What is the secret to getting half way decent looking eyes on jigs? I've tried nail polish and the head of different size nails but they just don't come out right. I think the nail polish dries too quick. :confused:
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What is the secret to getting half way decent looking eyes on jigs? I've tried nail polish and the head of different size nails but they just don't come out right. I think the nail polish dries too quick. :confused:
Here is what I do...Quote:
Originally Posted by IBNFSHN
First I painting the head and then I use a small set of cheap drill bits that have a flat end on the other end of the business end. I use one about 2 time larger than the other. I paint the first color on and later the black pupil. I use Acrylic paint for this. After it all dries I use Sally Henson's Hard As Nails Top Coat clear to coat the entire head.
Hope this helps,
Skip
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
I assume this is after baking? Where do you get your acrylic paint?
Yes after baking the head.Quote:
Originally Posted by IBNFSHN
I buy it at Walmart and I like the Apple Barrel Gloss best, but if I need a color they don't have in that I get the Apple Barrel that is not Gloss. All of it is made by PLAID.
Thanks Skip, I'll give it a try.Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
You might try putting the paint on a craft stick very thin. Just touch the paint on the stick with your nail, toothpick etc. This helps not to get too much paint on whatever you are using for putting on the eyes. With a little practice you will be fine. The acrylic paint is great because it is water base and can easily be wiped off if you make a mistake. Good luck, Pop
Skip, I've seen these instructions in several posts and I have to say the drill bit works great! After a little practice on getting the right amount of paint to control the size of the eye, every eye is perfectly round and right where I want it. And best of all, it's easy.
A question. I noticed that the Hard as Nails seems to cause a little bleeding in a white jig head; only noticed because when I came across the eye, I sometimes get a little milkiness. Have you experienced this and do you have a solution? Also, I assume you've tried it without the Hard as Nails on the eyes; did you have trouble with them chipping off or fading? Just curious; I'd use the HAN on the thread anyway, but I wondered what the eye durability is without it. If it lasts days or 20 fish or whatever, that would be fine; I fish so much wood by pitching (and I don't rig weedless), that I go through 10-15 jigs a day anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
Actually I have not tried to see how it holds up with out, but I can't imagine it lasting long since the powder paint even oven cured the crappie will eat off.
As for the white bleeding, I guess I have not done many white, but the FL Yellow is my pain in the arse. It is the only color the colors the brush of Sally's and I have to wipe it off each time or it will eventually color the nail polish more than wanted.
Not sure you can do much about the white and FL Yellow jig heads and they will just need to be done carefully.
Skip
OK. As I said, I can't seem to keep a jig longer than an hour or two before I break off and so have never seen cured powder paint deterioriate from too many fish. 'Course, if I'm pitching to rocks, banging off docks, etc., I've chipped them. Believe I'll try a few without Sally and see how long the eyes last. I'll still use it on the thread, as it can definitely unravel, especially if I finish with floss, which can really fray.
Thanks for the reply.
If you're using the acrylic paint that's water based...they won't last too long. They may last for a little but once they get wet it'll start to get soft and will come off easily.
The trick to get it not to bleed is to coat it fast and don't go over the same spot twice. You don't need a thick coat all over it, just get plenty on the brush then wipe it around and let dry.
Also cured heads will tend to bleed less than uncured heads. To make sure you're getting them completely cured and doing so at the right temperature and length of time, check out Skips thread at the top of this forum about how long to bake them.
Try the end of a wooden match stick, works for me!!!!!!
Thanks fellas. I cure them, despite the fact that they don't last long before I lose them. However, as one of you suggested, I may be brushing them too long with the HAN. As I think about it, I was originally coating the eyes and head, then moving to the threads; not much problem with bleeding then. Later, I started coating the threads first, and would also get some on the head; by the time I move to the head (maybe 30 seconds), it could be that the paint has softened near the edge of the thread and I'm brushing toward the eye, thereby getting the bleeding result into the eye. Anyway, I'll try to be quicker about it, coat the eye first, and not "overbrush".
As to the match stick, that sounds like a good idea, but I think that using various size drill bits works really well; you can adjust the size of the eye to the size of the jig, and put a pupil in the eye, just by using different sizes of bit. And Lord knows, I have enough old drill bits laying around:)
Hmm, I'll have to try some of the suggestions here.
the acrylic tamiya paint is water soluble before it dries, but don't get the idea it will wash off. it dries hard thin and tough, also you still have to thin it with a special thinner. usually use testors enamel for eyes on powder vinyl or acrylic. I find that dipping a jig in a clear coat keeps from spreading paint around. I have used alot of sally hansens clear too, but you always end up tinting your clear with whatever color you are coating. have four jars of tamiya acrylic clear on the way, have been using clear gloss that is put out by cs and is usually on the same rack as the vinyl jig paint, it is good for dipping too.
Has anyone tried a waterborne clear varnish?
I've always used epoxy to cover eyes and never had a problem.
Fatman