I use D2T to coat the insides of my joints, and then two coats of Etex on the outer parts of the body. I've found the D2T holds up well in the joints, which don't generally get hit by rocks during errant casts, but does peel off when I use it on the body faces which are exposed to my bad cast encounters. I lap the D2T out onto the face about a quarter of an inch, to make sure the two epoxies are overlapped and then I put the lure on my drying wheel and coat it with Etex, letting the Etex go into the actual joints as little as possible. This way, I can topcoat the lure assembled, so the hinge pin flags get epoxied in, too. I've found Etex is not as brittle as D2T, and absorbs rock impacts with dents or small chips, which I can seal on the water with brush on super glue, so I can keep fishing.
I try and time it so I topcoat Wednesday night, second coat Thursday night, and can take them off the wheel Friday, and fish with them Saturday.
Did I mention I love to fish?
I wish there were a topcoat that was as clear as epoxy, but easier to apply and tougher, easy to store and clean up, cheap, no bad fumes, and compatible with my paints. Don't want much, do I?
