Been practicing the past couple days

[Micropterus salmoides]

Jigs are awesome and I like your foam cradle

[Micropterus salmoides]

Jigs are awesome n I like your foam cradle I don't work in quantity so I usually just stick em in some loose skin while I paint another. Advantages of powder paint. If you ever decide to go the pp route, yell at me, I've got some extras if you build your own bed.

[NeonMoon]

Thanks Skip, I had read your posts and saw the mix you use. I'd also read where others use acetone to thin, thought that was what I'd grabbed but it was mineral spirits. I'll try it with the proper thinner next time (I also believe I'd read some use laquer thinner). Micropterus- Thanks! I thought setting them vertical (hook down) would allow any excess paint to run towards the hook end of the head as opposed to making the heads odd-shaped. Glad I did since the enamel is a bit slower to dry. They make a hardener for the enamel (which I've used before on larger projects), and a $15/pint would do thousands of heads if it didn't lock-up 1st. It dries hard as a rock & tough as nails. If I decide to paint more heads, I'll likely give it a try. I appreciate the offer, but unable to provide a heat source for the powder paints much of the time (live in RV, and use solar power much of the time).

[skeetbum]

I use a Wagner(I think) heat gun used for stripping paint and such, $20 at Lowes. It's looks like a blow dryer (yellow housing) that will stand on it's tail and is really easy to use. DON"T use the wife's oven to cure them, a cheap yard sale toaster oven works best and keeps you sleeping in the RV and not in the dog house.

[NeonMoon]

Skeet, I live in a converted bus and get my electric from roof mounted solar panels. Anything that generates heat (electrically) isn't feasible. Thanks for the advice though (matter of fact I also have a Wagner heat gun). I've pretty much decided I'm not even gonna fool with painting the heads. I dount the crappie won't wanna bite 'em because I didn't paint 'em.

Gonna head south (or west) for the winter, maybe I'll play with some powder painting when I come back next spring (and have outside power available). I like the looks of it, and it makes for a much nicer looking jig, but I'm not tying to sell.

[Micropterus salmoides]

NM, if you ever make it this far south, give me a yell. Would love to take a look at your solar set up. Could put you on a place to park for a bit where you could catch food and stock up for the next trip.

Good fishing,
Adam

[NeonMoon]

Thanks Adam! I may just do that sometime, was gonna spend this winter in Quartzsite (AZ) but they've got some "stuff" going-on that is making me feel I should steer-clear right now. Thinking about going to GA this fall to visit a buddy down there. He doesn't fish, so I may have to work on that, lol.


For now, here is a pic ov my PV panels: