LedHed

Thank you La Pala - well said. Like the old TU better. The member lure swaps were awesome. Less BS and more tech talk.

Hawnjigs is using the same mold for his lead free jigs and they are awesome. Hardly any spru - no sanding or filing!! Think I will have to make the investment...

If she has a boat - you need to marry her.....

Barlow's carries Sohumi. Nota big fan of Sohumi - got a batch of size 8's that were all junk. Try a word search...

395º for Pro Tec is really excessive. Columbia Coating usually cures hotter than PT but I don’t remember it being that high.. A real problem with the toaster ovens besides control is how the unit monitors its temperature, which relates back to control. The thermostat will help you but it is only as good as the sensing element. I use a thermocouple wire (type T) and place it in the center of the chamber and manually control (turn the set point up and down). TC readers are kind of expensive but a lot more accurate and really easy to use. The oven I have been using has about a 12º swing.

With white or pearl white I do pretty much what flippinfool does. Not sure what dayooper uses for the screens in the cups but I use micro mesh screens in different pore sizes that seem to work out fine. I also mix my own white and pearl white. Mixing clear with white seemed to help some.

TomG Check out shawncollinscustom.com for a mold. Soft lead can go for free (if you have the right connections) to about $1 a pound. Check out your local recycle places or ebay. It will take you a long time to save money but you will have your custom color combinations when you want them.

Get a nail or a pin tip real hot and push it through. Sounds like you are still getting too much paint on your jig. Sagging (during the curing) usually occurs when you have too much paint or the temperature/cure time is not correct. You might want to turn your heat down and extend your cure time. You can not trust your temperature control on your curing device.

fish devil Only surf the web - have some nephews and a sister that surf out of San Diego. Good luck on the web site - really like the content.

It's kinda far from So Cal - but sure would like to attend. Good luck on a successful show.

Welcome aboard Bill M Interesting web site fish devil

Welcome aboard - you found the right place to learn more....

Hilt’s 64 Trout - 6 cavity, sz. 8, 10 hook. Every once in awhile Ament precision single cavity molds come up on ebay. Do-it did make a 1/64th in the PRO series, very hard to find. Downside to the semi-custom you can only use a sz. 10 or12 hook. The plain collar lists for $119.95 and the collared lists for $150 (????). You might want to check with Shawn Collins for a custom mold or he might have one on the shelf.

You can pour with the wheel weights – crank up the heat. If you are pouring fishing weights the lead is fine but if you want to pour jigs you should add soft lead too it. I don’t like using or cleaning lead from wheel weights in my bottom pours. Don’t like using the lead for jigs either, there is too much junk in wheel weights (here it’s usually 92% to 97% lead). I use hot pots to clean lead and pour sinkers. It’s slow but you shouldn’t be in a hurry if you are pouring lead anyway. Be careful.

Jim Don’t know if you have Michael’s (art & craft store) but they carry wiggle eyes. The style 7572/6-VE-002 (55 pcs.) is 6 mm black round ball halves – cost is less than a buck. No adhesive on the back. Picked up 4 packs today. The web site for the distributor creativityinc.com.

Hey Riverrunner88 Would like to see some pictures of your lures from Ohio. You can post pics in the Gallery. Welcome aboard.

pirkfan Think Component Systems has an eye painter – thought I saw one on their web site (it was a while ago). I use 3D eyes now, too lazy to paint. Have read (but can’t find it now) where you can use a pencil eraser for an applicator. Rough it up or moisten it before you pick up the paint. Stencils are a real pain with powder paint – thinking about messing with stamping now. I have the Paasche AEC air eraser but never got around to trying it – got stuck on brushes.

pirkfan When you “paint the eyes” are you powder painting the eyes also?

Good stuff - you should post some pics in the gallery.

Rowhunter, whitlter WOW - very nice baits.

I like to use a flat camel for fine stuff and a rounded camel hair for medium jigs. Have not done a lot on real big jigs – but the larger make up brushes work well. Any medium brush will work, just have to practice, and get use to it. It’s important that your paint is fluffed up and if you are mixing paint - it is completely mixed. TJ’s video is a great start and cadman’s tutorial offers some excellent instructions. Strongly advise getting a heat gun – especially if you want to try this method.