Questions about powder painting

[AndyLane]

I use Hard as nails polish to paint my lead heads and metallic markers to color my bead heads and spinner blades. I then dip them in a clear lure and jig finish. They look good and the finish seems to be tough but I am wanting to start powder painting them instead. It seems you get a more uniform or consistent look using powder paint and it is a quicker process. Before I spend the money getting set up to powder paint I have some questions. 1. I dont have an outdoor workshop. Does this process cause any big messes, bad odors or fumes that will bother my kids or upset my wife? (If Momma Ain't Happy Then....) How durable is the finish if it is not cured? Do you have to use a clear powder coat? Custom colors can be made by mixing powders? I appreciate any advice on the subject. Thanks

 

[CrappieHappy]

The PP finish is pretty durable if not cured, but is rock solid when cured.. you do not have to use a clear powder coat, but mixing in clear when custom mixing paint comes in handy. I would suggest starting off with a couple of 2 oz jars of powder paint, and either a heatgun or a alcohol burner. you can paint right out of the container, just stir to fluff the paint, then stuff the heated jighead in the jar.

best of luck...

 

[Radtexan]

Agree with heath...PP is very affordable to get into...Dont need a fluid bed unless your painting thousands......

No fumes,odors,and not much mess if your careful The burner is the easiest and quietest method for heating...Curing isnt mandatory but sure makes a difference,get you a cheap 20.00 toaster oven from walley world or the like and your set.

 

[hookup]

Dont use your family oven to cure them.

I'm now wearing a respirator when heating & painting & curing jigs & do all the work in the garage. Wife was complaining about paint fumes, so I stoped using the basement. Asthma kicked in hard this year, so started wearing the respirator.

 

[AtticaFish]

- You can paint indoors, no smell at all and only as big a mess as you make it. The powder makes stuff in the area dusty and thats about it.

- If you are using an open flame have to be careful that you do not over heat the lead..... it will drip right off the hook.

- I personally cure everything since i fish a lot around rip-rap, concrete structures and on solid bedrock river bottom. Heads that are not cured chip quickly when fished hard against rocks. The thinnest coat possible gives the strongest finish. I would suggest the toaster oven (dedicated to fishing stuff only) also so you keep lead away from your cooking area.

- Some colors mix easily with each other and others (with high contrast) do not mix evenly, they take on a speckled kind of look. Example: mixing black and white (high contrasting) will end up with a speckled grayish color. Mixing closer colors like pink and chartreuse will give an even orange color. Trial and error, just mix in small batches and write down how you got there as you go.

 

[AtticaFish]

...Wife was complaining about paint fumes, so I stoped using the basement....

You are getting fumes from powder paint??

 

[AndyLane]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to have to go buy some and give it a try. My local supply shop carries the Pro-Tech brand I believe. Is that good stuff? Thanks again

 

[CrappieHappy]

CSI/ pro-tec is good...

 

[hookup]

...Wife was complaining about paint fumes, so I stoped using the basement....

You are getting fumes from powder paint??

Head a lead head & sprinkle paint on it. You'll see smoke rise.

I powder paint with a fine tea-screen bowl full of powder & tap the paint onto the lead head. If the heads to hot, it'll smoke when the powder paint hit the head w/ a distinct fume.

To keep the wife happy, I now do everything but tie in the garage .

 

[Fatman]

just watch your heat and no problems. I've sat in my living room and dipped heads in jars and when done just clean up, and vacume and the wife is happy!!!!!!!!!!! I don't have a dedicated work area and have to pick up after every session no matter what I'm doing.

 

[goodtimesfishing]

heat gun is the way to go. pp is the safest cleanest way of painting in my opinnion

 

[cadman]

I powder paint a lot of jigs, and I don't use a respirator, so this is up to you. However I don't get any airborne powder paint dust. Fluid bed is the way to go for a lot of jigs. Heat gun is the way to go for all your single colors and a must for multiple colors. I bake my jigs in the basement and I don't notice any really bad smells. As far as powder paint goes, CSI in my opinion is good paint but way over priced. If you want to try powder painting out, PM me your e-mail, and I'll send you some free powder paint to see if this is something you want to get into. Powder painting is not complicated, it just takes a lot of practice to fine tune it to the way you paint and the effects you want.

 

[Lost Pole]

Per Attica
"Trial and error, just mix in small batches and write down how you got there as you go."

Please don't forget to write it down…
I have four colors that are essential to my fishing that I have NO CLUE as to how they were prepared on the mixing block and will prob be lost once used up.

 

[Fatman]

Lost - I hear ya!!!!!!!! I have my one color called Screwed up and have no idea!!!!!!!!!! At least I only have 1!!!

 

[Pup]

If you ever lack an alcohol lamp or a heat gun, try heating your jig head using a butane utility lighter with an adjustable flame. It's precise and very controllable.

You just might like it.

 

[smalljaw]

Curing powder isn't hard, if you get a cheap toaster oven it will make sense to get an oven thermometer or an infra red temp gun because toaster ovens settings aren't very accurate. If you get smoke when putting powder on then you have your jig way to hot, done properly there is no smoke or fumes and while your wife may not want you to use the oven it isn't going to hurt provided you have done it the right way. If you smell paint while curing and or get "nipples" on the head it means you have too much paint on the head and if it happens a lot then invest in a toaster oven. The key to it is the correct amount of heat and being fastt with the dip, so once you got the jig hot dip quickly and tap off excess, if done right you'll notice the paint gloss. One last thing, if you powder paint and choose not to cure, do not use Sally Hansens or any other clear nail polish to coat the head, the reason is it will react with the paint and begin to soften and even come off on the nail polish brush, you are much better off to use epoxy.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

I paint all my heads with a butane lighter,gone through hundreds over the years because I've been painting longer than I've been tying. Trial and error in the beginning but once you get the timimg down on how long to heat each size jig it's a breeze. I paint all my jigs at my desk in my bedroom. Jig's will smoke if you get them to hot so if it does try a little less heating time on the next one. Most paint's are durable without curing but curing in a toaster oven will make the paint rock hard. Mixing your own colors is another part of our addiction,I have over 100 colors now but keep the top 40 on my desk at all times. Buy clear by the pound and go through quite a bit stretching my regular colors or creating new one's.

 

[Fatman]

Jim

You gonna post your paint mix book???? LOL