heat source for powder painting

well guys, I fried my heat gun the other day. experimenting with a few different ways of getting a thin even coat of paint without purchasing a fluid bed. I got some powder on the jig that didn't quite melt and when i put the jig back on the heat, I left it on the heat too long and it melted the lead right off the hook. the hot lead went down into the heating element of the heat gun and fried it. I was looking at one of those little mini torches at walmart. What do you guys use for heat sources and what is the best way to fluff up the paint without the use of a fluid bed. may still have to buy one, but wanna try other options before i go that route.

I have used the Small propane torch, a candle, a heat gun but I like using a alcohol burner the best. You don't need a big flame and using quick counts over the heat will get the jighead hot enough for the powder paint. I ordered my burner but I buy the alcohol at Lowes or Home Depot.
Here is a link to the burner.
Alcohol Lamp, Fishing rod building tool

The paint needs to be well mixed before using and if you are coating a lot of heads mix the paint often. I like to use the little coffee mixing sticks.

Will try to upload a picture of my home made Alcohol lamp. Got to show it off today and it cost almost nothing. BTW I burn 91% medical Alcohol in mine. I have painted right at 1000 heads with a pint. The cost of it is right at a buck for a pint. Way cheaper than denatured and you can use in in the bathroom as well as the paint room.

Redman

Wagner heat gun at Lowes for around $20. Love mine, and it stands on it's tail to make it easy to use.

I use an oven as, IMO, heat control is the most important aspect of applying powder paint consistently. I find different types and colors of powder paint like different temps to apply a thin smooth layer. I've experimented and marked each paint container so I can set the oven to the temp that paint seems to like best. Plus a fluid bed compliments the heat level to get that thin layer to produce heads quickly.

I've tried straight from the jar, stirred it, shook it, but you can't beat the fluid bed for a good output. Just my opinion.

Charlie

I've tried straight from the jar, stirred it, shook it, but you can't beat the fluid bed for a good output. Just my opinion.



X2

Alcohol Burner is what I use and like it a lot. No suit or anything as it burned clean. Also the fuel is cheap. I don't like the heat gun for several reasons, but most I just don't wan to hear that all day long as I paint several orders at one time so it can take me all day sometime.

Skip

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Originally Posted by Redman

Will try to upload a picture of my home made Alcohol lamp. Got to show it off today and it cost almost nothing. BTW I burn 91% medical Alcohol in mine.

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I would definitely be interested in seeing that.

i am gonna try the alcohol burner and i have decided to build me a fluid bed. the best part is my fiance says she doesn't care what i get as long as i keep her tackle box filled with jigs and painted heads as well as mine.

I use an old toaster oven with a wire rack.Works great.

FishAction... pm sent.

Would anyone be willing to do a beginners guide/thread to powder paint? I see people talking as much about painting as tying.

Benjamin has some good video's here. Just click on powder paint in the left hand column.
Welcome to TJ's Tackle

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Originally Posted by johnw

I use an old toaster oven with a wire rack.Works great.

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+1 Go to Walmart and buy the cheapest they have or hit a garage sale and buy a used one, my last garage sale buy cost me all of $5 and it will control your heat and cure cycle far better than any type of burner or heat gun.

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Originally Posted by ifish

Benjamin has some good video's here. Just click on powder paint in the left hand column.
Welcome to TJ's Tackle

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X2 that. It's already there so no need to do a thread since it's on line already.

Skip

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Originally Posted by mncrappie35

i am gonna try the alcohol burner and i have decided to build me a fluid bed. the best part is my fiance says she doesn't care what i get as long as i keep her tackle box filled with jigs and painted heads as well as mine.

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Your a lucky man, but I would also say if money is not that tight, buy a fluid bed from TJ"s. I have had several home made ones and they just don't compare to one like he sells. I have one of his and before I knew I could get them fro less I paid a lot more from CSI to get a good one. Before anyone ask, yes I have 2, but I use 2 often for several reasons.

Skip

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Originally Posted by Mike Andrews

+1 Go to Walmart and buy the cheapest they have or hit a garage sale and buy a used one, my last garage sale buy cost me all of $5 and it will control your heat and cure cycle far better than any type of burner or heat gun.

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About all of us uses a toaster oven to cure the heads. I think most of us are talking about heating the heads for the powder paint dip. After I have painted 100 or so heads I cure em in the oven.

Hit up Goodwill/Salvation Army today. New Toaster Oven!!! $6.50! if you are thinking about looking for one check them out.

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Originally Posted by STUMP HUNTER

About all of us uses a toaster oven to cure the heads. I think most of us are talking about heating the heads for the powder paint dip. After I have painted 100 or so heads I cure em in the oven.

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I use mine for both but have given thought to trying an alcohol burner or heat gun for pre-heating.

For me (not necessary everyone) the alcohol burner is perfect as all I do is figure out my count rhythm and for example I count 8 or 10 while swapping sides of the head for a 1/16, for a 1/32 maybe 6 count at most and 1/64 a 2 count on each side. I don't have all the noise of the heat gun and the flame is clean and controllable with wick length sticking out. Have had mine almost 6 years and same wick is going well. I am use to the flame and count I use so it's very easy and I don't word about the burner getting knocked over and burning something not intended. To each his or her own, but I wouldn't change from my burner for anything else Tried a torch one time and that was all it took for me to give that idea up real fast as the first small 1/32 oz jig head I put in it melted the lead off the hook and I mean fast.

I like an alcohol burner also.

Bought an alcohol burner off E-Bay and have it charged up and waiting. Wish me luck and put the FD on stand-by:p

I am still old school and use a toaster oven.

hey bub search youtube for fluid bed for your p paint i built mine from pvc and small fish tank pump works great

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Wagner heat gun at Lowes for around $20. Love mine, and it stands on it's tail to make it easy to use.

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I agree with Skeet. If I understood you correctly you put the jig back on the heat gun. I never do this but wave it back & forth over the heat gun for about 7-8 seconds then apply the powder paint. I cure it in a toaster oven.

I put my powder paint in a plastic tubberware bowl and shake it around a couple of times with the top on. I then swish a hot jighead thru it making sure to tap off any excess powder paint. I repeat the process every 10-15 jigs or as needed.

I've heard good things about alcohol lamps but have never used them.

Finally I got the job done I think??? Here is what I use to heat the jig heads. It cost is nothing but the fuel to run it. Take a 4 oz. pimento jar and punch a small hole in the lid. Take a piece of COTTON Rope 4 inches should be enough stick it in the hole that you punched in the lid. Fill 1/4 full of 91 % medical alcohol wait till the wick gets wet light and start painting. You can pour any unused Alcohol back in the bottle and use it again. So here are the pictures of the no cost Alcohol Lamp.
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/...9/100_2197.jpg
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/...9/100_2198.jpg
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/...9/100_2199.jpg

Enjoy and remember not to fill it up over half full I like to work at a quarter full and it will last a loooong time. BTW My wife makes a great pimento cheese sandwich.

Redman

Thanks for sharing Redman. Now were getting a glimps inside of your outside of the box.
NightProwler

That's cool. Thanks. Now for a toaster oven to cure them.

Sent from my BlackBerry 8530 using Tapatalk

Now that's what I'm talking about, Redman that's the best one yet. First and foremost, when starting out make it affordable, learn the tricks, do's and don'ts, and then if your still interested do the upgrades. I been at it a bit, I'm still one cheap ole fart. I do use a torch, just enough gas to get a point from the center orifice, it's smaller than a candle but hotter. I don't count, I watch the lead. It will get brighter just when it's the right temp to dip, not melt. I buy my paint by the pound a fill the original containers just above 1/2 full. I roll the container tilted a few times and dip the jig. This allows the paint remain fluffed and keeps the paint in the jar. For a fluid bed pm Bugman on the MO board, I think he charges around $35, it's a excellent deal with extra cups and everything available. Or check it out on Ebay under SimplyCrappie

The wife just bought a new toaster oven, and I don't think I better!!! I have a very old one that works good and at the price they are at the Goodwill and Junktique shops if this one goes I go shopping. Shine Runner don't think that I will try to build a Toaster oven.

Why spend $4 to $10 on a alcohol lamp when you can make one. Dang man 10 bucks buys a lot of material. I will try to build something if I think it practical. Now I live in the Deep Woods of Deep East Texas I am 27 miles from the nearest Wally World 6 miles by water to the nearest grocery store. So sometimes out side the box is the best way to think if you want to get things done. Remember Skip, Robert at Crazy Angler, and I all live in Deep East Texas there is a reason.

Redman

I also use a toaster oven, both to heat the jigs prior to painting and to cure the paint. I do everything from 1 oz. striper jigs to 1/32 oz. panfish jigs.

I picked mine up at a yard sale for $2. Set it @ 375* and heat the jigs for about 15 min., dip 'em in the paint, and cure 'em for another 15 min.

Works like a charm.

Tom

I like Redman's alcohol lamp but how safe is it? I think about all the alcohol lamps would be about the same but are they safe? Just makes me nervous... not that a hot heat gun falling over wouldn't ruin my day...

-VCM

Redman,

I am curious, what is the best way to "put out" your alcohol lamp? Have you had any problems doing that?

LOL Redman. I should have said I need to get an oven. Although I do believe you could do it. Easier is not always better and you guys are really creative. I appreciate all the advice and tips given on this forum. The fish seem bigger when you catch them on something you made yourself.

Sent from my BlackBerry 8530 using Tapatalk

Okay there are two question that need to be answered. The first one is how safe is it. I build this lamp back in March of this year. I have painted about 1,500 jig heads with it. It has had not quite a pint of Alcohol run thur it. The longest it has run is two hours. I don't fill it over 1/4 full. On 1/4 it will run over 2 hour may be 3. The jar is never warm to touch the lid will get warm. I never have had a incident with it. The only trouble I had with it was the sloppy paint jobs I did when I started out.

Second Question is how do I put it out. I can blow out the flame but I have a small metal lid. Like comes on a lip balm jar and I place it over the flame to extinguish the flame. Some times you will need to set up the oven and get the next round of heads ready to paint and I will cut the flame until I need it again. This lamp is very straight forward and am very comfortable using it.


Redman

myself I use a heat gun I do not have any problems we bought one with a heat control so we do not worry about melding any lead it is very fast insufficient for me you can buy one with the heat control for about 40 bucks or so.

Bob 40 Bucks. Man that is big bucks. Can live for a week on 40 bucks. Well not really just I have to justify spending that much money and don't like to if I don't have to. Heat guns might be nice to have but I will keep using my little lamp and keep my money in my sock. You know us old Geezers on Rocking chair money. Lols!!!


Redman

I use a heat gun from Harbor Freight to heat the lead. The low setting does not get hot enough to melt lead. Only drawback is it's a bit noisy. Basically a beefed up hair dryer. Or the head is heated, I dip it and hang the jig on the side of a tumbler glass. Once I have enough, I hang them on the rack of a used toaster oven and bake them for 15 minutes at 375. The oven shuts off automatically, and I just let them cool off inside. I can do between 50 and 100 at a time, depending on the size of the heads.

The heat gun cost about $15, but you can sometimes get them on sale for about half that. I paid $10 for the oven on craigslist.