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DSV Here's a soup up - 'Home brew Tools' is full of good info to save you: http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hardbait-how/16839-cleaning-repairing-your-airbrush.html Here's how to regrind them: How To Fix A Bent Airbrush Needle - Video Hope you havn't split the tip, can't help you there.pete

Rob from the expanded PVC I have used in the 'white sign board' area, even this varies in density / buoyancy and for some applications (just floating and neutral lures) this becomes a problem as the amount of lead needed to overcome the buoyancy gets ridiculous which also has an effect on the finished lures action. So IMO it has good and bad points, but the real pro is its durability and ease of working, although a con is, I struggle to find something easy and waterproof for an initial sealer.pete

Great story Rob, I can nearly picture this and you will get laughs from this story for years. I had a Sea Eagle all but pick up one of my Mullet lures a couple of days back while fishing a coastal lake. I could see him eyeing it off and diving, but could not do anything but crank as fast as I could, the lure was a floater ! ! - the eagle broke off about 2' off the water and 10' from the boat, I thought we were going to cop 8' of eagle wings and talons in the face. Herons/ Eagles, whatever, they have amazing eyesight, this bird, it's partner and offspring had been working that part of hte lake from about 150' all morning, caught more fish then we did, amazing to watch (from a distance) - Pete

Finally found some of this decking (called 'Modwood' in Australia), seems it is affected by the heat and is not so good out here, but I will be sourcing some at the weekend to save them from ruin, and give them a new outlet for their product------------- 'Swim Baits' Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!.pete Here's a link to a woodworking forum (the best around) for you guys, there is some good advice in here and some good coatings too: pvc decking - Woodwork Forums

John - that test tank sounds like a good idea, at least you can mesmerise them with the action. If you can't sell them there you would have no chance here, I keep telling them we (Australian makers) are in the dark ages here and I just get ignored for the most part - even my little 3 1/2" swim bait is an oddity, although I think something bigger, say 5-6" would be a snack for a Murray Cod (up to 100 lb) which have not trouble cleaning up a large Carp, but lure makers here seem to be stuck in the eighties, "it works so why change it". Another problem we would have here and I am sure there, is everyone would be thinking nice lures at $50, now all I need to do is swindle another $50 off the misses for a rod to cast it, and this is where his fantasy stops - maybe make some smaller ones, and like you say a test tank would be a good way to show any of your beauties off - There is some things you can do to shorten the work time taken in making these smaller 'swim baits', you may have simplify the hinges.pete

DSV- when you thin w/b acrylics too much you also dilute the binder in it, so this is why it breaks up and beads. If you use a cheap acrylic you get cheap (coarse) pigments etc, so when you dilute it you need to use 4 coats to get the same colour density as you would using probably 2 coats of air brush paint or good quality artists acrylics - there is a point in any w/b paints dilution where the binders will not bind any more, so get some 'matte medium' and mix a drop or two in your diluted colours. As for a dilution medium,since KF informed us of the downsides of Windex, I have weaned myself off it and just use water with a few drops of detergent added (2 drops to 1/2 pint), this stops thinned paint from beading, sometimes I just use straight water if I want a beading effect. For cleaning I still use Denatured Alcohol, because it is missable with water I leave it in the brush all the time, so it generally does it's good work down in the bowels of the brush between uses - JUST FLUSH IT OUT WITH WATER BEFORE use, as it will curdle acrylic paint.pete

Hey Phil- sorry for the delay I have been away to the coast for a week fishing (actually nearly two) - I will PM you. pete

K.F- I just read this and I am stunned, your daughter looks like a slightly younger version of mine! ! I feel sorry for you, these a... holes never lose, he will be back because when they get out they have nowhere else to go, and only his mother would have him. Sounds like he has been the centre of attention all his life and can't handle the back seat for a change. I sincerely hope your daughter gets over this, both mentally and physically, and maybe take a bit more notice of her dad occasionally. Hang in there - go and do some painting.. pete

Ray - It's been a while since we have seen someone so enthusiastic and with so many posts, hang in there and let us know where you are up to with this . We are all worried about finishes etc (including me), BUT jigs and stencils, IMO are a much neglected item on this and all other forums, without them what's the good of a flash top coat....pete

Gee Ray that's a nice looking lure, great colours - Looks like you have some contamination - dirty fingers, been spraying some Teflon oil in your locks, deep fryin Bass fillets, whatever its probably oil based, if you sweat a lot it could be yours - wear some latex gloves and try not to touch the surface after you have started painting, I used to have the same problem so bought a dozen 'Haemostat's" to hold them and keep my sweaty palms away from them, no more problems. K/F might have a more precise reason for this-pete

Here you go , a nice Iwata HP .2mm Hiline only $415. Thieves - pete Airbrushes

DAVE Before everyone else asks - What are you using for a top coat? must be good -AND congrats on your mates success with your lures, they must be just as good.pete

Ray- if you do a search "vacuum stencils" , you will get: http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hard-baits/16575-vacuum-former.html which from memory covers it pretty well. I have been meaning to make something to do this, rather then making stencils with a heat gun - as you say they save heaps of time. Let us know how you go. pete

I have found this foam to be problematic in that it is a bit too buoyant for these type lures, ( I only make 3"- 4" lures though), the big problem is stoking enough lead in to get the lure near neutral, you just run out of space - I would be looking a a more dense piece of wood, this way you use a lot less lead- Just my two bob's worth.pete

One millimetre poly punches quite easily and can be cut with scissors - unless you want 1000's, it would hardly be worth it??????????pete

It's just after 19:00 here and there has just been another BIG earthquake 150ml S/West of Java, not sure where in Indonesia Dave (Vodkaman) lives but he is conspicuous by his absence for this time of day - Keeping my fingers crossed for all of them, the last two big ones were disasters.pete

CT - In the past couple of years I have used 2 - 4 and 6 rpm 'Microwave' motors and I think the 6 was the best of these - Recently I got hold of a motor off anti blood clotting machine, it does 16 rpm and produces the best finishes I have ever had - coincidently this is about the speed 'rod finishers' seem to use. I generally make 2" - 3" lures, so be aware if making larger lures (6" and up) tip speed may be a problem with these revs.pete