mossy maker Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 After reading all about using Devcon as a top coat I tried it. Fished today for the first time with a Devcon bait and after some light fishing it cracked all the way down the bottom side of the bait. It didn't take any hard dings. Anybody got any ideas so I can avoid this in the future. mossy maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 The bait had to take some kind of good ding somewhere while you were fishing. Devcon will crack on its own if it is applied to a sharp edge. I usually touch sand sharp edges to dull them before I coat a lure. For some Devcon does that. But on a flat surface there are only two things that I can think of. Either the bait took a good hit somewhere or the bait was not completely sealed and water got to the wood causing it to swell cracking the Devcon. What type of wood is the lure made of? I have had this happen once with a balsa bait that absorbed water. Cold water will not make it crack. Check the bait over especially around the lip slot to see if the lure was completely covered. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBZILLA Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 What about the cut for the lip? was there too much pressure on the lip and not a deep enough cut causing to snap the devcon? almost folding it backwards? just a thought? Robby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy maker Posted March 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 This bait was made of poplar. It was actually a bait that I had made some time ago and sanded down and repainted so I could Devcon it. The bottom was painted with a flourescent spray paint, does that matter? The lip was also already glued in with another brand of epoxy some time ago. mossy maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coley Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Devcon does have a tendency to pull away on a sharp edge or a square corner. So does other clearcoats I have tried. There is a solution to this problem. Its called scratch coat. I use Krylon crystal clear triple glaze for my scratch coat. Then I lightly sand it with a foam sanding pad ( this is where scratch coat comes from). This gives the epoxy something to bond to and it will not thin out on the sharp edge and crack. Hope this makes sense. Coley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 I have used Devcon for almost 5 yrs. I have never had paint effect it at all. My thought is that water got to the wood. I wish I could see the lure. Have you checked the lure closely for a place where water could get to it? You might check the hook hangers also. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy maker Posted March 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 I suppose the most likely place for the water it get would be around the lip. The crack ran from the lip down the bait. Am I to assume that anytime water gets past the devcon that this will happen? mossy maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apb Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Sounds to me like water got under the epoxy somehow and into the wood. Poplar will crack like that if it is not sealed. What did you use to seal the wood? Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy maker Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 I primed before painting with white Krylon primer and them painted with spray cans. mossy maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Yes. You can assume that this will happen to any clearcoat that has the wood swelling under it. It is VERY important that a lure be sealed completely with the clearcoat. Water getting to the wood is just bad news. Whether the problem shows up immediately or later, I will promise you that a problem will show up. Balsa will not absorb water like hardwood, nor will it absorb it as fast. But one thing is for sure, all woods will swell when they soak up water. Balsa will really swell. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...