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Yeah well, I'm in the fire business and hate it when someone asks "why is it taking so long to put the fire out". pete

A-Mac- beautiful little baits, how long are they and how heavy.The Bream here would blast these. pete

HHHHUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM - Does that include to Australia? pete

Diemai- great range of lures here and 100% for the video. I know what you mean about doing it yourself, I sometimes get strange looks testing in a storm water dams too. Well done, that 'Whirly Gig' caught my eye. pete

If you get a second coa on within 24 hours there is no need to sand, it will key onto the previous coat.pete

K/K what's the product, maybe someone has already gone down this track? - To get your buoyancy back do the opposite to ballasting, drill some largish holes in the TOP and cap them, has exactly the opposite result to adding lead. In fact if you are moulding them you could maybe add some styrene balls to the top of the mould cavity. pete

Finlander—I second all of the above, if these two guys can't solve this, nobody can-- From my experience with a dozen epoxies, when finishing urethanes and water based paints (acrylics) you have to seal them before you top coat, don't know why but suspect it has something to do with the retarders/ surfactants in these paints, or minute air bubbles rising from the surface of the wood, which may not have been sealed adequately, OR both. I don't bother second guessing epoxies any more and just seal the paint anyway, not matter what media - I painted 3 today with combinations of w/b acrylic, alcohol based acrylic and a thinner based clear colour, then sealed them with a alcohol based sealer – the thinners based clear colour would probably have done the job but it's not worth the risk. Just seal it with something, Artists Pastel sealer is good, so is clear shellac, and like RM and Phil say, don't touch it, wear some latex gloves and if it's really bad a condom-- ALSO see “Fatfingers' posts about Etex-Lite and how to apply, he's another master at finishing a lure. pete

Mark- it's like Matt (Rookie says) you blow it through a McDonalds straw Well nearly --- I have been playing with this for a while and am used to it , but if I were you I would experiment a bit first. Just get a piece of plastic tubing that fits snug over your A/B cap. I have used all sorts of tube but silicone is best as it will stretch a bit - cut it about 3/4" long and make sure the end (outside end) is square. Water down your paint to about the consistency of 'skim milk' and blast away, you get a pretty even coat of dots - BUT the thicker the paint the more inconsistent the dots, which go from specks to blobs. Coincidently I was using this technique today spraying a rod blank and it turned out all right (so far)- When you are finished, clean the tube and stick it in a safe place (amongst all the other junk on your bench!!) for your next painting adventure. pete

RG- If you go here - http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hardbait-how/16839-cleaning-repairing-your-airbrush.html And check out the 7th and 8th pics, you will see a cap I stand mine in (filled with denatured alcohol - or metho), the caps are off the SMALL tubes of silicone etc, push the brush into it and it seals pretty well - you can leave the brush soaking in it for days, just lift the needle slightly out of the tip and 'chuck it' so the alcohol (or whatever you want to use) can get in there and do it's job, put sonme in the bowl as well, attach the chrome cap and seal the bleed hole with a piece of tape to stop the evaporation from the bowl - works for me. pette

Who knows Mark, I always thought it might be to decrease the vacuum at the rear of the tip so it would be less likely to have paint build up here ???????????? anyway it's good to hold the tube and aerate while spatter painting.pete

There is even more reason here, I saw some CD Rapala 'Brown Trout' (2 1/4" - 3 1/4") for $22.95 (US$20) in K-Mart the other week - once you get the weight and template right, you can probably make 4 an hour, that's about $80 (US$72) an hour plus hooks. They are great lures, but the way trout waters can make them disappear, I'm all for making my own.pete

Check this out, it may be helpful.pete http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/docks/18274-top-coat-teasts.html

Here is some tests of some popular top coats on 'bed wood' trays, what we would call a Ute Tray Back here?? Whatever you call them, it's a pretty tough life out there. Follow the links at the bottom as the coatings change and the tests continue over a couple of years from basic clears to 2 part epoxies with auto clears over. Lots of reading and a few surprises in this 'Real World ' test.pete Wood Finish Testing - Testing of different wood finish products

I have used this one (Pelucid-"Por15") and it is pretty good except for the moisture cure problems (same as D.N) and the price- I suggest you look for a Pelucid site there without the 'au' on the web address, you will probably find it is a lot cheaper than here.pete See PPC • Restoration Specialists • Pelucid Here ya go, I found it , ALSO in a spray can!!!!!!!!! wahoooo- http://www.por15.com/PELUCID/productinfo/PELG/

Check this out - nobody hurt and this would be 500 mile from anywhere, very lucky boys.pete Fishnet | Forums

In the distant past I used to make rod grips from champagne corks, it's easy and nearly as good as the store bought grips (better then factory grips) - sound's stupid I know but at the price of cork here - believe me like everywhere else, Portugal is a long way from here, it's really worth making your own -------------------- Plus, making anything rather than buying it, for me is priceless????. As a lot of you would know it's a heap of work making a tutorial, so is anyone interested ??? The 'Melbourne Cup' is on in 2 weeks, so there will be heaps of Champagne, drunk women, and free cork (grips) round here - AND I am about to make my first rod in 20 years, cause I am sick of waiting for one I ordered 2 months back - Pete

Finn - Gene pushed me over and I hit my head on a brick wall (bully), it was an accident .pete

Here's the Th Movie, check out the 'street vortices' Dave . Technology Review: Videos And here's the story- Technology Review: Robofish I think maybe they could learn something from being 'Members' of TU - .pete

TJ - It;s supposed to be slower down here, does that mean you live longer??.pete

Dick - As you would know we can't get your top coat here - BUT I have used a coating that is very similar or the same called Pelucid here, maybe they can help you out??.pete PPC

Thanks again everyone, I had a few beers last night (NOT Fosters)- Milia, I appreciate your thoughts, after all you are only human:drool:.pete