Question about powder painting

[jighead76]

I have been powderpainting for about 4 years now and most jigs turnout ok. My question is what temps do you bake small 1/32 or smaller and not get running paint or melted lead? I have a fluid bed and always follow directions. I use protec paint or T.J.s tackle paint and even have net craft paint too.
I have been doing a 3 layer paint I like on ice jigs. Primary color then a white on half then a glow on bottom. Is it too much paint? Also I notice when I lower the temp and bake longer it doesn't get as hard and chips when I drag them on rocks.
Anything would help. Thanks

[CrappieStalker1]

I do the same as you. I bake mine at 375 for 20 min.

[crappielimits]

I do 350 for 15 minutes.

[CrappieStalker1]

Do you add a few minutes for warm up time?

[STUMP HUNTER]

I bake all my jigs at 350 for 20 minutes. Most of the time I have some smaller jigs 1/64 all the way up to 1/4 oz in the oven curing at the same time.

[CrappieStalker1]

x2 here also

[jighead76]

What's a warm up time? I just set my oven, sometimes low like 275 for small jigs and when it is at temp I put them in. I tried 350 for tiny ones and sometimes it melts the lead and all. Most times I get paint dripping. But at the lower temp (275) it doesn't do that but it's not as hard. Some of these ice jigs are 1/80-1/100

[CrappieStalker1]

If your getting paint drippings you maybe warming your jigs up to hot before dipping them, into the paint. Which is allowing to much paint to be on the head.

[CrappieStalker1]

I paint 1/100-1/80-1/64 all the time. I use a heat gun to warm my heads. Allowing the small one a sec or 2 in the heat before dipping into the paint.

[Fatman]

Are you using the fluid bed to put the two extra colors on??? If you are you may be getting to heavy a coat. Try brush tapping the powder on and see if it gives you a better coat.

When I cure if I have any jigs that have glitter in them I'll cure for 20-25 mins at 325 degrees. This includes jigs down to 1/32nd and I don't get any chips.

No matter what oven your using to cure them get a small in-oven thermometer and check the actual temp!!!! I've seen on other boards where temps are 15-20 degrees higher than what they were set at.

I know powder paint gives a good hard paint job, but if you're bouncing them on rocks they will chip after a while, they aren't indestructable.