8 replies to this topic

[Chaos For 2011]

I typically paint crankbaits but have some tin heads I need to paint for next weekend. Can I use createx paint on them and clear with epoxy? Is there any thing I need to do as far as prep goes? Thanks for any help!!

[ROWINGADUBAY]

I have used createx and epoxy on lead spinnerbait heads and it works great if you want detail. It would be a lot easier/faster to use powder paint if your just doing one or two colors as far as prep I would wipe them with alchohol and paint a white base then whatever patern, heat set, then epoxy on a drying wheel so there is no drips.

[smalljaw]

Use the createx paint and there will be no problem. You will find it hard to paint tin with powder as it has a low melting point, I can't remember when it was but I someone here tried it and it doesn't work, so stick with the createx and you'll be fine. Just remember to put a base coat on first.

[hawnjigs]

I don't powder paint but have gotten my tin heads done by others. Melting point of tin 450*F is carefully do-able. Paint jobs look no different from lead heads - smooth and hard.

[Chaos For 2011]

Thank you guys!

[pirkfan]

I've powdercoated tin quite a bit (my avatar is a tin lure with the back powdercoated black). Just set the curing oven at 350 degrees and there's no problem. I don't bother painting it most of the time however, since it's a bright shiny metal and never corrodes...caught lots of fish on bare tin jigs and slab jigs.

Although tin doesn't corrode, if you use the pure metal (instead of a 95/5 tin/copper or 98/2 tin/silver alloy(lead free solders), it will suffer from tin pest in cold weather and painting the lure won't stop this as it's not oxidation, it's a change of state of the metal.

Edited by pirkfan, 16 January 2012 - 09:47 AM.

[hawnjigs]

"pirkfan", at approx. what temp for how long a time does tin pest become a problem? I've read some published info but you seem to have personal experience? Is storing indoors a good enuf solution to avoid tin pest?

Solders, especially silver bearing, are expensive(!) so I'm experimenting with adding bismuth up to 5% to pure tin. Bismuth added alloy is harder to pour so if possible I prefer to stick to pure tin.

[pirkfan]

hawnjigs, on 16 January 2012 - 05:00 PM, said:

"pirkfan", at approx. what temp for how long a time does tin pest become a problem? I've read some published info but you seem to have personal experience? Is storing indoors a good enuf solution to avoid tin pest?

Solders, especially silver bearing, are expensive(!) so I'm experimenting with adding bismuth up to 5% to pure tin. Bismuth added alloy is harder to pour so if possible I prefer to stick to pure tin.

I have not had personal experience with this problem, just knew from reading about tin before I started using it, that it existed and so avoided pure tin. The temperature must be below 56 degrees for the change to initiate, so if you're using tin in Hawaii...no worries, and bismuth alloyed with tin will prevent it, From what I've read, it's slow to initiate even in the cold, but once it starts, it accellerates fairly quickly. Lots of videos of it on the internet.

[hawnjigs]

Thanks for the heads up! I've been experimenting with 3-5% Bi added to Sn as a hardener, and its a tough pour for small heads, kinda like hard lead. But, maybe 1-2% Bi will keep the pest away without significantly sacrificing tin pourability.