OMG you should have never said that. Run fast to St. Mary's and pray to St. George or you will be jinxed

Stay away from me. You are now TOTALLY jinxed, poor soul. The epoxy gods do not tolerate insolence.

G. I had the clumping problem last year, same exact problem, skims in cup, clumps as I applied it, and talked endlessly to Mike Fixture about the problem and to system 3 about the problem. Might want to call them direct , they were a big help. I will see if I saved the e mails from them about the particular problem. I seemed to remember I solved it but can't remember what the out come was as I forget everything nowadays.

I now remember what they told me. They asked me what the stock # was on the bottles, they have a sample of every product they sell./ They then looked it up and then mixed a few batches of the stuff I had.The had the same clumping situation but told me if you let it sit longer after mixing ,before you apply it, it will eventually un clump and the end result is good. I will still see if I can locate the e mails we traded back and forth. MIke Fixture recommend a brush change which i did as I was using acid brushes and that also helped a lot too. I found some cheap priced nice disposable brushes on line that work great and won't break the bank. I know you were using a new brush this year. I don't think the clumping has anything to do with the brush though.

System three begins to clump a little roughly 10 minutes after mixing. The clumps go away pretty quickly and are not an issue, although it seems kind of strange when they appear. Also, the clumps can be minimized a bit if you constantly stir the stuff and don't try to go back over the work you've done by adding more. I also applied all my finish with a popsicle stick, not a brush, and this minimizes bubbles and the like.

That sucks but don't worry about giving them out, no one will complain. Last year darters were the only thing I had problems with on the spinner, I'm not sure why but i think its because they're not symetrical and it couldn't flow evenly around the body like a round plug does. Darters are the only plugs I still flip...

yeah no going back over. Better off waiting till next day. System 3 was a great help, worth a call. IMO it is hands down the best epoxy out there for plugs but requires a little more attention. Worth the effort.

G. I find 90 to maybe a 100 degrees plenty hot enough, you may have gone too hot as you said. Try a sample mix and see if you wait a while longer that the clumps will eventually dissolve. I only do 8 plugs at a time so I can wait a while longer.

George, you might want to abandon the drying box and let them just spin for a day on your rod dryer as it seems to work best for me. My basement is about 70 degrees and the sys 3 sets up good in 12 hours and is real hard in 24. I can imagine the heated dryer will keep the stuff viscous longer than you want, thus the running problems may occur.

My stuff skimmed in the cup if I let it sit there too long and didn't stir it. If you treat the stuff like a cement mixer and keep stirring, the clumps are minimized.

Keep in mind here I'm doing small batches (30cc) and only coating 5-6 plugs at a time.

Finally, I hate to sound like a know it all on the sys 3 as I'm a rank beginner plug builder, but I've finished hundreds of fishing rods and the sys 3 properties are
much like aftcote properties with regard to mixing/applying, minus the clumping.

Don't forget epoxy hates sharp edges and daters have sharp edges. I break all my corners on all my edges so the epoxy won't draw back off the edges. Might require 2 coats. I have yet to epoxy my darters yet, but all my other stuff has no real sharp edges.

Good morning all.I am in epoxy hell also one whole batch ruined:smash: I am sick of it their has to be a better way.

I find that keeping the box, spinner set up at around 90 gives a much better finish than just room temp, and also keeps the dust and pets, and wood stove and daughter away from the plugs. Mike you know about epoxy with the rods so yo are no novice. I also find something that works with one person sometimes won't with another. Everyone has to find their comfort level and what works for them, that is why epoxy sucks so much

Hey G I luv ugly, clumpy, epoxied plugs and I bet Alan and Art do too.

Mike I will say this I never had any luck epoxying plugs in temps that low. Always had some sort of problem with them. That is just my 2 cents. Like I said nothing ever seems to be the same for any 2 individuals.

Two light coats versus one heavy is a good stategy for a difficult surface, no doubt. This is also how I would do a rod.

Been doing the plugs with one heavy coat. Admittedly, I do have some dust devils showing due to the fact I'm finishing in an open room versus a sealed dryer.

My basement is actually closer to 70 degrees, not 60.... my typo....sorry.

LOL. Dust devils really only show up on dark painted plugs so I never really care. I also do one heavy coat 90% of the time. If I have a screw up I do another coat a few days later.

Have a good day guys.

Did I mention cheerios, dog hair, and the occasional nose goblin also show up at times? :laugha:

The old addage with plugs is every one is unique, right?

Just finished wiring up and adding hooks to a batch for a swap on the other site. CCBC jointed striper pikie clones with a modified version of a Gary2 Smoky Joe paint scheme.

Attachment 38229

One that that I learnt with Systems 3 is that it really likes 70 degree or higher temps and low huminity. As with any epoxy, it doesn't like sharp edges as PM noted. I round edges at least a little with sandpaper, even on darters. Have used done the flip thing and the spinner thing. Both seem to work fine. Never tried the heater deal. Mix it well and evenly and keep above 70 degrees and you are fine. Its a little fussy otherwise.

Oh, and PM, its "Fixter" ;)

Jigman

Only a machinist would get this one "Mike Fixture" hahahahahaha!!!

WOW

I think you are being too hard on yourself the these guys

sounds like correctable mistakes
a good craftsman knows how to fix his mistakes,remember that

When You guys (especialy Backbeach) say system 3 ,, Are you talking about mirror coat ,,clear coat ,,? assume not sb112 ?

I think they speak of clear coat

Systems 3 clear coat is the one I've used.

Jigman

More than you ever want to know about epoxy coatings
Everyone's Guide to Instant Epoxy Resin Paint Coating Expertise

"WOW you're being hard on yourself"

You're right, thats why I leave all the blemishes (no nail polish or sharpie repairs). I want to see the mistakes again and again so as not to forget and repeat the same mistakes. you would think I have two hooves instead of hands.

LOL, that is what happens when I try to type more than 5 words:uhuh: besides i'm a machinist and fixtures are always on my mind.

BTW nice job in those plugs Andrewl

yes eddo clear coat. Mirror coat is nice and easier to apply but chips real easy,but you know that.

Clear coat....just to sumrise I've had good success with it so far....it makes my crappy paint jobs, mismatched grommets, and warped tail loops look much better.:hee:
I'm going out to test swim a bunch of metal lips right now and hopefully they don't come in like buzz baits....they look good though:smash: Out of about 50 or so plugs I'll have maybe 15-20 worthy of gifting out if I'm lucky.....

Bah.........you have a ways to go yet.

You still need to glue the cards into the lip slot (plastic works best), forget to mix in the hardner when you coat a dozen plugs, get so much epoxy in the hook hole you can't get the turning rod out, have the spinner/shaft connection come loose so it all sags instead, and set the epoxy on fire while flaming bubbles.

Then there is the split your plug while wiring bit, split your plug while forcing in the belly weight bit, drill your hook hole through the darter slope trick, drill your hook holes on the wrong side of the plug, epoxy in the wrong lip, sand the diving slope on the wrong side, drill the wrong size eye holes, drill the wrong size grommet holes, and cut the lip slot too thick a kerf.

Then for paint there is the spray your plug with air brush cleaner thing, forget to clean between colors thing (love those pink bellies), bubble off the paint with the heat gun thing, and my very favorite the GIANT eye spot blot trick.

Ugh. :confused:

My first batch that I hydroed I drilled the marked side of the plug for hooks and weights. Put the heavy side up...they did the backstroke.

"Bah.........you have a ways to go yet. "

good stuff, hilarious. Forgot to mention that I did drill (2) on the wrong side.

ok ... I wouldn't recommend "mirror coat" to anyone .. east to use but way to many popped finishes on plugs ..Looks good at first ,, later it pops right off the plug .. SUCs

:laugha: I've done all the above twice and have only been building for two months.

Yesterday, after rendering some "professional" advice with system 3, I returned to my basement late afternoon and realized the link holding my last two plugs on a chain of five plugs had broken, thus the last two plugs stopped spinning before they hardened....looks like the surface of the moon....:wall:

WOW - Thought it was only me. Another of my favorite is distilled water freexing whil painting plugs so you can't clean the airbrush and drop the airbrush reaking the needle and other parts of it, purchase new ones wait a week get them install and before you even spray it drop it again and have your wife just laugh (that was my weekend).:smash:

I have had my wife's cat attack the spinner and knock all the plugs off and have them glued to the hardwood floor as well as epoxy harden all over the cat. My friend has one of the plugs that was salvaged and we call it the cat raoe plugs, its got enough cat hair on it to be a cross between a danny and a bucktail. Yes its taken fish.

Fish that plug when the bluefish are around i bet it has nine lives.:jump1:

Lightning has struck twice at the Back Beach residence....my linkage broke again last night creating a 3 for 5 outing once again.:wall:

In baseball this would be a great night at the plate, but this is plugbuilding and constitutes another strikeout....

In honor of my half dozen or so epoxy mishaps, I'm introducing a new line of fishing plugs which will be called the "Warthog" series.....pics to follow.

Back beach, if you are having trouble spinning the plugs maybe try with the flipping method.

Forget the epoxy unless you are selling your plugs and need to attract fishermen. 2 coats of clear coat work fine and the plugs hold up just as well. Ask Scottie. he just clear coats and he does 30K plugs a year.

Yep, the epoxy is just one more thing to piss off and confuse the masses, no doubt... and I'm one of them.

Morning Guys!
 

Great time yesterday and very inspiring! Amazing work there for sure! Can't think of a better way to spend the day! It went by so fast! George I was mesmerized by your plugs......nicest darters I have ever seen!:uhuh: