Balsa

[jackg]

Is it necessary to under coat balsa before painting 

[mark poulson]

I use super glue to seal, but also to harden.  Balsa is so soft that it gets dented and nicked easily, and that's when water gets into the bait, and ruins it.

If you're using water-based paints, the answer is definitely yes.  It keeps the water out of the wood, and lets you sand the bait to get it smooth.

I have never tried rattle can paints on my balsa baits, but, since they are solvent based, I think they should act as a sealer.

But, for me, it is really important to waterproof and harden my baits before I paint them.  That way, the topcoat is only there to protect the paint scheme.

[RiverSmallieGuy]

I have used Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane (Clear Semi-Gloss) for a while, and really like it. It keeps your lure very smooth and seals it very well. mark poulson's super glue method is great, I dislike it though. When you use super glue, you need to ensure that every single millimeter of the lure is covered, and on swimbaits, that is very hard to do. I like to dip everything I make in the polyurethane to ensure every surface is sealed.

 

Braden

[Big Epp]

I've used penetrating wood hardener to toughen up delicate baits as well.  You have to dip it kind of quickly or it over-soaks. I don't use balsa, but I sometimes make micro-crankbaits out of redwood or willow branches, and I often use the hardener to increase durability.  Ive heard it's necessary (or at least strongly advisable) to use some sort of reinforcing layer with balsa, maybe an undercoat of epoxy, to make the bait more durable and prevent it from destructing with a big fish.

[Big Epp]

One advantage (perhaps) of the wood hardener is that it makes the bait more dense, meaning you'll need less lead to weigh it down.  I make a lot of lures out of redwood, which is SUPER buoyant, and sometimes I have to add an excessive amount of lead.