Lamps?

[AllenOK]

Just read an old thread about making an alcohol lamp to heat jigs. Ok, that sounds good.

Then I remembered my wife insists on keeping an old Hurricane Lamp "just in case". I just lit it and let it burn for a few minutes. I noticed there was quite a bit of heat coming out of the top.

Can I just use the Hurricane lamp to heat some jigs for powder paint? If so, do I just hold the jig with hemostats in the top of the lamp to heat the jig up?

 

[Kdog]

Will probably work. just make sure soot does not blacken your jig

 

[hookup]

Kdog said it. Some of those hurricane lamps use oil which will leave behind a soot residue.

I bought a cheap alcohol lamp used in chemistry that I've been using for years. Probably your best bet.

 

[AtticaFish]

I use an oil lamp with a funnel type globe and have never had problems with soot, as long as you keep the flame smaller than the point where it begins to smoke. Just using whatever oil the dollar store has on sale. Sometimes it is citronella for tiki torches and that works just fine. Can keep a fairly small flame and get plenty of heat since it funnels it all up and out a hole that is only a couple inches diameter. Have a picture of it here........ this was from a while ago before my paint jars started to multiply out of control and had to move to a larger area.

 

[Kdog]

Since I go thru clumsy oafish spells, the thought of an open flame makes me nervous. I'll stick with the heat guns but am gonna try one of those infra red bulbs as soon as I figure out which one to try.

Russ, I am envious as to the neatness of your bench top and I thought I had a bunch of forceps... nice way to store them.

 

[AllenOK]

Kdog, I am a big klutz myself. That is a very good point. I wouldn't want to accidentally knock it onto the floor and catch the house on fire. I think a cheapie redneck alcohol lamp is in order for me.

 

[AtticaFish]

Kurt - As mentioned, that pic was from almost 2 years ago. Moved my entire 'work area' to a different corner of the basement, carved out just for my jig/spoon painting. If i took a picture today, you would chuckle at how my mess has progressed. Adding peg board as a backing is a great suggestion. Picture 4-times the paint jars (with a whole section devoted to just glitter) and twice as many forceps......... and currently a whole pile of ice spoons in progress for the up coming winter season. Actually prefer the forceps pictured for larger jigs and 5" curved forceps for more precise work on smaller hooked jigs.

.........Russ, I am envious as to the neatness of your bench top and I thought I had a bunch of forceps... nice way to store them...............

 

[Streetwalker]

I use an old electric frying pan to heat my jigs and lures so I can paint them.

I then use a heat gun to smooth everything out. Dump into a pan of water and when I'm ready into the toaster oven to cure.

 

[AllenOK]

Yesterday I made an Alcohol Lamp. Also bought a pound each of Red and White PP from Harbor Freight. Now I just need a toaster oven

 

[Arkansasbowhunter]

I bought an alcohol lamp off eBay but the darn cap doesn't fit the bottle lol. Gotta search for a bottle the top will fit

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Believe it or not but I've been using disposable lighters for all my jig painting for 20 something years. Easy once you get the timing down for heating the heads. Was using powder paint before I even started tying, still have a couple original colors from back then.

 

[Pup]

Though I plan to make my own alcohol lamp eventually, I'd have to agree with JJ1 that a disposable lighter is very nice for heating jig heads. I can move its flame directly to my jig head, however it's being held, and there's no noise.

 

[plateboater]

You could always google some Amish Stores.....they still sale them quite a bit. Have a group of Amish south of me in Athens. There general store is a step back in time!

 

[AllenOK]

Arkansasbowhunter, all I did when I built my alcohol lamp was to take a glass jar, wash it out in hot soapy water, as well as the lid. Once dry, I used a nail to punch a hole through the lid. I used 1/4" braided cotton rope for a wick. It works fairly good, although the flame is a little low. If I pull some of the wick out to a bigger flame, the cotton burns away until it's back to where it was.

That said, I've been painting for a few weeks now. I've been using my wife's Hurricane lamp for all of it. I went with the oil lamp because I've been painting mostly 1/80, 1/64, and 1/32 jig heads.

 

[hookup]

If you use a disposable lighter, insist on a dJeep

 

[Radtexan]

I never knew that Jim. Even more impressed now with the paint work I've seen out of you. I started with a lighter. Spent some time, and still have my heat gun, but the alcohol lamp is my preference. Bought a 7.00 one from a fly shop nearly 10 years ago and still serves me well.