F&R Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Okay guys! I got a gallon of GST concrete sealer. I was immediately a bit concerned that there was a little leakage around the screw on cap. But I was mostly bothered because the leakage had dried and it was an amber color. It is supposed to be crystal clear when dry. I painted a dozen baits and dipped them three times. The first two dips were about four hours apart, the third was twenty four hours later. My painting area is always heated and warm. Now after two weeks the clear coat looks beautiful, but it is not hard. It's very dry, but it can easily be dented by pressing on it with a toothpick. This is quite disappointing. Any ideas why? What did I do wrong. Anybody else had a similar problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&R Posted March 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Never mind guys. I found the problem!! My fault. It's the balsa I'm using. I didn't check it before, but it's way soft. Even after sealing and priming the surface is flexible when poked with a nail. Dumb me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarftd Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 The clear will continue to harden even past 2 weeks...for what it's worth humidity seems to slow the process as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass01 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I dip mine in my basement which is in the 64 degree temp range and it took about 4 weeks to get to where you can't dent the surface , hopefully summer will be a little quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarftd Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 It will...70 degrees plus and low humidity are perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benton B Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Side note, rub the balsa baits with super glue and they will be hard as a rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Does UV light help GST cure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarftd Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Not to my knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverdown Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 When using the gst or any finishing clearcoat for that matter, are you guys just hanging the baits or are they on a lure turning contraption. I apologize for my lack of correct terminology, just a new guy painting up some cranks for my personal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 With any of the concrete sealers just dip and hang..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Nathan, Do you put a wire in the rear hook hanger for the excess to run down, to avoid a drip at the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnBreaker Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 I'm not Nathan but, I hang a paperclip from mine and twist it around a little bit a few minutes after dipping. Then the next day I take them off the rack and run a small drill bit through the rear hanger to clear it out. Haven't had any issues yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Mark, You can or if you have time you can just dab it off..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarftd Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Mark, This stuff is much thinner and as such drained off fast. After 5 minutes dab the rear and you should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlarson64 Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 can you dip in a basement or is the smell bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass01 Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Do you need to stir the GST after putting it in little jars as I still notice on some baits even after 4 or so weeks if I leave on the counter they are stuck just a tad to the counter top not sticky to touch and thinking maybe that's why they stick any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougarftd Posted March 25, 2014 Report Share Posted March 25, 2014 Smell is bad...mask and ventillation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogAddict Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I have noticed that after about 3 weeks the smell is gone. This is just the degassing process. I avoid putting them in the tackle box until then. Yes, they will stick to things if you don't continue to hang them for 3-4 weeks. I avoid putting any hooks etc on them until they're done curing as well. Also, it's a good idea to not touch them without gloves on during this period. I think Solarez or Epoxy is a better solution if you're in a hurry but for me with a long winter to work with, it's not an issue. Also, I have had my GST coated lures react with soft plastics. The soft plastics kind of weld themselves to the lure. Nothing that can't be cleaned up, just a bit irritating. If I were selling, I think I'd have to consider another top coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I have noticed that after about 3 weeks the smell is gone. This is just the degassing process. I avoid putting them in the tackle box until then. Yes, they will stick to things if you don't continue to hang them for 3-4 weeks. I avoid putting any hooks etc on them until they're done curing as well. Also, it's a good idea to not touch them without gloves on during this period. I think Solarez or Epoxy is a better solution if you're in a hurry but for me with a long winter to work with, it's not an issue. Also, I have had my GST coated lures react with soft plastics. The soft plastics kind of weld themselves to the lure. Nothing that can't be cleaned up, just a bit irritating. If I were selling, I think I'd have to consider another top coat. Sounds like you could put some on the keeper of a spinnerbait or a jig, and the trailer might stay up better. Does it stay sticky to soft plastics, or is it just a one time deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogAddict Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Sounds like you could put some on the keeper of a spinnerbait or a jig, and the trailer might stay up better. Does it stay sticky to soft plastics, or is it just a one time deal? Mark, Not sure. I just took the soft plastic off and stored the lure without it. But yeah, I guess that would help keep the plastic seated. I'm not sure if it would affect the top coat after time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 Seems like it would have to, like vinyl paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogAddict Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I think it's experiment time. I'll grab one of my mistake lures and snuggle it up to a soft plastic for a week or two and then see what happens to the lure after a period of time. BTW, I posted a new weedless buzz frog on the gallery earlier today. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted March 27, 2014 Report Share Posted March 27, 2014 I checked it out. Have you thrown it yet? From the looks of the weather, you might still be snowed in, with real hard water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrogAddict Posted March 28, 2014 Report Share Posted March 28, 2014 Yep, it's still cold up here. 12 degrees in the truck this morning on the way to work. We should have ice out around mid to end of April (fingers crossed). I'm dying to test out a bunch of lures but I have to be patient I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
