Painting My Plugs

[Bass Freak]

I have been given a Badger 200 airbrush as an X-Mas gift....I have a few blank plugs that I want to try and paint and have decided on color patterns...all that is to decide is the following:

(1) what kind of paint should I use for painting my blanks???......acrylic??...an oil based paint??.....or something else???....what is commonly used?

Im thinking of the salt water enviroment..........acrylic seems weak or at the very least it is a hard paint that seems to chip easily?? ?...maybe Im wrong?.......an oil based paint seems more durable.

I have picked up a couple of "Createx" fluorescent paints at Micheals that say they clean up with water so Im assuming there water based paints......I also have access to 100 or more 2 oz bottles of Acrylic paints by various manufacturers......do I need to reduce the acrylic before spraying?? If so what do I reduce it with?...water?

(2) what do you use to pre-seal your plugs prior to painting??....linseed oil>>????....how many coats should I apply....sand between coats.....??...

(3) what type of sealer do you guys use as a final step??...can I use any old varnish, lacquer or sealer?........I have some hardwood floor sealer that is as clear as water...and as hard as diamonds....can I use this??

(4) what is it you guys are using to create the scale look on the plugs??.....lt reminds me of those mesh looking pantyhose....lol

thanks for any input

[Mason's Dad]

Dunk your plugs in sealer and let dry for a few days, sand then prime. If you use blo, make sure you don't crumple up your rags and throw them in the corner. You may burn the house down.
Oil based and createx paints are widely used and you can't go wrong with either of them. What you put on top for a finish coat will determine how well your paint holds up too. Just remember, hook rash is going to happen.
I believe some builders use epoxy as a topcoat and sealer so try a 2 part for your topcoat, easily found at Michael's as well. Good luck.

[Bass Freak]

Thanks Dad.......

so let them soak in sealer.....like a linseed oil??...will that do??.....and let them dry for a few days....((that makes sense))......

But what is this "blo" you speak of??....that can cause a fire in rags!!!!........is that some name of a sealer??......I know a 2 aprt epoxy can cause heat while it reacts.....and in the right conditions it will ignite.....

Ok Ill be carefull with rags and such...thanks for that tip....

Now the paint...you say Createx is good....and an oil base paint is durable.......but what about acrylics??.....are they ok to use???.....I have access to well over 100 of these as a family member was into hobby painting of ceramics etc.......



I think I will use an epoxy for the finish coat....epoxy is better suited to a salt water enviroment.

[Bass Freak]

There is a ton of information available by reading the plug building forums already in here.....((Ive got reading to do)).....and will post questions if need be.

Man some people's work in here is awesome!!!!!!....some really talented folks......great looking lures....damn.....some are better than what is for sale in the stores...

[Mason's Dad]

blo is boiled linseed oil. Spray with the acrylic since you've got it and if it doesn't neet your liking, switch. That's what most of us do. Trial and error, whether it's sealer, primer,paint,topcoat, and even shape and weight placement. As for the scales, try tulle or orange, onion bag.

[Bass Freak]

Thanks for the tips Mason.......

after I posted some questions I got to reading some threads in the plug building section and have since learned that "BLO" is boiled linseed oil......lol...how ovbious is that now...: What isnt so ovbious is why the need to boil it??.....and I thoooooought I read it gets cut with water/??....is that right??.....I'll have to go back andf try to find that lil' tid bit of info.

The acrylic is what I will start with as I have literally hundreds of bottles of it here.....and I noticed it (acrylic) is a bit thicker than the createx brand....that (createx) is like ready to spray!~!!!!!......now to cut or thin the acrylic I have heard to cut it wioth water....and I also heard there is some sort of "reducer" you can use for thinning acrylic paints.....and its not water......have you any idea what it is called? Ive been to Micheals this past weekend and didnt see anything for reducing acrylic paint.

Ahhhh yes....the ongion bag.......again...how ovbious is that now?!?!?!?!?!....I read that....went to the fridge and tore off a large piece....wrapped my blank in it and immmediatley could see the scale pattern....isnt this a classic example of neccessity breeds invention...

Thanks for your help...I appreciate it.

[Jackbass]

Onion bags, laundry bags, clementine packaging, Thule it is all good stuff.

PS if you are going to seal in BLO mix it with Mineral spirits to thin it out. 60/40 Then when you think it is ready for paint sand it to make sure it comes off in a fine dust not clumpy material. BLO takes a long time to dry but is an excellent sealer. I give mine a week with BLO.

[kickin' bass ass]

Originally Posted by Bass Freak

Thanks for the tips Mason.......



The acrylic is what I will start with as I have literally hundreds of bottles of it here.....and I noticed it (acrylic) is a bit thicker than the createx brand....that (createx) is like ready to spray!~!!!!!......now to cut or thin the acrylic I have heard to cut it wioth water....and I also heard there is some sort of "reducer" you can use for thinning acrylic paints.....and its not water......have you any idea what it is called? Ive been to Micheals this past weekend and didnt see anything for reducing acrylic paint.

Ahhhh yes....the ongion bag.......again...how ovbious is that now?!?!?!?!?!....I read that....went to the fridge and tore off a large piece....wrapped my blank in it and immmediatley could see the scale pattern....isnt this a classic example of neccessity breeds invention...

Thanks for your help...I appreciate it.

water is fine to thin acrylic,afterall its waterbased,like george said alot of what is done is trail and error,if it works stick with it ,if itdoesnt try and try again.you should try to make one of the swaps,there is one tonight at the edge

[maddhatterr]

Minwax make a woodhardner that dries in a half an hour. Its more expensive but works great without days of drying time....also i use laquaers rather than acrylics. You just have to thin them down till there like water and they work great. Only problem is finding them, I use Pactra racing laquaers from testorscom. For my base coat I use a rustoleum product(flat white 7790 i think, can be found at home cheapo along with woodhardner). For my second coat I use a vinyl paint. Found dipping is best method for applying vinyl paint. Vinyl is another hard to find item but not impossible on the internet. Have found this gives the plugg a very durable paint job.

[Bass Freak]

Vinyl paint.....never thought of that: .....yes that would be durable.........

well Ive discovered there is several ways to skin a cat. and paint plugs...so I think its time to just do it and see what happens........

Ok first step Im going to do is soak the plugs in BLO......lol...sounds so funny to say that.....BLO!!!!.....60 Linseed oil......40 mineral spirits...........

ok I get that...but the next question is this:...how long do you boil it for??.....and more importantly....why am I boiling this concoction....to completly and throughly ensure the 2 different chemical makeups merge as one liquid??? ..

is there a consistency I should be looking for in this BLO??.....a certain look or color.??......a smell...lol....like burnt something???.......and yes I understand to not throw BLO rags anywheres.....I wont burn down the shop.....I promise......

thanks for the invite to plug night Kickin.....but Im a long way away from Valley Rd Middletown RI.....lol