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Fluid bed advice

3K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  cadman 
#1 ·
Just wondering if there is any way I can get by without spending $100 on a fluid bed device. I don't make a ton of jigs, but often I get too much powder on when just dip in the jar.
 
#11 ·
I've made a fluid bed and went back to dipping right into the powder jar. In my opinion, it is more hassle than it is worth. You can get a nice even coverage just dipping in the jars if you.....

- Make sure you stir the powder so it does not get clumped together. You want it to stay 'fluffy' in the jar.

- Dip the hot head in the 'fluffy' powder quickly, swish it around, pull it out and tap it off on the edge of the jar.

- MOST IMPORTANTLY, watch your heat closely, too hot a head will make the powder stick on thick even if you are using a fluid bed. Only heat it enough to get the powder to stick. If you need more coverage, reheat it and dip it again. I heat mine after dipping to get it to completely gloss over so i make sure it has enough paint.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I just use a heat gun and dip directly into the jar. As mentioned above if the powder paint is too thick reduce the heat time. Once the heat gun is up to temp just count off the seconds. My heat gun on low will warm a medium sized jig in about five seconds. Heat guns are all different and you will need to determine the time for your heat gun. Also larger lures require a bit more time.
After heating then plunge the jig into the powder paint with a quick swirl and back out, total time in the paint is just a second or two. If it looks thick tap the hook shank on the side of the jar to vibrate off any excess material.

If it comes out of the power paint looking dull and fuzzy. That's just right. Also the hook eye should be open. Then back to the heat gun until the dull fuzzy coating turns to an even gloss. When your are finished with that batch of jigs do what you normally do to heat cure.

Everything happens very quickly, I don't use pliers or anything to hold the hooks. Just fingers. You get the jig hot, into the paint , back to the heat gun and onto the cooling rack in like 10 seconds.

Start off with short times and increase until the jig comes out dull and fuzzy and fully coated. If one is not fully coated place it onto the cooling rack and come back to it later. If you try to do dip it twice maybe the hook is starting to get too warm to hand hold.

Here are the steps in list form, this will get them coated, when finished with the batch don't forget to cure them.
  1. Heat gun up to temp
  2. Warm jig (5 seconds or so)
  3. Quick swirl into the powder pain jar (1 second, comes out coated with a dull fuzzy look)
  4. Back to the heat gun for a (couple of seconds until glossy, reduce heat or warming time if thick finish or if the hook eye fills)
  5. On to the cooling rack
  6. Grab another jig and back to step 1
 
#19 ·
if I like to paint 2 colors jig,
I have two cups difrent color powder,each cup has T spoon in it,i heat the jig and hold over one cup,grab the spoon full of powder and drop on jig,turn the jig and do the same think in second cup with deferent color,you can do one color or two colors.
one color,you turning the jig while you droping the powder paint,this way the powder paint is fluffy all time.
I like smoll wide plastic cups for powder paint,when I am done I just put lid on them,this way you can have many colors redy to use with out cleaning.
 
#20 ·
If anyone wants my plans for a fluid bed, you can either PM me or e-mail me through my website. If you want two colors, figure out which ones and the passive color should be on the entire jig, and the dominant over the passive color. Lots of ways to powder paint.
 
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