When To Install A Lip

[Chunk T]

New guy question.  Is there a best practice for when to install a lip on a wood bait that's going to be sealed, painted and clear coated?  I'd prefer to install the lip after painting and before clear coating (seems the logical time to do it) but I've heard from some lure builders that I should install the lip prior to sealing and painting.

 

thanks

[BobP]

I install mine just before clearcoating too.  Seems to me it's the best time if you want to avoid messing up the lip.  I insert some scrap lip material in the lip slots during the finish process by which I hold them with forceps while undercoating and painting the baits. the scrap lips have holes drilled in the end so I can hang up the baits above my workbench during the process.

[bassguy]

I've found installing the lip after paint is much easier and no masking is necessary.

[RayburnGuy]

I've tried both ways and installing the lip after paint greatly reduces the chance of screwing up the lip. The only thing about doing it this way is that it drives me nuts worrying about aligning the centerline of the lip with the centerline of the bait. By marking a centerline on both the bait and the lip it's easier, for me at least, to make sure the lip is aligned. Once you paint the bait that centerline is gone.

 

Ben

[Skeeter]

After painting.

 

Skeeter

[benton B]

I install lips before painting.   For me it's to insure the lip is perfectly straight in the bait, sometimes I have to some extra work to fix the lip slot.

I think it's a personal deal and each builder has to find the method that works for them.