James Mizer Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Hello all, found this site a few weeks back, very informative. I have been turning top water plugs for about 2 years, last couple of my lures formed bubbles in usually one eye, I warm my epoxy to 75 to 80 deg, I am also using 3d holographic eyes. I seal all lures in a spar sealer, let dry 2 days before starting paint. I use Envro-tec 2 stage epoxy which takes 2 days to cure, also glue the eyes in with fast epoxy. Bubble starts to form in about 3 hrs , What am I missing? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DingerBaits Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Are you letting your fast epoxy completely cure before clearing the bait? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 At least 6 hrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) Sounds like expanding air from under eye, if wood completely sealed under eye then maybe your leaving tiny gap or bubble when gluing in ? Did you score wood before adding eye ? Must be coming from somewhere! Edited February 13, 2017 by gliders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 My wood is clean and dry Alaskan cedar, I add enough epoxy to oz z out a bit but still in the eye socket. I haven't heard of scoring the wood before. This only happens at around 10% of my lures, but I spend alot of time . Do you leave a light on in your turning of the lure? My turning box stays at 78 to 82 degrees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 Do use a forstner bit to drill the socket? Just a guess, make sure to level out the socket with the sealing. I'm more like Dinger, but you stated 6 hrs curing. I was thinking there was a pocket under the eye, the point of the bit. I wouldn't think it was a reaction of two chemicals, not at 10% of the time. It has to be a release of air from somewhere or the way the clear is applied. Think about how you are applying the clear, you may find that you do something different every so often. That's all I can think of, sorry. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 13, 2017 Report Share Posted February 13, 2017 (edited) Hey james, I dont use light bulb for heat myself but if your wood is not 100 percent sealed and you heat up ,it will cause air to expand and force its way out,thats why I wondered if you were scoring or drilling eye socket thru sealer thus leaving open grain ? It could be you are raising temperature enough when putting lure in turner at 80 degrees to force expanding air out,if there's a big difference in temperature of sealed lure before putting in turner this will exaggerate the problem.If it's not that then there must be air trapped under eye prior to e-tex........glider Edited February 13, 2017 by gliders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 My procedure is set in stone, and the forstner tip is sealed , mystery to me I'm going to change out the glue under the eye to a rubber based glue... Steps are Turn, sand, drill center hole, mark eyes and belly grommet, drill eyes and belly, drill tail weight, re-sand with 500gr, dip in Helmens Spar urethane and let dry for two days. ??? Can your urethane go bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 14, 2017 Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 Hi james, I dont use urethane sealer so don't know, but I would be surprised if it was 'off' that's causing the problem. I would be wary of using rubber based glue under e-tex. Personally I stick eye's down with cyanoacrylate (super/crazy glue) then when I apply 1st coat e-tex I make sure to work around eyes well,this solved issue for me. Hope you get it sorted buddy, I know it's a pain..........glider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 I will try the super glue, the real pain is having a great looking lure with bubble in it, Thanks a lot guys for your help, will let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 14, 2017 Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 No problem james,just a thought, but is 2 days enough drying time for spar? If you've been using it with same procedure without issues I guess it must be, hope you get sorted.........glider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted February 14, 2017 Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 Yeah please let us know, I'm curious now. I was thinking of using spar at one time. I would like to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted February 14, 2017 Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 A possibility- if you are heating the lures after applying the epoxy, the air expansion in the lure will try to find a way out. The eye socket may be that way. Epoxy doesn't react with other finishes as it cures in my experience so I don't think it's a chemical reaction problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 I build in my barn on a small scale. I use a 40 watt bulb to keep the epoxy ready, the box rarely gets above 78 degs. I will try without the light today. Thanks for your input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 14, 2017 Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 One other thing james,are you torching bubbles with a heat gun ? If not careful this can be enough to expand tiny air pockets under eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2017 I use a hair dryer set on low, and just fan the plug a few times. Doing some test eyes now with the super glue. Thanks again Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Just be careful if gluing onto paint james, don't wipe excess cyanoacrylate off-just let it dry,if you wipe it can remove some paint types! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Just set my first pair of super glue eyes, so far so good, i will give it a couple days to cure before epoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 This may take some time to prove the process. Just to let you know, I glue all of mine in and yes it can be a hassle but with everything going well I will not change. I use a Xacto knife to handle the eyes. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Agreed, I will get the bugs out some day. Are you cutting anything with the Xacto around the eyes, or just using as a tool? I use a pair of large tweezers Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Mizer Posted February 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Here is a short update on my bubble problem... I owe someone or two a beer. Finished 4 lures and so far so good. I quit using a light bulb for heat, started SG. my eyes, stared with fresh sealer mine was getting old. Also putting a bit more time on my curing. Truth is I think it is a combo of most or all of the changes after the forum call helped end the problem. Shout out to DaleSW, Glides, BobP, and DingerBaits Thanks for your help.................James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 Glad you got sorted,looks good. Chances are you could use heat box for further coats as lure now sealed with epoxy ......glider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted February 20, 2017 Report Share Posted February 20, 2017 I'm on the right! Glade you got it worked no mater what. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
