Lipz Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 I really want to try the Alumi-uv, but can someone give me an idea about the coverage? I'm curious about how long a $30 4oz bottle would last? Approximately how many average size crankbaits (1.5/2.5) it would cover with a single coat? Some way to compare the cost verus 2-part epoxies. The stuff is expensive, and It seems like it would at minimum triple the cost per lure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) I use another UV cure resin, Solarez. Here's a link for comparison: http://solarez.com/products/solarez-polyester-gloss-resin/ $23 for 32oz. I have used it for several years now, and am on my second quart. I did use a large part of the first quart for repairing my son's surfboard. Plus I used some to make a resin mold for some detailed soft plastic baits. I dip my lures in the garage, with all sunlight blocked out, and let them drip back into the container. Once they've stopped dripping, I wipe off the drop that's still hanging from the bottom of the lure, and hang them in my UV nail light box for three minutes. It gives a hard and strong coating for my PVC lures. I've probably dipped 50+- lures/lure sections so far, and I still have most of the quart left. Edited December 17, 2015 by mark poulson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lipz Posted December 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 Thanks Mark. I'll be ordering a quart for testing, as well as the supporting equipment needed for curing asap. The major advantage with UV to me, would be time savings. Do you sacrifice any of the positive attributes of epoxy, with Solarez? Pros & Cons of Solarez? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 I had problems with the Solarez leveling out. BobP says he puts his on a lure turner to level out and I have not tried that and probably won't since I have no need to carve, seal, paint, top coat and fish a lure all in the same day. Solarez also has a film that forms on the surface when cured. Some say this can be buffed off, but again this isn't for me. Everyone has their own build steps that suit them and if you find that Solarez meets what's important to you then that's great. It just wasn't for me. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 I had problems with the Solarez leveling out. BobP says he puts his on a lure turner to level out and I have not tried that and probably won't since I have no need to carve, seal, paint, top coat and fish a lure all in the same day. Solarez also has a film that forms on the surface when cured. Some say this can be buffed off, but again this isn't for me. Everyone has their own build steps that suit them and if you find that Solarez meets what's important to you then that's great. It just wasn't for me. Ben Hrumph! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaw Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Just fyi I recently took the topcoat (alumni-uv) off of a lure body I wasn't happy with. This lure has been sitting on a shelf in my shop for at least 6 mths and when I chipped the topcoat there was an immediate chemical smell released. The smell is the same smell you have when your applying the alumiuv before curing it. I have used both solarex and the alumiuv product and IMO you get a better product with solarex. I have a post or two on here describing my disappointment s with the alumiuv product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Hrumph! What can I say? Guess I'm just not smart enough to use Solarez. Ben 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 We use both products each day and if you want to cure Auv you need a 300 wpi light. I own an American Ultraviolet system. Solarez is now making a new product that has no blush. It is fantastic. Great topcoat!!! Call Gary at Solarez and he can fill you in. I buy it by the gallon. The Solarez doesn't require a $9500 light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lipz Posted December 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 We use both products each day and if you want to cure Auv you need a 300 wpi light. I own an American Ultraviolet system. Solarez is now making a new product that has no blush. It is fantastic. Great topcoat!!! Call Gary at Solarez and he can fill you in. I buy it by the gallon. The Solarez doesn't require a $9500 light. No blush, huh? Interesting. Is it available on the website yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I haven't looked lately, but if you call they are super nice and will help you. You need a Solarcure system for mass producing baits. Call Dennis and he can fix you up. I can tell you guys that uv is one of the best ways to build. Everything from glue , build coat and topcoat. That said it is a process. A nail light is a cheap substitution for doing it right. I speak from experience. I started out as cheap as I could but looking back you are way ahead to bite the bullet and do it right. I can start with a blank body and have caught a fish in 52 minutes counting travel time. The topcoat I use is as tough as any and dry in 4 seconds. If I can help feel free to ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 How do you cure a topcoat in 4 seconds? Is it some kind of a radio wave cure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 No, the unit runs at 125, 200 or 300 wpi. On 300 it will cure Solarez in 2.5 to 3 seconds. Alumiuv takes a couple seconds longer. I don't think Mike has as much of the go off stuff in his. It's just the brightest white hot (650 deg at the bulb) light you have ever saw. Sun light has nothing on it. Another lure builder was at the shop today and could not believe it. You have to wear ppe around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 300 watts? Man, that has to be bright! Fortunately, my 36 watt nail light and three minutes is plenty fast for me. And I wear polarized sun glasses when I'm working with it. I had a pterigium removed from one eye years ago, and have one on the other eye I don't want to get any bigger, so I wear polarized glasses whenever I go out into the sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 With this you need a full face shield and a good long sleeve shirt. I am not a patient person when it comes to waiting on topcoats to dry. In my part of the country humidity and bugs are the enemy. I have tried everything from mcu, epoxy to uv. Power outage with 50 lures on a turner and it's a long night. With uv it's instant success. No bubbles, just super tough durable masterpieces. I have always took the extra step in improving my baits, and time is $$$. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 As a hobby builder, special lights are not necessary. I would simply plug my lure turner into an extension cable and move it outside. No, it won't cure in 4 seconds, but 30 minutes is plenty convenient for me and more than enough time for natural UV cure, even on a cloudy day. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Yes sir Dave, sunshine is free. I'd use it more here if it weren't for those pesky bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Ah yes, there are additional issues to be dealt with, not unsermountable though. At the initial stage of product testing, it is well worth knowing that you do not need to commit specialist equipment before seeing any results. Once the decision is made, a small UV lamp setup may well be very convenient and not too expensive. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 You bet, if you shop around you can get some real deals on uv equipment. I've got about a tenth of a new systems cost in mine. If I live closer to China I could buy some of it for a song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) I have no experience with the Aluma UV but I do use the solarez polyester. I meant to get the gloss but accidentally got the polyester. It is a polyester resin so it polishes nicely but don't drop it! The blush is bad and if you hold it in your hand too long it gets sticky. It is fragile stuff. I use it as a build coat now and next time will buy the gloss. I hear it is stronger with less blush. It is nice fast stuff though, I would definitely recommend it. I just use a nail light. Edited December 21, 2015 by jonister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 If it's sticky it ain't done cooking. Any UV product that you can smell or is tacky needs more cure. Sometimes I have some get in between the jaws of my forceps and not get light and you will get a whif of it. All uv products once fully cured become inert after curing I'm told by the manufacturers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedyarb Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I use this flashlight and a uv nail box. I dip the lure and put it on a lure turner for ten minutes. Then I start the curing process with the flashlight, and then hang the lure in the nail box for 5 minutes. http://m.ebay.com/itm/UV-WF-501B-LED-365NM-Ultra-Violet-Blacklight-Flashlight-Torch-18650-Light-Lamp-/281823741346?nav=SEARCH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I like the UV cure polyester a lot but the white wax blush on the surface of the topcoat is a killer for me - I just can't stand it. If Solarez now has a product without the blush, it would be a big step. Here's hoping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 (edited) Fish Pirate, Are you talking about this the gloss UV cure resin that they have for sale now? http://solarez.com/products/vinyl-ester-epoxy-gloss-resin-with-nano-quartz/ Edited December 22, 2015 by mark poulson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Mark - caution, the bottle says gloss, but the description calls it 'The ultimate matte finish'. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish pirate Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 I haven't looked Mark but if you call Gary and tell him you want what I use he can fix you up. I buy in gallons so don't know about smaller sizes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
