rjbass

Welcome aboard...... Rod

cool idea! Great tutorial. Rod

Etch, Very nice as usual....I like all your baits. I bet you can't wait to try those new crankbait for musky, they look like they would troll great... Rod

Kanz, Can't say for sure as I have never used Spaz colors. Wildlife colors are water based and are used by many taxidermists. I like them alot. You can definitely see the color changes as you turn them in the sunlight. They spray real nice right out of the bottle, no mixing necessary. Rod

predator, I heat set my paint with a hair dryer after every coat. I use Createx, Wildlife colors, Auto Air, Poly Transpar and Golden airbrush paints, usually a combination of some or all of them. I generally let everything dry overnight, remove the tape and brush on the top coat. I use Devcon. Rod

Try Wildlife Colors flip flop colors.... http://www.bearair.com/departments.asp?dept=1131 Rod

Predator, I mask my lips and paint also. I have never had a problem with paint coming off with the tape. Are you heat setting your paint? Rod

Are you talking about tape that is masking the lip of the bait? Rod

Try these guys, they have a great selection of 3-d eyes and they ship fast.... http://www.barlowstackle.com/ Rod

Get yourself a big plastic jug, I use a big clorox bottle. Drill a round hole just below the neck just big enough to insert the tip of your airbrush. On the other side punch a small vent whole near the top. Now you have a cheap, useful cleaning station. You can tape some paper towels over the hole and punch through to prevent mist. As far as cleaning in between colors, use a mixture of windex and water 50/50. It will not effect the paint and keeps the gun pretty clean. Rod

I have a Porter Cable with a 26 gallon tank. Got it on close out at our local hardware for about $219. My paint sessions sometimes last hours with four brushes going off and on and it only comes on a couple of times. I have had several of the smaller airbrush type compressors and I like this one better by far. I have it mounted in the garage outside my shop and a 30 foot airhose going to the manifold. I barely notice it coming on. Rod

Well, it is 12:21am here so I guess it is officially Christmas..... I hope you all have a good one.......Merry Christmas! Rod

Spike-A-Pike, You really can't use MEK or Acetone on baits that haven't been top coated yet or you won't have any paint left on your bait.....I meant keep the bait as clean as possible before top coat. Rod

Hello, Devcon is a great top coat but it can be touchy. I have used it for years so I know it's pros and cons. It likes to pull away from any sharp corners or edges so you have to be careful in those areas. It will "fish eye" or "spot" like you said if there is any oil or whatever from your hands on the bait or if you try and spread it too thin. The best thing is to use disposible gloves when handling your baits. Make sure your bait is perfectly clean before applying. Make sure you have enough devcon and don't try and spread it too thin. It is best applied in 70 degrees or better. I heat mine in the tube with a hair dryer if it isn't at room temperature. While I am turning my baits, I keep a close eye on them and if I see a spot starting to form I hit it with a hair dryer and use my application brush to smooth it out. Once it tacks up, these "spots" won't appear, but for the first few minutes you should watch them close. Hope this helps. Rod

Very cool....I would use them. Rod

Steel Pulse, If I were you making salt water baits, I would use boiled linseed oil. I know many of the striper guys use this as a sealer. Rod

FYI I have been using Minwax sanding sealer for a while now and it has never failed me. I put a thin coat of epoxy over the top, prime, paint and top coat. I have never had a problem with paint or top coat adhesion or peeling or anything. I have had muskies bite through the finish into the wood (which is the nature of the beast) and the baits never swell from water damage or lose their integrity at all for that matter. Rod

I know you can chrome plate lures, plastic and wood, but the process is super expensive and it would not pay for the hobbyist to do it. Alsa Corporation makes a chrome paint and it is good, but it also is very expensive. Here is a link..... http://www.alsacorp.com/products/killercans/kc/killerchrome.htm Rod

Super job Dan....good idea! Rod

Hey guys, can any of you post a few pictures of baits that you used Dick Nite's clear on??? I would like to see if there is any aesthetic difference from all the clears I have tried....I did use a bait with it on once and the Muskys tore it up, but that was a few years ago. Rod

Frenchman, Sault Ste Marie Michigan is a twin city almost to Sault Ste Marie Ontario which is right across the St. Mary's River from us. The Saint Mary's river seperates Lake Superior from Lake Huron. Anyway, welcome. Rod

Welcome, What kind of fish do you fish for over there??? Rod