DUCBOS

Just got a new do-it mold and will be trying it out. I may find it eaiser to tape in the two eyes, then use that technique for hanging the hooks after painting. I'll let everyone know.

I was making swing jigs with the old regular football head jig mold before do-it made one. I used silly puddly to hold in single eyes, without hooks. After powder painting I heated the hook eyes with a candle and opened the hook eye to put it on the jig eye, then closed the hook eye while still hot. Don't forget to then rapid cool it in water or oil to not loose the temper of the hook.

Mines a sunbeam Off by a lot. Set on 425 it gets to 375 But it turned out well. I found that lower temps and more time give me a harder bait without melting.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder.

I had the same issue. I started using Locktite slow drying gel ( from a post by cadman) I don't use very much, but so far it has not had the staining.

I live on a lake that has about 2 million tournaments a year. I have to make something they haven't seen 2 million times.

Why bother with the vinyl paint? I paint them just like cranks. White base coat, color detail then clear coat. works fine but use the base coat just like cranks.

Seal coat works OK with createx. But it is not durable. Try Dick Nites Clear Coat Do not over heat the createx. You only need to use a hairdryer for a minute or so. Using a heat gun you need to be careful. The heating is just to get the paint to flash or dry some or most of the water in the paint. I use it over CURED powder paint. Don't re-heat in oven after the water based paint.

I use my football head mold, don't know # the one with multiple sizes for 3 things. Regular football heads, swing jigs like the Biffel bug, and I use the small sizes to make wacky jig heads.

blitz If you are going to use glitter you will not be happy with DN. I have only had good results with glitter with D2T. Both D2T and DN have good uses for different applications. I apply second coats of the S81 after 5 hours. Heat will not help It's moisture cured. Someone on here wrote about how to use a self tapping screw to tap the can and it solved my storage issues. I had tried everything including Bloxygen and this little trick is the solution. I use DN for top waters, most jigs, spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and all spoons. D2T still gives that deep look an great protection for most cranks especially with a glitter coat. Just my preferences for what it's worth.

You're going to need to use automotive clear coat

If you are inserting something into the eye, just heat it with a candle and open it, insert the swivel, etc, and close it back. I do this with making football head draggin' jigs, like the Biffle jig. Just dip it in water to cool it quickly after closing and it will harden.

I would like to start a discussion about what would be the very best jig hook possible. I know it don't exist, but maybe if we can describe it, someone might make it. I would like a 30 degree, flat eye hook, with a wide gap that was at least 1/4" if not 3/8" longer than normal. Of course in 3, 4, and 5. The reason is withe the hooks today, when you pull on the eye to set the hook, you need to get the head of the hook almost out of a bass's mouth to hook him. I think that is why the hook up ratio is so low with most jigs today. I think the longer hook will allow more hookups in the back of the fish mouth. Just my thoughts -- What are yours? What do you think would be best? Are there places to find unusual hooks for molding custom jigs?

You have it The energy comes form the difference in temperature. I found this out working with heart surgery and ice water baths for coolong patients in the 60"s. It is the difference in temperture that causes more energy to be expanded to the cooler or warmer object. DUCBOS

The best and quickest I have dealt with. Had an item that was wrong about 2 weeks ago and the day I call they shipped the correct item with a return postage paid package for the incorrect one. Good folks for information too. DUCBOS

I think I saw a thing in BASS last month that they were dropping it for now.

I am very new to pouring, but I have made a few observations. When I am using SOFT lead I get the blue then brown on top if I have the pot temperature all the way up. 9 on my pot. If I turn it down to 7-7.5 It does not happen. If I am using HARD lead I get the same blue then brown gunk with the thermostat at 7. It will go away if I turn it down to 6-6.5. I use both kinds of lead depending on what I am pouring. I have no idea what this means or why. Just what I have observed. There are some very smart guys on this site that I bet could tell us. I hope so.

I've used fine glitter and larger grain for crank baits and spoons. I have mixed it in the D2T but the best way was to put on the D2T and then sprinkle it over the wet coating to get it like you want it. I use a small salt shaker. THEN make sure you put it on a bait turner to dry. The turning let's the glitter which is heaver than the glue sink into the glue and leave the surface smooth.

I use my heat gun that I use for power painting to blow through the gate to heat both hooks and mold at the same time. Then you can pour all molds each time

I've used it some on crankbaita. I use the liquid. I put 1 coat of clear over the paint and let it cure. Then I put on the UV Blast liquid. Then another clear coat. This works well. On powder paint - I paint and heat on oven to harden. Then I put on the UV blast. Then a coat of clear. No change in color without UV light. Works for me.

That is one of the things I was looking to do. The only open eye hook I could find was a Mustad straight shank. Not exactly the best for this application. It was made for hooking hooks together in a line.

Has anyone had any experience in bending hook eyes? Can you heat say a 3/0 EWG forged or wire hook eye enough to slip a wire loop into it then bend it back? Will a butane tourch get hot enough to do this? Or, will it just break? I guess you could stick it in water and cool it fast to maintain the hardness afterward. Just don"t know. I know my heat gun will not. I can think of all kinds of things to do if I can bend the hook, especially the eye. Thought I would ask before I buy a torch.

The only way I have beeen satisfied with it is to put 2 coats on a finished bait and then put a good top coat clear over it. It's not durable at all and when I tried it over a good top coat it lumped up and was rough.