tabutler

Thanks for your input. I am heat setting when I paint. I turned five baits on the last run and epoxy seemed to mound on the same areas of each one (the back) so centrifugal force is probably one of my problems. I also epoxy and turn them before I paint and don’t seem to have the problem so maybe the epoxy can slide on the paint a little easier. I have been afraid to wipe them down pre top coat for fear of messing up paint but it sounds like a good test to see if they are ready for topcoating? I guess at this point I will add another coat to get full coverage. I’m tempted to try a different topcoat for ease and time(water base) just haven’t read up enough about them to know.

I am having a problem topcoating my baits. I am using Createx paints and then topcoating with etex and putting them on a turner. My problem is the etex is not coating consistently. Once I take them off the turner some parts will be thicker than others and some parts will not be coated at all as if the paint is repelling the epoxy. I let my paint dry a day before coating. The conclusions I can come up with is my turner is too fast. It is a rod turner and I think 17 rpm. Another thought is I’m not letting paint dry long enough or epoxy just doesn’t like certain createx paints like pearls. Anyone have any advice on this? I finally can put a pretty good paint job on only to screw it up with topcoat. Thanks

Thanks for your help guys. Upon closer inspection, my cone was damaged. My eyes were not good enough to see it even with magnification but running my fingernail over it I could feel the split. Already ordered a new one. As usual, I learn everything the hard way. I am new to this and as frustrating as it is, I am loving trying to figure it all out! Thanks again

I painted several baits the other day without a problem with my talon. Yesterday I was going to paint another batch, had all kinds of problems with clogs and bubbling in cup. Cleaned it again and when I put it back together it seems to me the needle sticks out further from the tip before it seats. I never could get it to perform correctly . Am I imagining things or can this happen and if so have I screwed something up. I am using the .3 something tip. I did change out to the .55 tip to put on some base coats and seemed to work ok but I much prefer the finer tip. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help guys! I’m learning as I go. I did have a couple that ran great so now I get to learn how to paint them.

I am new to trying to make balsa crank baits and have used this forum extensively for info. When trying to tune my baits I damaged the lure because my twisted wire line tie is too rigid. Have read from this forum to use soft tempered stainless wire or dowels. I am glueing in some dowels as I write but can anyone tell me where to get soft tempered wire? Thanks! .