Fluid Bed Build - Part 2 Results

Well here we go - the beds were all dried up as were the cups so got it all set up. And YES I ran all three beds at once!!!!!!!!

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1154.jpg

The three way air valve worked GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! and another surprise was when I opened the air pump 60 gallon - it was dual nozzle!!!

Here's what I started with for jigs

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1150.jpg

and ended up breaking out more!!!!!!! I am seriously gonna pay for it tommorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can load 6 pans for baking at a time

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1155.jpg

I did 6 loads of six and one of three for 39 pans of jigs!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the results -

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1156.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1157.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1159.jpg

This is the last batch cooling off

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1161.jpg

While a load was curing I used the new heat gun to get more trays loaded up - it really worked good, definatly worth the $22 I paid for it.

Looks good, I like the pans. Busy, busy, busy. Glad to see you're feeling better these days.

Looks good Fatman. I have found that while painting you will need to stir the paint every little while to keep it boiling

Cool, looks like your enjoying your self once again. That is the best part!

Bud
I'm glad it worked for you! I may have to invest in a bigger pump one day and go that route. You're output is off the chart and looks like the wait was worth it.

Adam

I started just before noon and finished up and cleaned up at 1045 last night!!!!!!!! I had planned on pouring jigs today but no way!!!!!!! I really over did it, but the beds were working so good it was hard to stop!!!! so today it's sitting and relaxing and trim the swivels is about it.

A few things that I learned from it was that I think I'm gonna stick with the dip in the paint cup on the pony/horse head jigs. Looking at them this morning I noticed the paint was a little low on the swivels so I'm gonna have to use a razor blade to clear some of it out so the swivels turn like there supposed to, but it won't take long. In a bigger 3 inch bed I don't think it would be a problem. I am definately going to buy some more cups - it got to be a pain cleaning them out to use a different color.

As in many threads folks list about using threaded cups, YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!! Makes it way easier and doesn't allow any air flow problems. Make sure that any cups you get have the thick flat base or you won't be able to use the mesh it won't have any way to glue it on. The mesh also helped when I slipped with the pliers and lost a hot jig head in the cup - it didn't go through the mesh, if it had been a coffee filter or anything else I think I'd have had a heck of a mess.

I did like the fact that if you dipped the ball, minnow and tube heads just right there was no need to clear the eye before curing.

I started just before noon and finished up and cleaned up at 1045 last night!!!!!!!! I had planned on pouring jigs today but no way!!!!!!! I really over did it, so today it's sitting and relaxing and trim the swivels is about it.

FM
Hold your jig by the eye when you dip it.
Glad you like the screw cups and they worked good. May have to switch to your adhesive.

Adam

WOW, you did an AWESOME job! Have you seen the covers (or lids) for the cups? I will let you know if any of those 1000 reach me in the swap...lol.
NightProwler

Right now the lids wouldn't do me any good - I don't have a dedicated work area so I can leave anything out, I have to clean up after every session no matter what I'm doing. And I don't want to put them in a box and have the lids come off and waste the paint. Was really careful cleaning the cups so didn't waste any.

Ok I just got off work so I'm alil tired....so may not be processing this correctly, but I'm not fully understand the cups and the mesh....can you explain? I have a fluid bed but wanna try to make my own and so I wanna know how you do the cups.

Thanks!
AC

Hey AC

Here's the first part showing the build http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...bed-build.html and looking back you're right I didn't show the cups being made so here goes.

The first two fluid beds I had I won from a now closed ultra light fishing site. The beds were made so the top cup just sat inside it. When I went to use it I had a lot of air flow problems and that's when I built my own with threaded cups.

This top cup with the dark band around it is from the bed I won, I wrapped the Gorilla brand duct tape in hopes that it would solve the air flow problem - almost but not quite.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1208.jpg

In this photo showing the three beds working you'll see that I wrapped more of the duct tape around the outside of the cup and that solved the air flow problem and it worked great
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1151.jpg

So, when you go to get screw in top cups make sure that you don't get cups with beviled edges. You can't use the mesh on them. Get them like this, shows the threaded cup
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1205.jpg

Since I already made them I'll use a photo of the top of the cup to show what the bottom edge should look like, a nice flat area plenty for the mesh to stick to
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1206.jpg

On the mesh - The stuff I have was given to me. Here's a photo of it
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1203.jpg

The person I got it from had ordered it from McMaster Carr, he knows that's where he bought it but couldn't find the order numbers. I tried to order some more and what I got will not work for fluid beds, the powder went right through it, so it's going back. I'm checking further on it to get the right stuff. If I manage to get it I'll post what I got but in the meantime, you can go to TJ's Tackle. He carries the already cut round mesh pieces for fluid beds - send him an email and tell him what size you're looking for. If you get his ask him what adhesive he uses on the material he has - the stuff I used works on what I have.

Here is the adhesive I used for building the beds and attaching the mesh
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1143.jpg

Put a layer around the bottom edge of the cup put it on the mesh - and I used an old cookie sheet then put weight on top of it. Make sure to let them dry completely, I let mine cure up for a couple of days The batteries in my camera died so if you look at the bottom right of the picture you'll see the mesh on one of my finished cups
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/100_1203.jpg

And that's all there is to making them. If you have any more questions let me know, and I'll help you out.

Well after I sent the in-correct mesh back to McMaster Carr I sent them a letter with a scrap piece of the mesh. Even though it came from them they can't match it to anything they have so I can't provide any more info on it than I have. As I said contact TJ's Tackle for the cut rounds of mesh.