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Turn by hand is an option if you just do a few baits. Turner becomes more essential the more baits you make. You don't have to keep turning for a full thirty minutes with "30-min epoxy". It will set up to a point that it won't run/drip in a lot less than 30 min. It will still be tacky so you will need to hang it after initial solidification. The 30 min time is to cure to hard/usable strength. Hardness/strength will continue to increase for 24 hrs or more. If you need a bit more working time, pour the epoxy into a cup that's big enough to spread it out flat (while still liquid) rather than in a compact thick mass (think cube, cylinder, sphere). Epoxy heats up while it cures so the thinner the layer the easier heat is dissipated and then accumulated heat won't be able to accelerate the cure like it will in a thick mass.

I think you may have identified the problem in information in your post! Polyurethane expands with heat (shrinks with cold) quite a bit. I wonder if the epoxy-coated baits are creating stress (tension) in the polyurethane foam when the lure is cooled down from the cool water...just a guess. I'd think the effect might be worse for larger baits.

I have not had that problem.

I don't know who makes them, but I think the same of them as I do Big Bite Baits. They take a tough rap, but honestly I feel their stuff is pretty good.

That can be someone else’s decision. Mine is finished.

A buddy of mine use to buy his rods from BPS. They were Ugly Stick catfish rods and he loved the. As far as I know he never broke one.