It worked! ... after a couple of mistakes

[bdorman]

Package from CrazyAngler arrived this morning with my first-ever powder paint, so I took a break from work to try my new home-made fluid bed.

Miracle of miracles, it worked! I only put about 1/3 ounce in the 2"-diameter cup (figuring I can always ad more if it's not doing the job); using a grocery bag filter.

But it didn't happen without a little trial and error, too. I overheated two jig heads before getting it right. The first jig head had some soot on it so I tried to wipe it with a paper towel. It fell apart as I was wiping it and I thought "what a cheap jig head!" So I held another one under the flame and completely melted that one...as in "splat!" on the floor.

The third one I got right: about one inch above the flame, rotating it for around 8-10 seconds. Swished it in the fluid bed cup, tapped in on on the rim and gave it another 2 seconds under the flame (probably not necessary).

Thanks to everyone one here for all the advice.

[Nightprowler]

Get yourself a cheap alcohol burner (add 90% rubbing alcohol) and candle soot is a thing of the past. A tip from Redman that works great!
Post some pics of your handy work on the fluid bed and your jig heads.
NightProwler

[bdorman]

I think I'm going to try the wickless burner that I referred to in another post. I'll let you know how it goes. If I don't like it, I'll give it to my wife and say, "Look Hon, I got you a new chafing dish burner." I've been using a long-stem cigarette lighter; the kind you use for lighting candles. It's butane but it will still leave soot if you get the lead in the flame.

I plan to take photos of the fluid bed but I've got to get the dog out of the house first. The sound of the camera scares her to death. I mean "under the coffe table, shaking" kind of scared. It's weird, a 14 lb. dog that will growl-down a 90 lb. doberman...but she's scared to death of a camera.