Powder paint finishing questions

[Termite]

Two questions here, what are the best ways to

1) clean the hook eye before baking?

2) Clean out the weed guard hole prior to baking?

I drilled out the weed guard holes on a half doz. tonight but I thought maybe there was a better/ easier way. Thanks!

Mark

[reeves]

Termite,

To clean out the hook eye, I use a piece of SS spinnerbait wire. Find a size that just passes through the hook eye, not too loose and not too tight, that's the one you want. Right after you dip in the powder, remove and pass the wire through the hook eye, rotate it as it passes through. You will clean out any powder paint melted into the eye. By rotating it as you pass the wire through will often cause the paint to spiral around the wire and you will really clean the eye. Bake and make sure they are all clear. Should solve your problem.

As for the weedguard hole, I use teflon pins. After heating the jig I insert the teflon pin and immediately dip in powder. As soon as I remove the jig from the powder, I remove the teflon pin before the powder paint has a chance to dry (important), rotate it when removing also as this will give you a clean edge around the hole removing any paint that has gotten on the pin. You now have a super clean hole for your weedguard, no drilling or cleaning out of any kind needed.

Your next question will be . . . 'where do I get these teflon pins'? They can be found at McMaster-Carr . . . www.mcmaster.com

Search for 'PTFE teflon rod' and locate the size you need. These pins can also be used when pouring your jig. Place them in the mold where the metal pin normally would be. They remove from the jig with little effort compared to the metal one and they furnish the same size hole. Heat does not damage this stuff.

Hope this helps.

[Termite]

Thanks for the info, that should do the trick. I should have mentioned in my first post, the reason I need a different way to clean out the weed guard hole is that while I was drilling them I cracked the paint around the hole messing up the paint job.

Thanks!

Mark

[smalljaw]

I use 1/8" dowel rod I got from home depot, I cut the rod into 1" pieces and after I heat the jig I place the dowel rod in the hole and dip the jig. The nice thing about that is the paint doesnt stick to the dowel.

[charmerbaits]

There is actually a tool out that many places sell specifically for cleaning out hook eyes. I use this tool after powdercoatting before baking and have no problems. After I clean the eye I have made some hooks that I insert through the hook eye then hang on the racks I've made for the oven. This allows any excess paint to run down the shaft of the hook instead of setting on the head.

Charlie

[Pup]

clean the hook eye before baking?

I use an old battery-powered tool called a "Mister Buster". A drill with a tiny bit actually. It's been distributed by Mister Twister.

Edited December 23, 2008 by Pup

[IDbasser]

This is what I use. Use before baking in the oven to clean out the eyes. It works well.

Bass Pro Shops Jig Eye Cleaner

[Basseducer]

Termite,

I use high temp teflon tape over the eye before I dip and take it right after. The tape prevents any paint from getting on the eye at all. I figure a few seconds spent taping the eye up front equals a few seconds running wires throught the eye and chipping paint afterwards. The good part is that you don't have to worry about getting it all because there wasn't any paint on the eye to begin with. You will also find that if you drill the weedguard hole after you bake the paint won't chip. Works for me.

[BLT]

I just have a box of those round tooth picks and after I dip, run the tooth pick in as far as it goes really quick. Use for a few jigs each side, grab another one.

[GCD]

I've found that for me, trying to clean the jig eye out while painting is awkward and drags out the painting process. I like to paint all my jigs first and then clean out the eye before curing.

I use the needle sharp cabide tip of a concrete backerboard cutting tool (available at Home Depot or Lowes) to "break" the paint in the jig eye and ream out the eye with an acetylene torch tip cleaning tool. The torch tip cleaner has various size wires for different size holes. I also use the straightened out jig hook with the barb piched down on some of the more stubborn hole before the tip cleaner.

This works best for me.

[my3sons]

I try to avoid getting paint in the eye altogether. I use hemostats clamped to the eye when I dip the jig in the paint. I go so far as to dip the hook up to the barb. It is a little awkward at first, but you'll get the hang of it.

Edited January 10, 2009 by my3sons