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I paint 34+ patterns on 24 different blanks. Started the hobby in late January 2018. In all, I've spent just under 1k for equipment, custom mixed from recorded recipes and indexed cheap craft paints, misc materials and 360 blanks. Did my first invitation only shows for 5 friends last week to test out my creative patterns. Sold 36. I now consider some of them better friends. Looks like my decision to do more unique but sensible patterns is paying off. Nice to see photos with lure in a bass' mouth on facebook. Need to sell about 120 more to break even. No hurry though, I like them all and if I didn't sell another it would still be worth it for the experience!

Yeah, that’s the stuff KBS Diamond Coat. It’s also sold by online auto supply outlets. Re: syringes. I use epoxy syringes sold by rod builder online stores like Mudhole. They don’t need to be big ones. After you squirt the hardener/resin out, just draw the plunger part way back into the tube. That will prevent it from sticking. Sometimes I have to clean out the tip of the resin syringe with a wire to remove crystallized resin. Other than that, the syringes last indefinitely since you aren't mixing the epoxy inside the syringe, just using it to measure and squirt each component. I don’t know whether you need special epoxy syringes. It doesn't seem to me that there would be much chance of silicone contamination with any syringe, but guess it doesn’t hurt to be sure.

About your syringe, make sure you get the ones "without" the black rubber gasket attached to the plunger. They are probably lubed with a silicone lube and will transmit into the epoxy and cause fish eye problems. The rod maker catalogs have the gasket free syringes that are color coded. Always use one color for resin and another for hardener and there is no need to clean up after use. Just pull the plunger back and store outlet side up in a paper cup. Or try putting a tube into a nozzle lid, something like in this photo. Just snug fit the tube into the nozzle and cut to length to fit the bottle. The syringe is kept in the position shown. Withdraw the amount of each component needed then replace back into the tube for storage. These two bottles and syringes have been in use for months without ever being cleaned. CAUTIONARY NOTE: The bottles need to be vented with a pin hole in the bottle itself or with loosely fitted caps. If not an increase in room temperature will cause the liquid to be expelled from the tube and make a sticky mess.

guys here have been great! Nice to be on a site where there are no arguments and bashing. You guys are full of info to share. Glad I joined

My infrared is close when plastic is around 215f but after that the readings are not close. The digital i use reads correct so i use it most of the time. on my remelts i just heat it until it is liquid again, i stir until the lumps melt. Cub48

I personally wouldn't use those.^^^^^ As expensive as KBS is, why take a chance and who knows how it will react with the rubber gasket. When my mason jar lid got stuck I just poked a couple holes in the lid with a dart tip and drained into another jar and kept the new lip and threads cleaner. Mason jars are cheap. You can get a dozen at wallyworld for like $10. You can get wide mouth jars as well. That gal Jekyl on youtube uses a spaghetti sauce jar for her KBS. Just my .02

Like Pete said, you sure started with the most difficult aspect of lure building and you did a fine job. Your bait looks good. There's some stuff called "Liquid Frisket" you may want to try to protect your hinges while clear coating. It's sort of like a liquid rubber. Artists use it to keep paint off of areas they want to keep clean. You brush it on and when it dries it forms a protective barrier to keep surfaces clean of unwanted materials. When you finish it is easily cleaned by just rubbing or picking it off. It can be found at most hobby shops or artists supplies.