Too much powder

[chas48]

Im sure its on here before but the search engine didnt find what Im looking for.

When I dunk my jigs in the powder coat, they come out with too much paint on them.........is this a heat thing?

[HJS]

Need more info.

-How do you heat the lead heads? An oven set at 350F for 15 minutes works great. A torch does work but is too unpredictable.

-Jig heads that are too hot collect too much powder paint (PP).

-Must shake (fluff-up) PP after every couple of dips otherwise the PP is prone to caking on jig head.

-Swish jig head quickly thru PP than instantly tap off excess.

-Excess PP on jig head will sag during the curing process.

PP is great stuff and won't melt in contact of soft plastics. Hard as nails. But, as with everything in life, there is a learning curve.

[maltrout]

I had the same problem when I started powder painting my jigs. The #1 thing you can do and it is well worth it is to buy a fluid bed. It makes a huge difference, you get a nice thin coat and it comes out flawless every time.

[LedHed]

A FB is a good investment (easy enough to make one) for single colors. Try to standardize your pre heating routine. Another good investment is a hot air gun (heat gun).

[rhahn427]

If you are using a candle or a heat gun or torch you have to guestimate the temp and experiment. First if you don't have a fluid bed then take your PP container and shake it to make sure the paint is fluffed and not packed. I usually start with a holding the lure in the heat source while counting till I think it is right temp and and dipping it and then making adjustments by adding or subtracting in the count. Usually only need to dip a couple to get it right.

If it is still clumping then try drying the paint a little and putting it in a small coffee/spice grinder to break it up a little ........ moisture in PP will make it heavier and tend to clump

Edited May 16, 2008 by rhahn427

[chas48]

A FB is a good investment (easy enough to make one) for single colors. Try to standardize your pre heating routine. Another good investment is a hot air gun (heat gun).

how do uo make one?

[psv]

I had the same problem before. Now I use artist brush to put powder on jigs. Result is perfect.(I do jigs for personal use only, about 100 jigs 3-4 times per year. Speed is not an issue in my case.

You can buy FB from Benjamin (Dayooper), who is a member of TU and has the one of the best prices for FB and Pro-Tec powder.

Hope it helps.

Regards, PSV

[LedHed]

chas48

PM cadman for a tutorial.

PM me your snail mail and I can hook you up with some micro mesh screen for the cup.

[HJS]

chas - Look in the "Homebrew Tools" forum located at the bottom of the list of different forums. Fluidizer beds are discussed in many threads. You might need to go back several pages to see them all, but its all there and worth looking at. If you're only going into dipping jigs for yourself, maybe couple dozen at a time, then just shaking the jar of PP after every couple of jigs and that might be adequate.

Edited May 16, 2008 by HJS

[jimcline]

LedHed, I am looking for the micro mesh too. Address is PO Box 572, Lynchburg, OH 45142.I would really appreciate any help you can give. Thanks in advance, JIM

[LedHed]

Jim

Sent you a PM.

[cadman]

Guys,

If you are looking for micro-mesh PM LedHead for fluid bed media. I also have a tutorial on how to make a fluid bed if you are handy in the tool department. If you just want to buy one, go to TJ's tackle, Benjamin will sell you one straight out of the box, ready to go. You can't beat the price, and he's a really nice guy to deal with. If you want to learn how to powder paint take a look at Tj's video on his website. An excellent tutorial. I also have a tutorial if you are interested. PM me. The more information you get, the better you will be at it. All of this takes time and practice. So don't get discouraged, someone on this site will help you out.

[gat0r]

I have powders that are clumping and some that don't clump at all. All stored in the same place (a cabinet inside the house in our utility room). I'm curious what I've done that has caused some of the powder to clump and some not to. And what I can do with the "clumpy" powder to make it useable again. I've sifted a lot of it with a sifter but come back the next day and it's clumpy again. The result is you get paint that melts onto your jig way too thick in places. I to the point of wanting to throw it all out and buy powder again. Problem is I've got a couple pounds of a couple colors doing this. Frustrating so I appreciate any help here. For the record I always seal my paint in either their original bin or in screw tight plastic containers for dipping. I shake vigorously and flip the container just before dipping to get the loosest powder on top. But a few of my colors is just doesn't matter.

[cadman]

I have powders that are clumping and some that don't clump at all. All stored in the same place (a cabinet inside the house in our utility room). I'm curious what I've done that has caused some of the powder to clump and some not to. And what I can do with the "clumpy" powder to make it useable again. I've sifted a lot of it with a sifter but come back the next day and it's clumpy again. The result is you get paint that melts onto your jig way too thick in places. I to the point of wanting to throw it all out and buy powder again. Problem is I've got a couple pounds of a couple colors doing this. Frustrating so I appreciate any help here. For the record I always seal my paint in either their original bin or in screw tight plastic containers for dipping. I shake vigorously and flip the container just before dipping to get the loosest powder on top. But a few of my colors is just doesn't matter.

Gator, I have several hundred pounds of powder at home, and I have never had any clump up. I have heard this happen before. There were some posts on this awhile back. Somebody said to use the moisture packs to pull moisture out of the powder. I am assuming that it does work, but I can't say. Try a search to see if you find it. One thing for sure don't heat the powder. Heat acivates the powder for adhesion, too hot, and you will throw the powder away. You can take your powder in a bowl and crush it like the old time pharmacists used to do. BTW what brand of powder is it? Just curious. That's about all the help I can give you. Maybe someone else can chime in with their experience on this.

[gat0r]

I've tried a lot of things to unclump the powders. I have sifted them with a large bakers sifter. When I tilt the sifted powder up to pour it back into the container, it's already clumpy. I've tried putting them in a large bowl and crushing them with the sifter (like reverse sifting).

I'm assuming old Rx used a mortar and pestal. IS that how your suggesting crushing this powder?

I know the powder has moisture in it. I saw Gloomisman's post about using a dehumidifier. I don't have one unfortunately. I am going to try the silica packets in the powder containers though. See if that helps.

My brands are Pro-Tec and CC. Some of both are clumped and some of both are not clumped which is what perplexes me. Seems to be more about color as others have stated in other posts i searched. Watermelon is the worst. I mix Watermelon with brown for a real nice Green Pumpkin. I sometimes do two colors on jigs and I've been double dunking. but some of my second dunks are clumping which leads to dripping in the oven.

I think I'm going to try the brush option and sprinkle on. I've used a sifter and "tapped" powder effects on to jigs with good results but it sometimes makes your finish look uneven.

Thanks for the assist Cadman. Did a lot of searching last night.

Edited July 4, 2008 by gat0r

[cadman]

I've tried a lot of things to unclump the powders. I have sifted them with a large bakers sifter. When I tilt the sifted powder up to pour it back into the container, it's already clumpy. I've tried putting them in a large bowl and crushing them with the sifter (like reverse sifting).

I'm assuming old Rx used a mortar and pestal. IS that how your suggesting crushing this powder?

I know the powder has moisture in it. I saw Gloomisman's post about using a dehumidifier. I don't have one unfortunately. I am going to try the silica packets in the powder containers though. See if that helps.

My brands are Pro-Tec and CC. Some of both are clumped and some of both are not clumped which is what perplexes me. Seems to be more about color as others have stated in other posts i searched. Watermelon is the worst. I mix Watermelon with brown for a real nice Green Pumpkin. I sometimes do two colors on jigs and I've been double dunking. but some of my second dunks are clumping which leads to dripping in the oven.

I think I'm going to try the brush option and sprinkle on. I've used a sifter and "tapped" powder effects on to jigs with good results but it sometimes makes your finish look uneven.

Thanks for the assist Cadman. Did a lot of searching last night.

Yes, the old mortar and pestal, but that is time consuming, and I don't know if that will solve your problem.

I don't have an answer for you on this. Has this been happening from day one when you got the paint? Maybe it's bad paint, but I doubt it. It seems like a moisture or humidity problem. I never double dunk different colors. The reason being is exactly the problem you are having with your paint dripping while baking. Too much powder on the jig. I only put on a base coat by dipping or my fluid bed. Eveything else goes on by my tapping method..........Check your PM.........BTW that was the post I was referring to, with the silica packets.

Edited July 4, 2008 by cadman