If You’ve Ever Made Soft Plastics… You HAVE to Read This (Trust Me, It’s a Game Changer)

Alright y’all — listen… if you’ve poured soft plastics before, burned plastisol, clumped glitter, scorched a pot, or said the words “dang it, why is this melting cup bubbling AGAIN?” — then buckle up.

I’m about to show you something that will absolutely change your bait-making life.

And yes, it’s called a Presto Pot. But the first time someone said it to me, I legit thought it was some kind of crockpot your grandma would cook chili in — not a plastisol-pouring beast.

The crew over at Tournament Strong built an entire system around this thing — and after using it, I can honestly say it’s a straight-up shop workhorse.

So grab a coffee (or a cup of plastisol — no judgment), and let’s break the whole system down from start to finish.

⚙️ SETUP: How the Tournament Strong Presto Pot System Works

This dual-pot rig from Tournament Strong comes loaded:

• Pre-installed paddle
• Extra paddle
• Variable-speed stir motors
• Heavy-duty ball valves
• Low-profile injector clamp

Each motor keeps your plastisol constantly moving while it heats — so here’s Rule #1:

Do NOT spin the paddles by hand. Use the motor. Save the gears. Save your sanity.

🔩 Setting Paddle Height (The Easy Way)

Setting paddle depth doesn’t have to be rocket science. You’re not building a spaceship — you’re heating goo.

Use any little spacer — a nickel, a washer, even a random Pokémon coin your kid left in the shop.

Slide it under the paddle, tighten the screws, pull the coin out, and boom — perfect gap.

If you skip this step, the paddle either scrapes the pot or floats way too high. Trust me… I’ve accidentally tested both.

🔫 Injector Setup

A standard Bass Tackle injector works great, BUT the clamp it comes with is too tall and hits the paddles.

Good thing Tournament Strong includes a slimmer, low-profile clamp built for this system. Swap it in, lock it down, and run a quick motor test to confirm clearance.

🔥 Heating & Coloring Plastisol in the Tournament Strong System

Each Presto Pot holds 6 quarts, but here we’re running about 6 cups in each side.

• Turn both pots on HIGH
• Run the stir motors on LOW

The stirs keep everything moving so the plastisol heats evenly — no scorching, no clumped glitter, no settling.

Don’t trust the built-in thermostat. Use a probe thermometer or IR temp gun.

As the plastisol heats, it goes:

• Milky
• Gel
• Crystal Clear

Once it reaches ~300°, add your colors and glitter. By ~350°, bubbles dissipate and you’re ready to pour.

🎯 Injecting Soft Plastic Molds

Glove up — everything is HOT.

Slide the injector into the pot holder, pull smooth, fill your mold, and put the injector right back in the pot so it stays hot.

This is the superpower of the Tournament Strong system:

• Your injector never cools
• No clogging
• No heat loss
• Consistency shot after shot

Once you get in rhythm, you can run pours back-to-back like a machine.

🫙 Using the Ball Valves (Open Pour Swimbaits, Layers, & More)

If you’re an open-pour guy, these ball valves are a total cheat code.

Crack them open slowly and let the plastisol flow exactly where you want it. Perfect for:

• Layered swimbaits
• Bellies & backs
• Laminates
• Large open molds

Prefer pouring from a cup? Go for it. The pot keeps everything at perfect temp the entire time.

As the plastisol level drops, lower your temp slightly to avoid scorching.

🧽 Cleanup (Way Easier Than You’d Expect)

🔥 Do Cleanup While the Plastisol Is Hot

Turn everything off, glove up, and remove both paddles before the plastisol cools and locks everything in place.

❄️ Cool, Peel, Done

Once everything cools down, plastisol peels right off the paddles like a sticker.

🧱 The Plastisol Puck

Inside the pot you’ll find a cooled plastisol puck. Pull it out, cut it up, and reuse it.

The imprint on the bottom? That’s valve residue — meaning the valve is basically self-cleaning.

Wipe the pot with disinfectant wipes, dry it, and it’s ready for the next session.

🏁 Final Thoughts

If you’ve been heating plastisol in the microwave, fighting bubbles, dealing with uneven temps, or cussing at glitter settling — the Tournament Strong Presto Pot System is a total game changer.

• Stable temperature
• Perfect stirring
• Cleaner pours
• Fast cleanup
• Production-level consistency

If you’re ready to upgrade your bait-making game, this setup is absolutely worth it.

Drop questions in the comments — always happy to help.

Keep pouring. 🎣🔥