Clear Heat Shrink Tube As Top Coat

[Krash7172]

First off, Hello and thanks for the great info I've found here.

 

I met someone last year using clear heat shrink tube to protect the finish on a lead casting / jigging minnow. We were surfcasting for False Albacore. Between the toothy Bluefish and the crashing surf acting like a sandblaster, cheap lures can be stripped of their finish in no time. I also once saw a manufactured lure that had some kind of clear wrap on it. You could easliy replace the heat shrink as it wears I would think.

 

I decided to look into making my own lead minnows assuming I would just use heat shrink rather than messing around with the standard top coats.  I soon realized that I could get a silver glow P-line laser minnow for $3 online. Not a bad blank considering it already has a holigram and a white spine I can easily paint.I wasn't too worring about adhesion since I was going to wrap the whole lure. I just cleaned the factory finish well before airbrushing acrylic on the spine, put new eyes on it, and then 3 coats of spray can enamel. I'm very pleased with the results.

 

Now, the heat shrink. I bought some "clear" but it is not going to work. It's too opaque. The "crystal" clear I located is expensive and I can't find it in small quantities. Any ideas? I have a half dozen lures ready for a top coat and I have plans to make a few dozen more.

 

I have some Dick Nite S81 on order. I read a bunch of threads here and decided that is probably my best option. Based on how I prepared the lures to this point, will this work? Anything I should consider changing?

 

Thanks!

[BobP]

Of all the topcoats I've tried, Dick Nite S81 is the best and it's especially good on spoons.  When I paint spoons with acrylic latex, it seems to penetrate the paint and make a very durable finish.  Dip'em, hang'em, DONE.  My only question is whether it is compatible with enamel.  That I don't know!  But I'd dip one to see.  Just one dip.  Multiple dips and you're flirting with the possibility of the DN reacting with itself and blistering.

[Krash7172]

Still curious about the clear heat shrink. You can see why this or any similar shaped lure would wrap well.

 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/Krash7172/misc/p-linegreen.jpg

 

If the DN reacts with enamel, what would you recommend applying before DN? My choices were based on ease as much as quality. Thus the Dip'em, hang'em, DONE.

[stretcher66]

http://www.traceace.com/store/item/1809/fast-drop-butterfly-fishing-jig-stickers-shrink-tube-pack-of-5

i think this is what you are looking for.  

[Krash7172]

I saw a few sites that sold those kits but I think they are meant for a specific lure. No idea what the size is or shrink ratio. The tube I purchased is 1/2" 3:1 ratio shrink ratio and it's perfect but not clear enough. I found a site selling 3/8" crystal clear in small lengths for 8 bucks. I'll give it a go. I can fit it on some small lures for a test. I have a friend in Cape Cod to test them. I'll send a couple DN dipped and a couple wrapped for feedback. I am also curious if the wrap will effect action in the water.

 

 

 

http://www.cableorganizer.com/crystal-clear-hst/

Edited April 17, 2013 by Krash7172

[Krash7172]

I got both clear tube and DN S81 today. The clear 3/8" tube was slightly smaller than the 3/8" tube I tested before and I can't use it without lubricant and It added significant thickness. I'm done with it.

 

I used the screw technique on the S81 can but I added a second vent screw on top so I can flush it with Bloxygen everytime I get some out to be safe. Dipped my first test lures tonight. All seems well so far. No reaction with the enamel after an hour.

 

Thanks again.