I'm using a do-it-yourself version of what most of the big manufacturers are now using which is a bake-on powder paint process. I get lure hardware and paints from a couple places:
I got the powder paint from the canucks (top link), though Stamina sells their own too. I got 2" lure bodies from the canucks and the top-gun sized in hammered and smooth finishes from Stamina.
They actually recommend using an airbrush. I don't have one, so I just use little paintbrushes, one per color. The procedure is you hold the spoon body over a heat source like a bunson burner or I have a little alcohol burner for a few seconds, then you dip the piece right in the powder paint or brush it on. You hold the piece back over the flame to have it melt between adding more colors / details. It took a while to get this down but now I can pain pretty nice patterns, Wonderbreads, Monicas etc. After you're done you bake the pieces in the oven at like 350 for 10-15 minutes. This cures the paint job and produces an automotive like tough and strong bond to the lure. One last thing is I'm using a lot of the "super glow" paints that will glow in the dark for 2-4 hours. Seemed to help in the depths last summer.
thanks for those web sites. I knew they were out there some where. Try buying an air brush, they rock! very cheap and easy to use. Makes them look like they were professionaly done!!! I'm going to try the glow paint for my lake ontario lures too.
If you try to spray the bake on powder... make sure you use an airbrush designed for the dry paint. I've heard it doesn't work through a regular gun.
Netcraft has the bake on stuff too. I've been thinking of trying it. Surprised how many colors they have available in both regular and glow.
Those 2" spoon blanks are nice. Surprised to hear you order from them... I have an open account with those guys. Great prices. Waiting for an order that's been delayed due to a lack of 2 3/8" spoon blanks. LOL Just what I need, more lures!
Slip, good point about the air guns for powder paint. Not surprising but these places also sell the air brush devices for their powder paints...
The canadian outfit supposedly has or is getting little 1.5 in lure blanks. They started selling 2 in blanks after I begged them. I've been using the 2 in for my "smelt gun" imitations but would like to go even smaller. Outside of these two outfits I've had a real hard finding source for the smaller lure blanks in the size range of whats used on Winni.
I hear ya... I've been email chatting with one of the guys at the canadian store trying to get them to sell us some copper or gold blanks, maybe some hammered too. Funny how you can find all this in the larger sizes, but not in "our" size.
Funny thing... I just received an order of 7/8" hammered nickel spoons. They're so small they're cute. Looks like a size 10 treble for these guys. I figure what the heck, I'll try 'em. Can't hurt.
Thats a good find Craig. The smallest I've found "available" are the 1.5 in spoon blanks from the Canadian outfit (you use too?). Stamina sells blanks made by Worth. I called Worth and for about $2,000 or so they could make a mold for a spoon of any size I wanted. I told them I'd have to get back to them!
