johnboy Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and fairly new to pouring my own leads & powder painting. I've been using the Pro-Tec powder paints in fluid beds with good results. I am wondering if anyone has knows if there is any difference between the pro-tec powder paint at $10/ 2 oz jarand other powder coating paint that can be bought for $15 / lb. I figure i might as well buy in bulk for my basic colors like white, pink, chartreuse, black, red etc... Just curious if anyone knows whether or not there is a difference. Thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 There’s no doubt the Pro Tec is excellent paint and they produce some colors that are hard to find elsewhere. That said, like you when I first started, I looked for an alternative pretty quickly as I thought their price was a bit high. I found a good alternative in Columbia Coatings. I’ve been very satisfied with their powder and it works well in a fluid bed. I use a vibrator to help fluidize my powder and it all works seamlessly. I rarely change my filters and just blow my cups out, change colors and keep on painting. They have a great selection of colors also at very reasonable prices. I recommend not using any Harbor Freight powder as my experience with it was terrible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglinarcher Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 OK, I'll venture a little help on this. 1st, the Pro-Tec paints seem to be brighter, better quality then say a Harbor Freight paint. In general, the Pro-Tec seems to melt more uniform, cure better with post heating, etc. Still, having had lots of construction projects done with power paint, and "borrowed" some of the raw paint, I have had excellent results from Non-Pro-Tec paints as well. Summary, You don't always get what you pay for, but you might waste a lot of money finding the bulk Powder that works as well as Pro-Tec. Power Paint goes a long way so if you are "new" to pouring, stick with a powder paint made for jig painting. If you get into production, then buy one color at a time and test the alternatives. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Thanks guys. I appreciate the input and good advice. I'll check out Columbia Coatings and maybe take a gamble on ebay. I'm not really in production, but I just got 60lbs of lead and work is slow, so.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) A lot of good info here. I have been powder painting jigs and commercial steel since 2006. There are a lot of good powder paints out there. However Harbor Freight in my opinion is not one of them. Pro-Tech is excellent paint and they have colors that you can't find anywhere unless you go custom. There are other companies that sell powder paint. BTW welcome to TU, you have a PM from me. Edited April 16, 2020 by cadman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowFISH Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 I purchase powders from (https://thepowdercoatstore.com/) to use on parts for my kayak. Been thrilled with the 3 items I've purchased so far (A purple / anodized red and a nickle) and whats excellent is they sell sample sizes (1/2) pound priced at really reasonable rates. A 1/2 pound goes a LONG way with small parts. J. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasilofchrisn Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 I've used a lot of Protec paints. Mostly for their glow colors and UV blast. But I've had good luck with paints from "powder by the pound" Columbia coatings, Rosie's, and powder from Cadmans at Cadmans custom jigs. I've never had one preform badly except the harbor freight paint. So yes as was said avoid the harbor freight paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kris brantner Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 I've had good luck with certain paints from allpowderpaint.com 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 It probably isn’t the best thing going, however, I have been successfully using powder paint from Harbor Freight for several years. I have 3 or 4 colors of it. I also use Pro-Tech and powder paint from Cadman. I use a fluid bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBehr Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 I use powder paint from Pro-Tech, TJ's Tackle (which have really good fluid beds) and some of the BOSS paints are AWESOME! Like most things, you get what you pay for! If you are just making baits for yourself and your fishing buddy a jar of good quality powder paint makes a LOT baits! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimM Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 15 hours ago, SlowFISH said: I purchase powders from (https://thepowdercoatstore.com/) to use on parts for my kayak. Been thrilled with the 3 items I've purchased so far (A purple / anodized red and a nickle) and whats excellent is they sell sample sizes (1/2) pound priced at really reasonable rates. A 1/2 pound goes a LONG way with small parts. J. Thank you for that link - lots of great stuff to try there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted April 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 Thank you guys for the info. I'm glad to know that there are some cheaper options out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkin Posted April 17, 2020 Report Share Posted April 17, 2020 Columbia coatings is where I get most of my paint. Harbor Freight isn't as good as any other paint I have tried but it will work. With that being said I would stay away from it until you get more experience. Allen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STO76 Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 Boss makes some very good powder paint and has some unique colors as well. Available at fishingskirts.com 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted July 2, 2020 Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 I use a Tetra Whisper 60 that I got at Petsmart and it will run 4 - 2" beds and 2 - 4" beds at the same time. Got it on sale, I used instructions from Cadman to build my fluid beds. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travlnman Posted October 28, 2020 Report Share Posted October 28, 2020 On 4/15/2020 at 4:54 PM, johnboy said: Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and fairly new to pouring my own leads & powder painting. I've been using the Pro-Tec powder paints in fluid beds with good results. I am wondering if anyone has knows if there is any difference between the pro-tec powder paint at $10/ 2 oz jarand other powder coating paint that can be bought for $15 / lb. I figure i might as well buy in bulk for my basic colors like white, pink, chartreuse, black, red etc... Just curious if anyone knows whether or not there is a difference. Thanks in advance for any help. Hey guys I am new as well. I am wondering what you mean by a "Fluid Bed" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted October 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2020 1 hour ago, Travlnman said: Hey guys I am new as well. I am wondering what you mean by a "Fluid Bed" ? Basically it's a couple sections of pvc pipe with an aquarium air pump connected at the bottom that fluffs your powder paint up so that when you dip your jigs, you get a nice thin even coating. Search it on Youtube - lots of info and videos of how to make one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travlnman Posted October 29, 2020 Report Share Posted October 29, 2020 Great video.Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaintGuru Posted June 8, 2022 Report Share Posted June 8, 2022 Sorry to necro this thread but I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring. I've had some great success with powder coated paints from Vitracoat. They're worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
