Foam Blank ?'s

[joetheplumber]

Got some foam blanks today from a friend and just have a few questions about them. They look like a spook and a spook jr. I've never seen anything like these before and just wonder how in the world do you prep these for painting? I heard of people making their own blanks this way but I don't know diddly squat about these things. He gave me 4 of each on a trade to paint him one of each and I can keep the rest. They appear to be very very hard but I know certain chemicals will eat right through them and I don't want to mess em all up. Thanks for your help.............. Joe

[JimP]

Joe:

I have been playing with polyurthane foam baits for a while, but what you have there is something different.

 

Looks like in the photos you have a little mold flash to sand away, just go after that with very fine sandpaper.  You do not want to open any pockets that may be under the surface.  Go slow at first to feel out the material. To be safe unless you have one to test I'd avoid any lacquer based sealer.  

 

After you seal it just do what you normally do.

Start off with just one bait and play around with it as long as you can before committing to the rest.

 

With the poly material I have been toying with I use the same painting supplies and top coats as the rest of the guys in the group.  I think you will be able too also.

 

Love to know more about them.  Where did they come from ect.

 

Good luck,

 

Jim P

[joetheplumber]

I think they came from a place called Hagens Fishing. I tried to check their catalog to see if that was the place but I don't have the Adobe Flash Player on my tablet so I can't view the catalog. I'll check it out in the morning and let you know what I find out. Thanks JimP................... Joe

[Anglinarcher]

Looks like the foam is an expanded polystyrene.  Take your thumb nail and press it into one and see if it indents.  If so, this stuff is not tuff at all, but it is a pretty light material.

 

Next, JimP is correct about gently sanding off the flashing.  Still, if it does open pockets, you can get water based wood filler at any hardware store that will fill it in, seal it up, and work just find.  He is also correct about working with one bait to make sure you don't damage them all at one time......... small steps to learn the material.

 

If it is expanded Polystyrene, avoid any solvent except water unless you test it first.  I suggest just avoiding anything other then water.  Use Createx or other water based acrylic as a base coat and for the actual painting.  Then a clear coat will need to be an epoxy style top coat like Devcon 2 Ton or ETec.  These two clear coats will not eat the Styrene.

 

IF I am totally wrong, if it is NOT exmanded polystyrene, then Kyrlon Fusion (rattle can spray paint) will adhere to and seal the foam just fine.  Then just proceed as normal.

 

Hope this helps some.

[joetheplumber]

It is on the Hagens Fishing web site. Listed in the online catalog on page 90. Says it's high impact foam. Its as hard as a brick and has through wire construction so I guess they'll be pretty tough. Thanks for the help guys!!

[RayburnGuy]

If there's any doubt Joe just give it a thin seal coat of epoxy. The epoxy won't react with the foam and it will keep anything else from reaching it. It would also fill any small holes left from sanding.

 

Ben

[joetheplumber]

Thanks Ben. That's what I what I had in mind.

[RayburnGuy]

Thanks Ben. That's what I what I had in mind.

 

Great minds think alike.

[joetheplumber]

That's funny right there. You must have been referring to you and someone else....hahahaha

[RayburnGuy]

That's funny right there. You must have been referring to you and someone else....hahahaha

 

Actually I'm running a bluff. Don't tell anyone though. They may not have figured it out.