Dblack0781

Just a heads up... I cleaned a few of those same heads thoroughly tonight, then repeated my same process but using sterile gloves and forceps to hold the hook while handling the heads. Made sure the heads were good and dry before painting. Baked them and they few I painted came out fine. I’m gonna try a larger batch tomorrow and hope for the same results. I’ll let you guys know. Thanks for all the input!

Hopefully I can figure it out tonight.

I buy ProTec Powder Paint. Mostly from Lure Parts Online.

You know, I haven't paid much attention to the little voids in the paint. Usually they around the keeper. I'll have to try and pay close attention to see if thats happening after painting or after baking. And I'll definitely try cleaning them and wearing some latex gloves to see if that helps. And i'll share the results. I've got some to paint tonight so we shall see.

I dunno... its weird for sure. I'm gonna try cleaning them before I paint them. Any suggestions as to what to use for cleaning the heads?

I'm gonna try process of elimination. See if i can narrow it down to exactly whats going on.

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies! I should have said I’ve been “powder coating and tying my own jigs” not “making.” I actually buy most all of my unpainted heads from FishingSkirts/Boss Outdoors. That being said, I’ll try and address some of the comments in hopes to clarify my process and the tool I use. Maybe that will throw up some red flags for you folks. #1 I’ve never cleaned the heads before painting them. Honestly never even thought about it. Possibly a rookie mistake. I don’t wear latex gloves when handling them. Typically, I am wearing a mechanic style glove on the hand I hold the hook with as I heat the head. #2 I use a Wagner brand heat gun that I bought from Lowe’s as my heat source to heat the heads before dipping them in the fluid bed. #3 I’m not sure how old is too old for powder. I’d say my white is about 8 months or so old. I don’t paint a ton of heads so some colors last me a while. But I do keep the lid screwed on tight when not using. #4 After dipping the heads in the fluid bed, and letting them cool off, I usually take them straight to the toaster oven. They do touch my bare hands but I wouldn’t say my hands are ever dirty when handling them. #5 As for other colors, I’ve seen that same discoloration on other lighter colors. But the white is always the most noticeable. Probably just because it’s white. All that being said, I took a pic of the rack on my old toaster oven because I wanted you to see what it started to look like over time. You’ll see the discoloration or whatever it is in the pictures. But I should tell you that it doesn’t look that bad because I’ve tried to clean it off with a wire brush. Also, remember that I purchased a new toaster over thinking that would temporarily fix the problem, but after my first batch of white heads IN THE NEW OVEN, several (but not all) of them had that discoloration on them. Needless to say, it’s driving me crazy. Thanks for being o kind and trying to help me.

They are all freshly cast heads.

So I’ve been making jigs for a few years now and from time to time, some type of residue stains my jig heads after I cure them in my toaster oven. It seems that you can only see it on the white or lighter colored jig heads. I first started noticing the residue in the racks in the toaster oven. Thought it was rust at first so I bought a new toaster oven, but the first time I used the new one the same thing happened. All of the hooks I use are black nickel finish. Could that finish be melting off in my toaster oven? If so, am I getting it too hot? I usually bake my heads for 25 minutes on 350 degrees.