FishAll Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 Has anyone had success coating TnBi jigs and lures? Or is the melting point of the alloy just to low to work with the powder coat paints? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LimpNoodle Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 If you're talking about this stuff https://www.rotometals.com/lead-free-fishing-tackle-weight-bismuth-tin-alloy-281/ You're going to have a problem. Powder Paint needs 375-400° to set, this alloy melts at 281°. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Wetline Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 The 281 alloy melts at too low a temp to fully cure the powder. The quote below is from Kurt Urban at CS Coatings: "Powder paint needs a minimum of about 275º to achieve the chemical cross-linking for a complete cure." If you're on BassResource.com search for my post, "Six Degrees of Separation." I'm now casting Rotometal's Lead-Free Bullet Casting Alloy with good results. https://www.rotometals.com/lead-free-bullet-casting-alloy-88-bismuth-12-tin/ I cure the powder at 325º for an hour in Eastwood's oven. As an aside, I'll mention that if you purchase this large capacity, made-for-powder-paint oven, spend an additional five bucks and buy an oven thermometer - the dial temp on my oven is off 50º! After this curing procedure the jig heads easily pass my "whack on vise" test. To avoid muttering and cursing, liberally apply Drop Out mold release. It's available from barlowstackle.com. Bismuth expands as it cools. The 88/12 alloy is hard enough so you can grip the casting in the middle - not the sprue, not the hook shank - to remove without marring it. So, if you need to fish lead-free as I do in Massachusetts, go with the 88/12 alloy or pewter (at even greater expense and lighter weight). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishAll Posted March 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Thanks Will Wetline. Great information! I'll give the 88/12 a try on my next order. Currently using the 281. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
