Painting Jig Heads

[Doc Crappie]

What is the best and easiest way to paint your jig heads, what else is needed besides that paint? Is power base a better choice

[AtticaFish]

Probably least expensive to get into is to buy some nail polish - can get it on sale $1 at discount stores. Get whatever color but also get a good clear coat to put over top, I use hard as nails.

Learned a helpful hint from my wife... if you put more than one layer on, let them dry for 6 or 8 hours before you put the next coat or else the under-coat may never dry.

Don't know nothing about powder paints... sounds like alot of work IMO.

[Doc Crappie]

Probably least expensive to get into is to buy some nail polish - can get it on sale $1 at discount stores. Get whatever color but also get a good clear coat to put over top, I use hard as nails.

Learned a helpful hint from my wife... if you put more than one layer on, let them dry for 6 or 8 hours before you put the next coat or else the under-coat may never dry.

Don't know nothing about powder paints... sounds like alot of work IMO.

that is a good idea and i never would have thought about waiting that long to put the second coat on, i learned something here

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

I think powder paint is the way to go.All's you need is a heat source,powder paint and a forceps..heat,dip, shake off excess and your done.NO WAITING.You can cure them in oven and you get a nice hard finish.Some think that the curing process isn't necessary.

[AtticaFish]

Doc Crappie:"i learned something here"

Well, don't know that I do things right... Way I do it is to paint a coat on a bunch, hang em and usually let sit overnight. Am sure others have dif thoughts.

I'm interested to hear what others say about which lasts longer. I've bought some gumball(?) jigs that I ended up putting a coat of clear polish on because they chipped so bad!

[hays47]

I use the finger nail polish quite a bit. The hard as nails brand for my clear coat. For colors I use the powder paint and cheap nail polish such as some other member suggested. Also have tried minwax clear poly urethane and it works well for a clear coat.

The powder painting is not as hard as it sounds. After about 15 minutes of playing with the average joe gets the hang of it. Fluidizing bed equipment can get expensive unless you make our own.

[Doc Crappie]

I use the finger nail polish quite a bit. The hard as nails brand for my clear coat. For colors I use the powder paint and cheap nail polish such as some other member suggested. Also have tried minwax clear poly urethane and it works well for a clear coat.

The powder painting is not as hard as it sounds. After about 15 minutes of playing with the average joe gets the hang of it. Fluidizing bed equipment can get expensive unless you make our own.

How do you keep the jig eye open when you use the power paint for when you heat it in the oven to finish the process i have heard it is too hard for a jig eye buster to even break through it, haven't tried it yet so i dont know if it is true or not

[Buckeye Mike]

How do you keep the jig eye open when you use the power paint for when you heat it in the oven to finish the process i have heard it is too hard for a jig eye buster to even break through it, haven't tried it yet so i dont know if it is true or not

The easy way is to clean the eye Before you bake it, baking process makes it almost indestruckdable. Only kind of paint that i use.

[LedHed]

For ultra lite jigs -

Fingernail polish is great;
Cheap
No brush clean up
Fast drying – you can also get accelerators to cure faster
Lots of colors
Easy to get (enamels and acrylics)
Assorted finishes
Makes great eyes

Downside;
Vapors (VOC)
Thinning – tends to dry out quickly
Residual odor – eventually goes away

Not sure about the cure time of 6-8 hours, have applied 3 to 4 coats, in less time, with no problems.

Also powder paint is a very viable alternative;
Lot’s of colors
Multi- color application without dry time in between
No vapors
Very tuff finish
Cheap – if you shop around or swap

Downside;
Set up cost - if you use a fluid bed and the cost of a dedicated curing oven
Requires a work area
Dealing with heat

You can try air brushing – you would have to be doing bulk painting.

You can clean the eye before you cure; some cover the eye when applying the paint.
Try the search function for powder paint.

[Doc Crappie]

For ultra lite jigs -

Fingernail polish is great;
Cheap
No brush clean up
Fast drying – you can also get accelerators to cure faster
Lots of colors
Easy to get (enamels and acrylics)
Assorted finishes
Makes great eyes

Downside;
Vapors (VOC)
Thinning – tends to dry out quickly
Residual odor – eventually goes away

Not sure about the cure time of 6-8 hours, have applied 3 to 4 coats, in less time, with no problems.

Also powder paint is a very viable alternative;
Lot’s of colors
Multi- color application without dry time in between
No vapors
Very tuff finish
Cheap – if you shop around or swap

Downside;
Set up cost - if you use a fluid bed and the cost of a dedicated curing oven
Requires a work area
Dealing with heat

You can try air brushing – you would have to be doing bulk painting.

You can clean the eye before you cure; some cover the eye when applying the paint.
Try the search function for powder paint.

Thanks for the great information