Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I have refinished some old Tenn. Tuffy's and they crack after a few cast. I strip the bait down to the wood and seal it, prime, and than paint. What is causing it to crack. I also had this happen to an old Poe bait too. Any help??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackjack Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 moisture is usually the culprit, whether it be from an external source or internal. need to know exactly what you are doing with sealer, primer and finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I let the bait soak in the sealer for Aprox 30 min. Than I let it dry for 1 day and sand it. After I sand it I soak it again. Than I prime it. Once that dries I lightly sand it and prime it one more time and lightly sand again. Than I spray a base coat, put the colors on and spray the clear. I use an automotive clear and will spray 3 to 4 coats before it is finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflures Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 sounds as though you are going about it right. What type of paint are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I use lac. paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflures Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 you may be having issues with the paint and clear coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 The big issue I have it that I can paint 3 Tenn. Tuffy's and 1 or 2 will crack. But not the 3rd. I don't understand this at all. I know that I am new to this but my Dad owns a cabinet shop and restores old cars. So I have been around lots of different paints over the years. He does not know what is going on either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 If you're refinishing baits that didn't crack before, water is penetrating the finish and cracking the wood. If the cracking is near the tail, I would suspect a leak around the hook hanger. I'd consider waterproofing the bait with a 50/50 solution of Devcon Two Ton epoxy and acetone before applying the finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 When they crack you can see a hair line in the wood where the crack was. And some places the paint is not even reallt stuck to the wood that well but in other places you can't get it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 All the cracks seem to be coming from the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Thank you for the imput so far. What are some other types of sealer that I could use. I have been using a vinyl sealer. I have seen where some are using an epoxy sealer too. What is best to use? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 The water will eventually evaporate out and the bait will shrink. There is often no straightforward way to determine where the leak was because baits absorb water differently according to the grain pattern and the density of the wood, and internal pressure from expanding wood easily trashes the finish in various places. But water leaked in somewhere and you'll have to waterproof the bait completely to prevent it happening again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Strip it and let it dry for a week in a warm place. Moisture can be wicked deep into wood, and not find it's way out until it's trapped and turns to vapor, which will lift the finish or cause the wood to swell and crack the finish. You could also try dipping it in alcohol and then letting it dry. Repeat several times. Alcohol draws moisture out of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 what sealer are you using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kribman Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 I someone feared that they have perhaps gotten eater into a bait, could they dip it in alcohol on order to get any possible moisture out? I don't feel like going further with it unless I know it will be there for the long run... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benton B Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Net Man, here is my method for sealing. I rub a coat of super glue on the bait and let dry. Sand and repeat that process, then apply a coat of devcon 2t thinned with denatured alcohol and let cure for 24 hrs. Soaking the bait in sealer might be what is causing your problem, you may need to wait several days before painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Benton's probably right. Soaking a piece of wood does let the sealer penetrate deeper, but it will take longer to get rid of the solvents/carrier. Now my opinions are those of a hobbiest, not a professional. I don't sell my lures, just make them for me and my friends, so I don't have to worry about customer satisfaction. So take them for what their worth, not as gospel. It seems to me that soaking a lure is a waste of time if you're going to clear coat it with epoxy. The epoxy is water proof, and, if it gets nicked while I'm fishing, I keep fishing anyway, and then hang the lure to dry and recoat or touchup the epoxy after I get home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Netman, your original post said you sealed/primed/painted it. Didn't say you applied a durable clearcoat afterwards. I hope that was an ommision? Waterproof the bait with 50/50 epoxy/acetone first, then paint it, then use the same epoxy (not thinned with acetone) for a durable clearcoat. Your problems should be over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Yes I do clear my baits but I use an Automotive Clear Coat and normally put 3 to 4 coats on each bait. After working with plastic baits too I have noticed that the clear is very tough. So I am not sure that it is the clear coat causing the problem. But I am look at the new seal coat from CS to start using. Thank you for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Net Man, Let me make this simple. You will have to strip and dry your bait. Once the bait is dry, then wipe on one or two coats of polyurethane and let it dry overnight. Once it is dry, lightly sand to smooth out. Then paint your bait and clearcoat. If something cracks, then more than likely your are missing something when clearcoating. Water won't hurt plastic if it gets to it. But it will wood. If you really want to make the bare wood completly sealed, then polyurethane the lure, dry, sand, and then clearcoat the lure with Devcon. Then shoot the paint straight onto the Devcon and clearcoat the lure. If you do it right....NO water will ever get to the wood. A stripped down Poes can take the extra weight of the Devcon. Original Tuffys are balsa....... balsa can handle with no problem. But it is extremely important that the wood is COMPLETELY dry, otherwise no matter what you seal or clearcoat with the lure will eventually crack. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 What is this Devcon that everyone is talking about? Devcon 2T?? I have looked for this but I am not really sure what to be looking for. I know that sounds dumb but they make sealer and epoxy and all sorts of stuff. What Devcon do you use for the final clear coat and what Devcon do you use for sealing a bait? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokeyJ Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 What you want is Devcon 2 Ton Epoxy Remember, don't get the 5 minute epoxy, get the 2 Ton which has a 30 minute working time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Net Man Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 So you use this as the top coat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benton B Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Yes that is the product that a lots of the builders here use as a clear coat. Just make sure you mix it real good and apply with a brush. You will have to rotate the bait for about 20 min to make sure the epoxy levels out while it cures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
