A-Mac

Vandy, I've had a couple recent issues with Solarez. I agree, they can't take the beating. If I am grinding rocks all day, the coat will eventually fail. The ease of use and price point is fantastic (and still worth using for that reason), but I find it lacking (too brittle) when compared to epoxy or DN coatings.

Great article Dave. I dig the engineering point of view. I now understand why (at least part of the reason) why my lures hunt! This reminds me of using my gopro camera on fishing trips. When I go back and see what I did to get the fish to bite, it all makes sense! However, I'm still intrigued with the rythmic hunt. From what you've experienced, is this action more reliant on the lure body shape? Do you consistently get rythmic hunters or is it a mixed bag of rythmic/erratic. To further define what I'm considering rythmic, I consider the side to side behavior to be like that of a metronome. Consistent, on time, syntonic action. I consider erratic to still be side to side action, but random timing.

http://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/19-LT0004A-P17001C4090.aspx This one in particular caught my eye. I called them up, the quart version isn't aerosol.

I saw LifeTone products on several taxidermy sites. Anybody have experience using these top-coat products?

I'm disapointed to only see water temps hit the 40s for a few days... just as the jerkbait bite gets going! My avatar fish (8.3lbs) came on one of those "cold" January days!

Another note on DN, depending on the humidity of your environment a dehumidifier may be necessary... As in one you can use for your garage. I borrowed one from a contractor bud over the winter in Texas (ha, that's an oxymoron) and it seemed to help out a bunch (for clears, paints, and even pouring resins). I wouldn't rush out to buy one, but if you happen to have one I'd suggest using it. When I lived in Oregon, I did not have a dehumidifier and couldn't get DN to come out right for about 6 months out of the year when the rainy season was in.

It's worth a shot! There is a reason why I still use the circular lip, the fish eat it! Of course, I've never tried the circular lip on a minnow body either. The line tie on my lures is much closer to the lip, which maybe line tie distance from the lip is an attribute to rythmic hunting? My apologies Dave, my square bill reference was came across as "all encompassing" but was intended to refer to mass manufactured square bills like Lucky Crafts/strike king. You read about pros referring to these lures "hunting" in magazines, but I've never had one do anything out of the norm.... not to take away from their fish catching abilities though.

I've been using the circular lip for a while. I like the action, but it is a major PITA to tune. There seems to be less stability, which is great for an erratic hunt, but you could spend several minutes tweaking a lure (at least on mine). Each lure is obviously different though. The hardest part is getting that circular lip lined up even in the lure. It will drive you crazy, and if it is off at all then the lure is a fail. The circular lips deflect well, but they do not seem to be the best if you are grinding bottom. The square bills seem to track truer for this, but then again they don't hunt near as much (if at all, in my opinion ) either. Different lures for different application. I have not been able to get the rhythmic hunt though.

That's a cool video, and a great way to market! I've been trying to find prices on their stuff, but haven't found anything.

The label paper I'm using is from Staples brand name Avery. I wish I would have known about the 3m product. 3M has a tendency to make their adhesive tapes dang near permanent! I've done a couple tests on Popsicle sticks so far. My first test I brushed DN directly over the label, and the ink smeared off. My second test (currently underway), I sprayed some Folk Art clear gloss over the label, nuked it good with a hairdryer, and then brushed the DN on it. The second test did not reveal any ink being smeared (yet). I only did this about 20 minutes ago. I'm hesitant to spray the whole sheet of labels yet. Plus, I think a clear coat over the label while it is on the lure may help smooth the seam line and prevent DN from trying to lift the label. For those interested, I made my labels using Paint, Powerpoint, and Publisher. I used Paint to make my signature, which took a huge amount of time (Aaron McAlexander) and was incredibly difficult! After I got it looking the way I wanted, I copied the image and pasted it in Powerpoint. I made a text box with my lure name and year (Nickle-2013). I then "grouped" the signature image with the text box, so that they become one image. I copied the image from Powerpoint into publisher. I set the size of the image to be 0.50" wide (right click => format picture). I then proceeded to paste a couple hundred signatures on the single sheet. Publisher allows you to square up each image too (it shows guidelines).

I do not have the lure in hand yet. I know the guy has been catching quite a few fish on them, but he pretty much explained it that one cast it was "fine", and the next a majority of the paint came back peeled off. He said on his other lure from me (also solarez) that it has a couple cracks from throwing in rocks but that the paint is staying in place so far. I am using white createx as my base. I haven't found a primer for resin lures yet that I though adhered to the lure any better. I told him I'd repaint it for him. Chips are one thing, but if the paint scheme is all coming off then I feel obligated to make it right. I switched back over to DN recently... I forgot how much I hate that stuff too! But at least your lure is indestructible with it.

I've just had a person (that recently purchased one of my lures coated with solarez) say that the paint job just peeled off. I've had a couple issues, but nothing to that extent. Anybody else have this happen? These are over my resin lures too.

That looks awesome! So that was done with a 3d printer? How long does it take it to make? I'd be very interested in seeing a video. Is it a buoyant material, or is it hollow?

I feel embarrassed about asking about this, because I'm sure it is somewhere in TU cyberspace. I'm wanting to print labels for my lures. I am hoping to just use transparent label paper to do this. However, everything I pulled up related to decal paper. Is there a reason why I should not use the adhesive backed label paper? Also, should I spray a clear over the ink too? Krylon? I was planning on using these on some lures I plan to use DN on. Thanks!

Pay special attention to this! The more coats, the glossier the finish. But you must wait at least 24hrs!

I have a badger 360. I think I'm using their "medium" size needle, but I use this airbrush exclusively and swap between several types of paint in a given session. With lures, fine details with an airbrush (free hand) are very difficult and results vary considerably depending on the paint (especially with pearls, imo). I find stencil making to be the limiting factor these days. I may use a half dozen stencils on one lure, but this provides control and precision that is hard (or impossible) to acquire with free hand. Good stencils will also prevent you from needing to change needle sizes too.

Yeah, I can see it having potential with a walk-the-dog lure.

Before you even crack the can, I would have several jars ready to put the DN in. I use salsa jars with good success. If you have a can of dry gas to blanket the product, it will help with storage too. But yeah, get several jars ready and as soon as you open the lid divide the product. You don't have to pour out the entire quart, but just remember the more times you crack the can the greater the chance of having an air leak. I also suggest turning your Salsa jars upside down when you are done with them. Good luck! Great product, it just sucks if the whole can turns on you!

I've had a couple color schemes (bone especially) get warped from Solarez. It is irritating. I agree with lnrll, I'm having similar issues. I still find Solarez awesome for filling in ballast holes though!

My lures have a substantial amount of hunt anyway. Perhaps if you have a straight line running lure it would work. I didn't even get a wobble out of mine though.

I tried something simple, just turned the line tie horizontal. I figured it would let it kick out more. EPIC FAIL!

I am so so jealous of your toys!

These guys are going to make bank.