Jig Paint Options

[CrabbyBass]

Hi everyone!  I am looking for some other options besides powder coating lead jig heads.  I love the powder paint, but sometimes have issues with coating.  It leaves a grainy finish on the heads. 



It may be because the head is too hot or something.  Once this happens it seems I cannot get it to cover up too good.  I am just exploring other options for a hard chip resistant finish.  Thanks guys!

Chuck

[Lamar]

Yes it's to hot. I heat my lead head with a heat gun. It normally in this case would be a dull yellow when coming out of the powder paint. Then I put the head back over the heat till it turns shinny. Dip in water to set. Then bake at 400 for 45 minutes in a toaster oven.

[Muskygary]

The orginal heating of the jig head over the heat gun only takes two or three seconds. This gets the jig hot enough for the paint to ahear. Then back to the heat gun for five or six seconds for the paint to turn glossly. Then bake like Lamar said.

[Lamar]

  I will also say when you dip the lure into the powder paint just do it fast. In and out one time. Don't stick in there and hold it. It takes very very little paint and when you bake it will smooth out even better. Your paint looks a little heavy too. powder paint is the best way to go. Just takes a little practice. But once you catch on it's fast and easy.

[smalljaw]

I use a torch, that is what I got in 2003 when I started using powder paint and as the saying goes, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Seriously though, I'm use to it to the point of taking a 1/4oz jig and then holding it just a bit over the flame and then I count to 3, rotate my wrist and count to 3 and then "swish" the jig through the paint in a shallow bowl or container, that will help you from getting too much paint on. If you really want a good finish, a fluid bed is the bomb, what a fluid bed does is it fluffs the powder up with air and it makes it act like fluid rather than powder, heat your jig a few seconds and then dip and remove that fast and you get a clean perfect coat time and time again. Try getting a shallow container of some sort and put the powder in it and then quickly swish the head through there and it should help a lot and once I put the powder in the container, before you heat your jig, make a couple practice runs with a cool jig and when you think you can do it in a quick enough manner then give it a shot, good luck.

[efishnc]

  I will also say when you dip the lure into the powder paint just do it fast. In and out one time. Don't stick in there and hold it. It takes very very little paint and when you bake it will smooth out even better. Your paint looks a little heavy too. powder paint is the best way to go. Just takes a little practice. But once you catch on it's fast and easy.

Exactly what Lamar said... I would definitely stay with the powder paint for jig heads.

[Muskygary]

Another point, after you dip your jig in the powder paint and get the color glossly... clean out the hook eye while the jig is hot. I use a fly tying bodkin  which is a over size needle. Just run it through the hook eye and remove the soft paint! Now the jig is ready to go on the rack to be baked.

[ctom]

Unless you are using an air bed with the powder pain you really need to keep the powder stirred and fluffed up. I use a bamboo skewer to stir the powder in the jar and when I say stir I mean all the way down to the bottom of the jar. It doesn't take much to stir the powder so don't get too wild with the stirring. You'll be able to feel the powder "loosen up" as you stir.

The picture of the jig shown looks as though the powder is compacted in the jar and is going on too heavy. The first indication that the paint wants to look like this is when the powder needs loosening up.

[CrabbyBass]

Thanks for the input guys. To be honest, my buddy's father in law painted this particular head, but I have the same issue. I use a heat gun and a fluid bed. It sounds as though I am getting the head too hot. I assumed that the head had to be hot enough so that the powder paint adhered to the head and glossed over instantly. I will try not leaving it in the heat too long and see if that helps. Thanks again guys!

[Botanophilia]

I use a heat gun and have the same problem sometimes.  I get it too hot and too much powder adheres.  Better to keep it cooler and get a thin coat.  If it's too thin you can always coat a 2nd or 3rd time. 

[Ricky D.]

Your jig is not to hot,reduce the air flow through your fluid bed,and it will not do that,if it was to hot it would bubble up on the jig,if you use a fluid bed to much air creates air pockets in the powder thus creating the surface you have on that jig,I powder coat all my jigs,sonars,one eyes,everything and have been doing this for 20 plus years,my buddy just started and he had same problem,I told him the same thing,also if you have not baked your jig yet just heat it back up and with a rag you can wipe the jig clean and start over,just remember the surface you see before baking is what it will come out as,

[Kasilofchrisn]

Your jig is not to hot,reduce the air flow through your fluid bed,and it will not do that,if it was to hot it would bubble up on the jig,if you use a fluid bed to much air creates air pockets in the powder thus creating the surface you have on that jig,I powder coat all my jigs,sonars,one eyes,everything and have been doing this for 20 plus years,my buddy just started and he had same problem,I told him the same thing,also if you have not baked your jig yet just heat it back up and with a rag you can wipe the jig clean and start over,just remember the surface you see before baking is what it will come out as,

Thanks for the tips. That does make perfect sense. I have that problem occasionaly on certain jigs and now I know what causes it and how to fix it.
I knew it wasn't from the lead being too hot. 1) because the paint would be smoking if it was and 2) because I have an adjustable heat gun and I have had this happen when it was dialed in perfectly on the heat. I set it between the 300*-400* marks and that is as hot as it gets.
I cure mine in the toaster oven at 350* for 25 minutes. Other than this issue they usually turn out great.