reallison

Thanks, I will try the grain scale. I sell a lot of translucent finishes where there is very little weight gain from paint. I use KBS and any more than two coats begins to envelope and erase some body lines like in the gills and mouth area. I have exhausted my remedies other than hooks and I do feel I’m on the right path. Am I the only one that struggles with this?

One other thing I would like to mention about the blanks, I’ve got blanks from several different vendors. They all look the same, in fact, I drove to one seller and weighed them before I bought them. They weighed 11.7 to 11.9 g which was what I was looking for. All painted up, rigged them to my target weight of 14.7g and it shot up out the tank like a rocket. Under further inspection, with the help of some calipers, the belly was much wider than the ones I had been using. I got to 15.9g and still never got it to perform correctly. I’ve got several bags from different vendors that are useless, Th original guy I got the ones I could manage sold out and the replacements were no good either. I will not mention names. the fatter the lure, the more air inside, thus more buoyant. Weight is out the window when this happens. It’s not noticeable at first glance.

Hey Az, thanks for the recommendations. I know my weights raw, with paint, and with each addition of clear. I know the weights of each split ring size, I know the weight of my hooks. I need 0.2 or 0.3 grams extra and I’m trying to find that in a hook. I need more weight not less. I’m balancing out by adding an extra #1 split ring to the middle eye. I would like to stop doing that and that’s why I’m looking for heavier hooks. My target weight is 14.7g to make it a slow rise in my test tank. If you say well the Vision 110s suspend you are incorrect, put one in a tank or sink without line attached. I know my 110s and I’m probably one of the few that even test them before selling them. If someone has #6 nickel round bend hooks in a standard shank that can be bought in bulk could you please weigh three of them together and let me know what they weigh? also what type and where I can buy them in bulk if possible. TY.

It is one of the most frustrating baits to deal with in the entire industry, at least for me. Everyone sells them but there are many differences between the ones offered. My primary question is where can I get some standard shank #6 hooks that weigh a few grams more than the Mustad KVD Triple grips? I’m within about 0.1 or 0.2 grams of getting it right. I have tried all snap ring combinations, I can’t add another layer of clear, so the hooks are all that’s left I guess. Three (3) triple grips weigh 1.3 grams. If I can find a round bend, standard shank hook that when you weigh three of them they come up more than the 1.3 I’m at now would be awesome. any recommendations?

It is one of the most frustrating baits to deal with in the entire industry, at least for me. Everyone sells them but there are many differences between the ones offered. My primary question is where can I get some standard shank #6 hooks that weigh a few grams more than the Mustad KVD Triple grips? I’m within about 0.1 or 0.2 grams of getting it right. I have tried all snap ring combinations, I can’t add another layer of clear, so the hooks are all that’s left I guess. Three (3) triple grips weigh 1.3 grams. If I can find a round bend, standard shank hook that when you weigh three of them they come up more than the 1.3 I’m at now would be awesome. any recommendations?

little confusion this morning but yes that the one. will order when warts restock. thanks.

the yo zuri D65 blanks that is.

I've been seeing them pop up from several painters.

thanks for the tips guys.

What do you guys do about the 3D eyes on the bait you are about to repaint?

I hate that for them and was afraid something like that might have happened. I've dealt with him before and no problems at all.

Has anyone dealt with bustinbassbaits.com lately? Bryan Desmarais? Order was placed on 2/22, he accepted my payment and haven't heard a word from him since. Ive sent 5 emails asking for an update and have received no response. Just wondering.

Does anyone know where a guy could get a hold of some shallow lil john blanks?

ordered

hard to find but have seen them popping up lately.

I recently experienced leaking 1.5s I bought from a reputable seller. I reported the problem to them but he has not got back with me. You cant tell they leak until you've painted them and epoxied them. When you remove them from the drying wheel a small volcano like mound has developed on the nose right in the center on where I presume it is seamed together. Same place on each blank. Only 3 out of 12 leaked but Ive got about 20 left and to see a good paint job lost due to this is discouraging.

Mr. Paulson, thank you so much for responding. Ive read every post on here and not one has given dead on advise like you just did. I only do plastic baits, and work in a back room in the house. I do have a makeshift exhaust fan. I think I could get by with the nail polish fumes, but I am not familiar with concrete sealer so could I use this inside the house? Also, to be clear you said 2 coats of concrete sealer OR clear nail polish? What kind of curing time with the 2 products?

I use Createx paint and apply two thick coats of D2T. I am not at all satisfied with the durability. Could someone please advise. If I have bubbles, which I always do have one here and there, then I sand them and reapply a second coat. Breech is occurring somehow and chunks come in missing at times...

When I first got the notion to try and sell some of my painted baits, i realized that finding the right clear is a more difficult process than painting them. Prior to marketing my baits I used several automotive clears, in fact we cleared them in the paint booth at the body shop. Looked real good but a few encounter with the rocks made me look in other directions. I tried several epoxies and then followed the advise of a lot of bait artist and went with the Devcon 2T 30 minute epoxy. I used one coat, banged the rocks and had some issues still. Now I apply 2 heavy coats of D2T and my worries of cracked clear are all but gone. I am a small operation so I only mix for one bait at a time. Sometimes on the second coat I can get two baits. Call me old fashion but my worst nightmare is a customer calling saying the clear came off. Mine is definitely not coming off. FYI.

I've found realistic wraps and jigskinz but still not finding the shad pattern I'm looking for. Anyone know of any other suppliers?

Hi guys, I went through two of the plastic squeeze bottles for airbrush cleaning, they crack at the base of where the top screws on. I tried something and I think it works great. Chances are you or most likely someone you know has them sitting around. Contact Cleaning Solution Bottles. Just passing it on.

No bubbles, then all the sudden bubbles! I recently started using acetone to clean the epoxy from my brush so I can reuse it. I am also dealing with a seasonal temp change. Moved in to warmer room and still getting them. Any clues about the acetone?

anyone making blanks for these?