Jump to content
Jwags

how to hold a lure when airbrushing

Recommended Posts

I'm looking for some advice on the best way to hold a lure when painting multiple lures. Right now, I have two sets of vise grips that I use. I'm looking for something that will help me to be a little more hands-free when painting. Does anyone have any good tips for me? Right now I'm leaning towards buying a fly tying vise, can anyone recommend a fairly inexpensive one?

thanks,

jeremy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you need to hold it extra steady use a pair of surgical hemostats. Cheaper than a vice and more versatile. The other thing you might try is binder clips. I use these on the bills and put them in a crack in my work bench. My bench is made of 2 x 6 lumber so I have a seam from one end to the other. It is great for holding a lot of baits. These are cheap solutions.

Edited by Mags
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It all depends on what size/kind of baits you paint and what is most convenient for you and your painting techniques. I use the locking hemostats like Mags does to hold the lure by its lip. When I finish a color shot, I dry the paint with a hair dryer and hang the bait on a nail above my work bench by a small bent wire hanger inserted in the line tie. Other guys prefer to clamp lures into the handle of an Xacto knife.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the best, cheapest tips I got here (thanks Hazmail Pete) is to use disposable latex gloves.

I only use one, on my left hand, to hold the lure when I'm painting, either suspended on a paper clip, held in needle nose vise grips, or held in forceps. That way, I can turn the lure however I want to without worrying about redecorating my hand. :lol:

They clean up when you wash the airbrush with Windex, and I get several paint sessions from one glove.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How much money would we spend on a simple tool we need for airbrushing?

If you have some steel wire around the house, about 0.1" in diameter, you could have a tool for free. Just bend it to fit your lures, so that the lure is kept tight at the ends. This tool is versatile, since you can make several "S" shape wires, different lengths, to fit different lure lengths. This tool is also good to airbrush a swimbait, because it keeps the segments in line.

I have wraped copper wire at the ends, leaving a coil larger than the rest of them, (the wire hanger will go there), then I soldiered the copper wire:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/rofish_2006/rofish_2006-4/wirelureholder003.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My plan takes this idea one step further. The simple wire frame can be designed to fit a rotating clamp in the spray boothe. The frame also fits to the drying wheel. So the frame can be used for dipping, hand holding, hands free operations etc. This way the body endures the minimum handling necessary in the build process.

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vodkaman, I designed this lure holder with the intention to put a swimbait on a drying wheel, after applying the epoxy clearcoat. This tool is to be used on my drying wheel, for swimbaits. But it can also be used for airbrushing a lure (you can put it in a vise, if you need it).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok, I promised that I'll post some pictures with my paint tool :lol: here they are, 3 pieces of wood bond together with 2 screws . In the first picture the springs are missing so I've put some pics with two symbolic ones. I've done one hole in each vertical piece of wood and placed a bend wire in each so they can rotate ( for rotating the lure ) , and in one of them I've put a toothpick for the wire not to rotate so easy and the lure not to flip (due to the ballast) . In the second picture I want to show further improvements on the project. Larger holes with one ball bearing in each , on one of the axes it will be a tooth wheel for stopping the lure in the desired position. Also the ax can be let loose and connected to a 4 rpm motor for drying the lure . In this stage of the project in fact you can place on each ax an larger wheel and place lures between them as in the drying wheel pictures I've seen on TU. Hope you understand the project, if not I'll draw some pics on request ;)

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

Picture 001 copy.jpg

Picture 002 copy.jpg

4059_thumb.attach

4060_thumb.attach

Edited by pikeman
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vodkaman, I am so well organized with my things, that I cannot find them. Right now, I cannot find the few lure holders I made. It seems I'll have to go to where the steel wire is, bring some at home, and make new ones. I don't know when I will go there, (few days perhaps), but I will surely post a picture or 2, after making new ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still using those hobby knife chucks, although I am in the process of changing over from plastic to aluminium, the thinners/acetone keeps melting the plastic ones, and welding the lure to the holder. I am also starting to find anything over about 4" is a bit too heavy for them. Hemeostats are great too ( and cheap by the dozen) but I have a hard time putting them on the wheel, so have to change them over. KC uses a magnetic wheel, which sounds like a good idea. pete

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am old school on this topic. I come with a lure production background, but even for just one bait, I still use this method.

If your bait is wooden and has a screw eye in tail, remove it. Take 1/2 x 1/2 strips of wood, drive brads or thin finish nails through at regular spacings and use a regular table mounted vice to hold the strips. Mount your baits upright on the nails and start painting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the way i hold my lures is go to radio shake and buy a pack of allgater clamps and then get a dowel rod about 1/2 inches i make a 4by 4 inches stand out of plywood and monute about 4 inches of the dowel on it the bore a hole in the top just the same size as the allgater clip then glue it in the top of the dowel i got about 30 of them made soorow guys i cant spell

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...


×
×
  • Create New...
Top