Need Help Starting The Painting Process

[socalfishing24]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here on TU forum. I was looking to start making some wooden lures like plugs and swimbaits. I've read through many posts here the past few day and got to say lots of great tips and helpful people here! I have some questions on how to start the process of painting them. First if you seal the lure with Devcon 2 ton do you add primer paint on top then paint with acrylic paint, water based, and finish it off with devcon 2 ton as the top coat as well? I'm kinda confused with this. Any thing regarding these steps will be helpful. Thanks in advance

[gone2long]

There are many types of sealers to be honest it's up to you to what degree you want to go, me I think sealing with D2T is a long extra step, if I was selling maybe then but any good wood sealer would do as long as it doesn't react with the top coat you plan to use. Do a search here there are many informative threads started that will point you in the right direction. Most AB paints suggest a base coat be it white or black and it doesn't have to be special after the wood is sealed but you should scuff each coat after heat setting if you are going to use textile acrylics which most suggest a heat set between every coat and depending on how elaborate your baits are such as foil work may require a clear coat mid-coat to protect the previous layer.

[socalfishing24]

Thanks gon2long for the help

[RayburnGuy]

One reason a lot of us use epoxy to seal baits with is that is inert. Meaning it doesn't react with whatever you put on top of it. When you start using sealers from one company, paint from another company and top coats from yet another company you run the risk of different layers reacting in an adverse way to each other. Different companies use different solvents in their products and not all of them play nice with each other. Using an inert sealer is just one way of making sure this doesn't happen.

 

Ben

[socalfishing24]

I get what your saying thanks ben! I got a question. After the seal with epoxy do you add primer to it?

[RayburnGuy]

I get what your saying thanks ben! I got a question. After the seal with epoxy do you add primer to it?

 

There are a lot of misconceptions about "primers" and "base coats". A primer is something that enhances the "adhesion" of the following layers of paint. A base coat is a layer of paint that enhances the "appearance" of the following colors. A white base coat makes following colors seem brighter. A black base coat can be used to make silver seem more silver. Not sure how it does that, but it does. Say you want a really bright yellow. You can spray transparent yellow over a white base coat and it really brightens it up. And a base coat isn't only limited to black and white. Just remember that a base coat is normally used for how it makes the following layers of paint look. The rest is only limited by your imagination.

 

As far as using a primer when sealing with epoxy it's not necessary. Once the epoxy has cured all you need to do is give it a light sanding with something in the range of 400 grit sandpaper. This gives the paint something to "bite" on. I wouldn't go much lower than 400 grit as this can leave sanding marks that the paint won't cover up. And remember to keep all surfaces to be painted clean and free of oils and other contaminants. Not doing this can lead to a whole other can of worms. And not the good kind like you fish with.

 

good luck,

Ben

[socalfishing24]

Thanks ben you answer my question and some! I really appreciate your help

[RayburnGuy]

Thanks ben you answer my question and some! I really appreciate your help

 

lol @ "and some"  As you can tell I'm ate up with this stuff and can sometimes get carried away. It doesn't hurt for you to walk away with a little more than you bargained for. It all costs the same.

 

glad to help,

Ben

[mark poulson]

Ben,

Do you wear gloves when you're painting?

[RayburnGuy]

No I don't Mark. I hate anything resembling surgical gloves because they make my hands sweat so bad that by the time I'm done painting it feels like a gooey mess inside the gloves. I've found that by washing my hands in Dawn dish washing detergent with water as hot as I can stand it I have no trouble contaminating the paint jobs. And I handle my lures when applying netting for scales or things of that sort. If you've watched some of Solarfall's videos he doesn't wear gloves when painting and he handles his baits wayyyyyyyyyyyy more than I do.

 

The only thing about washing your hands in Dawn and hot water is that it can make your hands really dry and prone to chapping and cracking in cold weather. And it could be that my hands are prone to chapping and cracking anyway because they used to do it every winter when I was still working. Of course as much heat as using a cutting torch or welding can put on your hands that might add to the problem as well.

 

Ben

[mark poulson]

Thanks.  I usually wear one on my left hand because I typically hold my baits in my left hand when I paint, and the airbrush in the right.  Createx doesn't just wash off after a painting session, and I use my left thumb sometimes for a gill plate stencil.

The only time I worry about finger oil contamination is with epoxy top coats.