professional bait makers. But does it live up to its promise? Let’s find out!
What's It Made Of?
Like all Moose Ridge Molds, the Reference #150 is crafted from a high-temperature composite resin known as "Bloo Goo." This material is engineered to withstand the high heat of soft plastic bait making. For those unfamiliar with MRM’s composite molds, "Bloo Goo" might sound a bit daunting. However, my experience with these molds has been overwhelmingly positive. After pouring thousands of baits over the past year using various MRM molds, I can confidently say that they are durable, reliable, and still look brand new.
Up Close With The Moose Ridge Molds #150 "Dreaded Ned" Open Pour Mold
The Reference #150 is a 10-cavity mold that produces 3" Ned style baits. Each cavity boasts a shiny surface finish and clean, flawless lines. Moose Ridge Molds meticulously prepares each mold by sanding the bottom flat and co-planer with the surface, ensuring a level and even pour. The edges are also sanded square to ensure consistent size and quality across all molds.
What Is An Open Pour Mold?
An Open Pour Mold is designed to be filled from the top, resulting in a one-sided bait that is flat and smooth on the open side. These molds are typically more affordable and beginner-friendly, requiring less equipment and setup to produce quality baits. They also make it easier to create multi-colored baits using lamination and skin-pouring methods.
How Does The Moose Ridge Molds #150 Perform?
The MRM #150 is user-friendly and ideal for beginners. The cavities are designed without small, intricate elements that might complicate the pouring process. For single-color baits, you simply pour in the center of each cavity, quickly move the stream of plastisol to the tail section, and then fill the cavity to the top. For laminated baits, the process is similar, but you fill the cavity only halfway with the first color. To avoid "Cold Cracking" when pouring laminates, it's best to pour five cavities at a time, allowing the first half to cool down adequately before adding the second color. With practice, pouring a full mold takes about a minute, and cooling down takes 5-7 minutes, allowing for efficient production of 60 baits every 7 minutes.
Does It Need Preheating Before Pouring Or Surface Heating For Laminates?
One of the unique features of Bloo Goo molds is that they do not require preheating. In fact, Moose Ridge Molds specifically advises against it. Using a hot plate, griddle, heat gun, or hair dryer can warp the mold. This is due to the lower thermal conductivity of the composite material compared to aluminum molds. The molds will need slightly more time to cool down before removing the baits, especially if the mold has thin ridges like a hook slot. However, this slight inconvenience is a small price to pay for the durability and longevity of the molds.
Value
At just $20, the Reference #150 Dreaded Ned mold offers exceptional value, especially when compared to aluminum injection molds, which can cost significantly more. For $200, you can purchase ten of these molds and have the capacity to produce approximately 100 Ned baits every 10 minutes, depending on your pouring speed and skill level.
Conclusion
The Moose Ridge Molds Reference #150 "Dreaded Ned" is a fantastic open pour mold that offers an unmatched value-to-performance ratio. Whether you are looking to produce unique Ned style baits for personal use or for a bait-making business, this mold is an excellent investment. Its durability, ease of use, and affordable price make it a must-have for any bait maker.
With over 1000 Dreaded Neds produced using my six molds, I can attest to their quality and longevity. I highly recommend the Reference #150 Dreaded Ned Open Pour Mold to anyone looking to elevate their bait-making game.
Up Next
Stay tuned for our next Bait Mold Review, where we’ll be featuring Moose Ridge Mold's iconic Reference #120 Braided Paddle Tail Open Pour Mold! Happy Bait Making, Bait Makers!
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Continue Your Bait Making Education With Fellow Bait Makers:
Continuing your bait making education is essential to refining your craft and staying updated with the latest techniques and trends. One of the best ways to achieve this is by engaging with fellow bait makers in dedicated Facebook groups. We recommend joining the groups listed below to connect with the rest of the bait making community:
- Join The We Like Making Baits Facebook Group
- Join The Moose Ridge Molds Bloo Goo Mafia Facebook Group
- Join The Open Pour Molds and Techniques Facebook Group
- Join The Soft Plastic Bait Makers Facebook Group
- Join The Dead On Plastix Deadhead Nation Facebook Group
Dive into these groups to enhance your skills, gain new insights, and be part of a thriving community of like-minded enthusiasts.
