baking powderpainted jigs

[bourne bill]

do powder painted jigs have to be baked immediately after dipping them in the paint?, and is baking necessary if I epoxy them?

[Denny Welch]

It's not mandatory to do so, but you will have a much more durable jig than if you don't.  Baking toughens up that jig head so that rocks and junk don't destroy the paint job in a couple casts.  Experiment a little bit by throwing an unbaked jig into a rock pile a few times followed by a baked one.  It will soon be abundantly clear why we bake them.

[ctom]

I usually lose jigs at a rate that it doesn't matter if I bake them or not. Basically I don't mess with baking jigs I use for panfish or crappies. I might cook a few that get walleye action but for the most part baking isn't something I do. Its all personal preference.

[pjmcla]

Baking immediately after dipping is not necessary.  You can wait until you have a reasonable number to make the baking process more productive.  My problem is I forget which ones are baked and which ones are not; so be diligent in keeping them where you know which is which.  Denny is right when he says the baked jigs are much more durable.  I personally bake all my heads.  I think it also gives the benefit of a glossier finish. 

[Mike J]

I'm with tom on this one.  I lose most to fast to worry about it. If you are going to take a lot of them around with you in a box that gets banged around you might want to bake them.  You can tell a big difference in baked and not baked so if it bothers you to have the paint chip off bake them it's a relatively easy process!

[2XL]

I usually bake mine so they don't get all dinged up in the tackle box too. The river eats them relatively quickly anyways so once my baked supply runs out it's a paint and go fishing deal for me.

[Lamar]

 I always bake all my jigs and all my powder paint anythings. Why ? Because when I make a bait it is the best bait I can make. I make it with pride. And nothing less. I never make a bait that is good enough. I can go to a store and buy that.

[Jerry V]

Why ? Because when I make a bait it is the best bait I can make. I make it with pride. And nothing less. I never make a bait that is good enough. I can go to a store and buy that.

That's IT Lamar....  "When Pride is on the Line"

sounds like a good tag line to me 

[Justin9j]

I have a hat from some company that has that logo.  They have a real smart a$$ guy on their message board that has some cat for a picture.  Seems like a nice guy. Just slow. 

And yes I powder paint bake everything.  One thing about waiting is the paints tacky sometimes before baking or still powder liking so I just stick in the ole toaster oven and hit play. 

[Kasilofchrisn]

I always bake all my jigs and all my powder paint anythings. Why ? Because when I make a bait it is the best bait I can make. I make it with pride. And nothing less. I never make a bait that is good enough. I can go to a store and buy that.

Exactly!!! I bake everything.
If I wanted jigs with paint that flakes off I too would buy the cheapos from the store.
It doesn't take long or much effort to bake them.
Same thing with paint in the jig eye.
My jig eyes will always be paint free. Always! It's a pet peeve of mine I guess.
My thoughts are why would anyone buy my custom stuff if it isn't any better than the store bought cheap stuff?
So I say make the best quality you can it is worth it!!

[Denny Welch]

So I say make the best quality you can it is worth it!!

Tied or collars?

[Kasilofchrisn]

Tied or collars?

I guess that's more of a personal preference thing.
Either way make them good quality.
It doesn't take a whole lot more effort to keep the eyes free of paint and to bake them.
Why bother If your stuff is the same as the mass produced store bought crap?
My stuff is better quality and catches more fish. That's why people want to buy my stuff.
The quality impresses them and once they realize they are catching more fish and not having to buy bait well there hooked on buying my jigs.

[Denny Welch]

I couldn't agree more, Kasil.  You and Lamar have it dialed in.

[Mike J]

I agree as far as jigs at the store not being cheap and for me it's the hook that I want quality.  Not sure where your getting your hooks but if your making a dozen jigs for less than 5 cents I need your supplier!  That's just a little over $4.00 a thousand hooks!

[Apdriver]

That's what I was thinking Mike. I can't buy hooks anywhere that cheap. Now, using Gamakatsu and Trokar drives your costs that much more. For a bass jig, thirty cents a piece in the hook is what I've been paying. I try not to use the aforementioned hooks and stay with Mustads and ELBP's.