davesjr Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hello, I'm new to this forum, alot of valuable info on here. I have been pouring my own jigs for about eight months. I really like the multiple colors on my jig heads, blends much better with the skirt. I have been using an oven to heat and cure my powder paint. It seems to take a bit of time doing it this way. Sometimes my jigs seems to cool to much and my second color ends up getting to thick, wants to sag when I cure them. Would it be faster or easier with a heat gun? Do fluid beds really make that much of a difference in uniform thickness? I like 2 tone heads, wich I can accomplish. Can't quite get 3 or so colors to look well. Appreciate any information. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I am fairly new to this also. I built a fluid bed and I believe that provides the best uniform quality. I preheat each jig one at a time with a hot air blower. I tried a small torch and I didn't like it. I have thought about preheating them in the toaster oven but I felt like they would cool off too much before I could get them all coated. I haven't done any multiple colors yet so I can't help you there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Welcome to the site Davesjr, multiple colors are easy with powder if you go about it the right way, for jigs I like to use a fluid bed for my base color and then I use the brush method for the other colors I want to use. The first thing you need to do is get a heat gun or small torch, I like the torch simply because its what I'm comfortable with and a lot of guys like the heat gun, its just a personal preference. Once you heat your jig and get the base color you want you need to get the next color you want to add and give the jig a little more heat and then take a small paint brush like the kind used for water color paint, load the brush up with your second color and hold it over the part of the jig you want to add the color and tap the brush sort of like knocking off the ash on a cigarette. There is a video of how to do this on Tjs tackle website that shows you how to use that method, the other way is with a powder airbrush which I like to use for spinnerbaits, if you look at my gallery every spinnerbait has been painted with powder and the airbrush, Tjs site also has a video on that way also. Cadman will probably be here and he can explain the tap method better since he is a real pro at it, in fact he can probably help more than I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davesjr Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Fluid beds are really expensive. I've read on here some people have built there own, I would have no idea were to start. I have also read about using nylon pins, I think I need to do more searching to see were to get this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchance Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Fluid beds are really expensive. I've read on here some people have built there own, I would have no idea were to start. I have also read about using nylon pins, I think I need to do more searching to see were to get this stuff. Building a fluid bed is VERY easy. It cost em total of about $30 in supplies from Lowe's and about 30 mnutes or less to build. I really like painting with the fluid beds. My jigs have a resessed eye and the fluid bed keeps the eye from filling up iwht paint. I actually powder paint the hook eye and do not worry about it filling in. works very well and I recommend it. I painted without for a long time and can definitely tell a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Dave, Welcome to Tackle Underground and your first thread. There are many guys here that powder paint, and you will get many replies regarding their process. I will give you what I know and then you can pick and choose what works for you from all the info from others. I myself have never used a torch or a toaster oven to heat jigs before painting them so I can't comment. I will tell you to stay away from lighters and candles, they just don't do a good job in my opinion. Candles cause soot on your jig and you can't get good even heat from a lighter. I often see guys on You Tube and at the shows advertising that you can change colors to match what you need with a lighter right on the water. Well I'll tell you what you go in a boat with a jig, a pair of forceps, a lighter and some open powder paint and try this on the water, then let me know how it goes. Honestly it just doesn't work unless you have perfect conditions. So with that said, I have always used a heat gun from day one in an enclosed area. I feel you get the best of both worlds with a multi-temp heat gun. Your initial or base color is fine at any heat setting (just don't melt the lead jig) however if you want to do multi-color, you will have to reduce the heat because you will burn the paint. Especially when you are trying to put on 3 or more colors. As far as fluid beds go, I rarely use them any more because I rarely make single color jigs. Fluid beds are great for a base coat in prepartaion for multiple colors. It is also the best to use if you are only applying 1 color to your jigs. The fluid bed is fast and easy and you get a nice thin even coat of powder paint.. In a two color jig you can dip your hot jig in the second color, or you can do wht a lot of guys do and that is tap your powder paint onto a hot jig from a small artist brush. This will give you more control of where the powder paint goes on your jig. To learn this process it is going to take several months. Nothing is quick and easy if you want it to look good. Also you can spray your powder paint onto a hot jig. I am not an expert at this and I don't use this set-up. However, look up posts/threads by Smalljaw. He uses this system and does exceptional wok with it. He may post here later. To finish this off you have to find what you are comfortable with, whether a torch or a heat gun they all do the job. Good Luck with your painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 davesjr I new I'd be late in posting. I have a tendency to write too much. I have sent you a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davesjr Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 30 dollars at lowes I could work with. Just need to know what materials to use, and how to assemble. I have to clean out most of my hook eyes as they tend to fill in. Always something new to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirkfan Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 30 dollars at lowes I could work with. Just need to know what materials to use, and how to assemble. I have to clean out most of my hook eyes as they tend to fill in. Always something new to learn. If you want to avoid the trouble of assembling all the components, this guy makes them for a very reasonable price: http://www.tjstackle.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davesjr Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 I appreciate the info. Should help alot. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Ask Cadman and he'll probably email you his tutorial on fluid bed building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LedHed Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 These jigs are painted with 5 colors - the bass pattern is something me and cman messed around with a long time ago... The black coat has a CC illusion overcoat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I just want to chime in on the torch/air gun methods. I was a torcher for the past few years. I bought a 4oz. Ultra Minnow head mold, and the one up to 8 oz. is next, but anyway they get up to 4-5 colors, my gas went empty for the torch. Broke out the heat gun to use. I takes a lot longer to heat the guest of honor up when using the heat gun, I think it smooths out the paint even that much more, and for doing 3-5 colors, is easier and less risk of burning the paint than using the torch. I may go back to the torch for the initial heat up, but when needing the time to do more detail work with several colors, back to the heat gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkin Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 If you want to avoid the trouble of assembling all the components, this guy makes them for a very reasonable price: http://www.tjstackle.com/ This is what I use and have no problems with it. For my 1oz football jigs I use a crack torch but smaller jigs the BBQ lighter works. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
