mark poulson

Latest post from Debbie: Nate has been diagnosed with RRMS (Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis). We have confidence in the neurologist and his treatment plan. He still wants to have an additional test done to further confirm his diagnosis. He also plans to consult with a specialist with the Mayo Clinic because of the challenges in Nate's case to come to this diagnosis. We pray that we do not see this as being PPMS (Primary Progressive MS) in the future. Nate's pain is under control, his slurring is better so we are hopeful to be released from the hospital today. Please know your prayers have helped us in so many ways. God has us. We love you. Love, Nate and Deb

How do you attach your eyes?

My experience with mylar tubing (a friend tried some inside a tube he dipped in my garage) is that it makes the bait very tough, but still flexible. I can see how adding it to the top of a swimbait might give the bait a much longer lifespan. Cami, I really like the pearl bait at the bottom of your photo. Which one is that?

Steel tanks dent. Do aluminum tanks dent, too, or do they crack when impacted?

I'm sure you can use the big Pencil Poppers for tuna, but they will get ruined pretty quickly.

CO2 is a gas that is contributing to global warming and climate change. I'd suggest you try and find somewhere that will charge your tank with air or another gas that's not a greenhouse gas at the same pressure.

Cami, which swimbait mold are you using for those baits?

I use hardener sometimes, but I am careful to add it before I cook my plastic, and I stir really well once it's heated to 350 to be sure it's well mixed. I've found that using a harder plastic to begin with is a lot easier, and more consistent. I pour most of my baits with Bait Junky's medium degassed plastisol, and use his soft for anything I'm adding lots of salt to, like Senkos.

You can use solvent based sharpies for accents and for painting on eyes and fins, if you heat set them first, and then shoot a coat of Createx Gloss Clear over them, before you put on your clear coat. Red and chartreuse are the worst offenders for bleeding. I sometimes don't put the Createx on, when I'm using red to mark the gills, and the color runs slightly when I dip and hang the baits, giving a bleeding effect. But I've never been able to control chartreuse enough to get it to do any special effects like that.

When I bought my 3-4 gallon compressor from Sears in the mid 70's, I added some compressor oil to the tank, to prevent rust, because I was using it for construction. When I began using it for air brush painting, I added an inline combination regulator and water trap, and I've never had any issues with either rust or oil in my painting. I still use the same compressor. If I could, I would use a corrosion-proof tank, but I don't think they are made, so I would suggest you drain your tank one a week, just to be on the safe side.

I sprayed it over a clear coat to achieve a soft texture, not as a finish.

Is this the spinnerbait you're looking for:

RM, I've also made large jointed swimbaits, 12"+, with AZEK decking. And smaller 7" four piece baits with their trim board. Home Depot doesn't stock either, but you can order it through their online store, and have it delivered to your local store, free, for you to pick up. I used to get it through my local lumber yard, but I moved, and haven't tried to do that up here yet. I am able to make thicker pieces by gluing thinner pieces together with either plumber's PVC primer and glue, or super glue, for smaller stuff.

You can also add glitter/flake to clear nail polish, and brush it onto wherever you want it. Just be sure to shake it well to keep the flake in suspension. It dries quickly, and you can epoxy over it afterwards. And you have no waste. I keep a bottle with red flake, and another with blue flake, on my workbench, and use it to add flake to jig heads.

Trex will sink like a rock. I use AZEK decking and trimboard. The decking is a little heavier and stronger, and it's about as buoyant as poplar. It's what I use for jointed swim baits, and two piece rats. Anything with a joint. The trimboard is as buoyant as med. balsa, and works great for cranks, wake baits, and any one piece lure. There are a variety of PVC trimboards and deckings on the market now, so you can probably find something that will work for you at Lowe's or some other home improvement store. RM, what are you using it for?

Nate's wife Debbie just posted this: I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and know you are in our thoughts and prayers. We know we continue to be in yours. We are still in the hospital. The pain seems to be controlled. However, Nate continues to be "interesting." Nate's slurring has increased. We hope his detailed description of these episodes will help them to diagnose the problem. I am trying to convince Nate it has nothing to do with being confined to a small room with me or the years of torment. We can't tell you how much your prayers mean to us.

I am a hobby pourer and don't have to get exact color matches from one batch to the next, so I don't write stuff down. I add my colors after I heat my plastic, so I can see how it's changing as I add it. I think you'll have to heat up a cup of plastic, and begin adding whatever chartreuse color you use, counting the drops you add until you get the shade you want. Then write it down, so you'll always know what you did to get the color you like. Mixing the colors well is important in getting consistent results. Lots of color pigments settle out, and pack at the bottom of the bottle, so you can get really weak coloring if you don't get those pigments back up into suspension. I just bought a Badger paint mixer that is for getting the hard pack back up into suspension. When it arrives, I'll use it on my colors as I use them. Badger 121 AirBrush Paint Mixer

I found adding chartreuse flake helps me get the color faster, and keeps it when it's heated.

Have you tried a UV finger nail polish light? http://www.ebay.com/sch/Nail-Dryers-UV-LED-Lamps/67653/bn_223831/i.html

Booooo!!!!

I clean the clear coat out of my hook hangers before it has a chance to harden. Much easier.

Nate's wife just posted this update: We are back in the hospital in Osage Beach. Nate is having pain similar to kidney stones. Concerned since it is all on the right side with the PE etc. We were here at the cardiologist yesterday and the doctor changed his blood thinner hoping it may have been the cause for the slurring of speech and dizziness, but to be honest he really did not think so. Please continue to keep him in your prayers and the doctors too as they work to figure him out! He continues to be "interesting!" Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We will make a memory here! XO ❤

Any glitter that worked for you with D2T should work with E tex, since they both have the same solvent. If you are turning your coated baits you may find the glitter migrates to the outer face. I would do a test with an old bait to see how it works. I always put two coats on when I used E tex, so you might be able to use it in the first coat, and then have the second coat smooth it out again.

I started out lurking, and learning, and asking questions, and today I'm.....poor!

If it does, you get the credit. If not, you get the blame!