Painting Scales

[Kevin70]

I just use .40 cent goldfish dip nets from Wal-Mart. They come in a few different sizes (patterns).

[Orion]

Heloo

For what it's worth here is how I do it. Made from 2 cheapo picture frames with the mesh stapled to them. Pop the lure between and shut down with clamps to hold shut. Do not soak with paint otherwise it justs runs under the mesh and looks ORIBLE.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/Pikey100/Scalemesh/DSCF7657.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/Pikey100/Scalemesh/DSCF7656.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/Pikey100/Scalemesh/DSCF7635.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/Pikey100/Scalemesh/DSCF7660.jpg

Hope this helps. Just one thing though, you are not able to do scales on the top or bottom with this rig but I myself am happy enough not to have scales there anyway and just blend into solid colours. I think this is not the ideal setup for round lures but for flat sided jerks like I make its purrrfect

philB

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/Pikey100/Scalemesh/DSCF7635.jpg

Phil, that lure is the purdiest thing I've ever seen. I think I'm in love.

Great scaling set up too by the way.

[ChampionBoatGuy]

I bought some of the lace material from Wal-mart the other day. It is really rough to the touch but is very small in construction. I was experimenting with trying to make it conform to a roundbait but I couldn't come up with anything. There was always too much extra bunched up at the top and bottom to get a nice paint job. The only thing I could think of was to paint one side and let it dry, then do the other side, and then try to put the netting on the top of the bait and line the scales back up for a close match, then paint the top. I'm starting to see why most baits have a solid color on the top now!

[rlcam]

Some Wal Marts have both,the stiff and soft material.I bought both and the stiff is very hard to use but the soft does the trick.

[BobP]

Different guys use different techniques. Here's one. Most netting stretches more in one direction than the other. Lay it on straight, then put clothes pins along the bottom. Put pins on the top at the head and tail so the netting keeps contact with the shoulders. I usually use 3 bottom pins and 2 top pins on bass baits. It's OK if the pins on top flop around. I want the netting in contact with the lure but not so tight the scales deform. I don't paint the top, just the shoulders because I prefer solid color on top. Spray a moderate coat of paint that's not thinned much with water. I don't thin airbrush formulated paint at all and I spray it at lower pressure (usually 20 psi) so the paint won't bounce down the side of the bait. Holding the bait so the back is slanted away from you also helps. Immediately dry the paint with a hair dryer then flip it over and do the other side. Now's the time to compare: are both sides identical? You can't fix it after you pull off the netting. If you spray too much paint it piles up on the netting and causes a rough surface when the netting is removed. I pull off the netting and then spray the back and shade it into the scaled area.

[MR KNOW IT ALL KIND OF]

YOU MEAN YOU CAN USE A NET TO SHOOT THROUGH!!! I BEEN PAINTIN THEM ONE DOT AT A TIME!!! HOLY CRAP this is a time saver!!!! ok ok...

I cut a big hole in a stencil.. tape the net over the hole and to the stencil...then I press the stencil over the bait and paint!!!