What Other Types Of Clear Coat Can I Put On My Plugs?

[BigFish]

I like the envirotex well enough but it is a pain in the a$$ to apply, very time consuming and the damn air bubbles are driving me bananas! (Picture Salty's Banana Here!)

What other options are there and describe the application to me. I was told that poly-urethane would be fine but how will it hold up to the brutal punishment of the forty-pounders I will be beaching this fall!

[John E]

BF,

After you mix, pour the e-tex into one of those cheap disposable loaf pans you can buy at the super market (the small ones are sold in packs of 5). This spreads out the epoxy and lets many of the big bubbles escape. At this point, gently blow on the epoxy and you can remove the majority of the remaining bubbles. Once it is applied on the plug, gently blow on the plug to remove the remaining bubbles. Works like a charm.

You can also heat the plugs slightly after they're on the drier with an alcohol lamp like the rod builders use if you need it.

One things I have noticed using both e-tex and clear coat is that the acid brishes I've been using introduce very small bubbles into the epoxy as I'm applying it. Does anyone know of another type of cheap disposable brush (foam or bristle) that can be used?

[BigFish]

I have been cleaning the brushes with rubbing alcohol first per someones instructions here in the forum.

[John E]

BF,

Here's one I recently finished with System Three Clear Coat. I have a love/hate relationship with the stuff but when you get it right, the finish is tough to beat. I think you're also a fan of this color combo.

[BigFish]

Yes, I do like that color combo! Sweet looking plug there! Can you tell me more about the system three and its application? Do you spray it? Brush it?

[John E]

BF,

Clear Coat is an epoxy finish designed for boat/canoe builders and several of the guys here use it. It is a lot thinner than e-tex but I don’t think you can spray it without running your airbrush or spray gun. I have used it on three batches of plugs so far and I’m still playing with it trying to figure out the idiosyncrasies. The two things I do like about it that it dries rock hard and is crystal clear. I will give it a few more chances before I give up on it. I may try System Three Mirror Coat before I go back to e-tex. From what I gather, it is harder than e-tex and easier to apply that the Clear Coat.

There is a lot of info on these products here. Do a search for “System Three”, “Clear Coat”, or “Mirror Coat”.

[redneck24]

wow, sweet plug!

[Backbeach Jake]

That plug is a beauty! I've seen plugs cleared with Minwax polyurethane that were outstanding. Thinking of trying a few myself.

[BigFish]

Do you brush that on Fred? If so will it lay down nice and flat and shiney?

[Backbeach Jake]

I've seen it in rattle cans.

[Karl F]

zipguard, or zar, gloss, in the rattle can... or brush it, and flip, like you do with the etex... urethane will yellow from UV, so don't use white paint... go off white, 'cause that's what you will end up with anyway...

Tagger.. what's that super stuff you use?.. SB-112, or something like that?

All kinds of stuff for clear..... got auto body shop? (BBJ!)
That's the way to go, auto paint, and auto clear.... use the spray booth, and resperator, or your brain and liver will fall out

[JHABS]

There are a number of things to use, Its what you want to achieve Polys and Varnishes can yellow epoxys and can peel but there are many to choose from . Also Klass coat clear yellows and the color coat turns chalky...........I've tried them ALL............ Experiment Experiment Experiment............................

[capesams]

acid brushes...cut half the hairs off...less bubbles.more flexable.

urethane ...not poly,,,,,,,,,,must be fresh.....the longer the lid stays off the faster it go's sour an turns dark....fill the can or jar with marbles as you use the stuff up to keep the liquid at the surface..helps keep the AIR out of the can after you put the lid back on.

remember ...the higher the gloss the harder the finish...the harder the finish the more it will chip.

you want the finish to BOND to the paint, ......oil does not bond to laytex paints........oil paint to oil finish.....

the only thing that's going to last at all is dupont auto urethane paints an clear coat............ that I know of and who can do that for a few plugs at a time.

[justplugit]

Ahh, when the Masters speak ya gotta listen. THANKS!

[Tagger]

Karl .I use systems 3 SB112, everybody knows the stuff drives me nuts .. Its most difficult to work with , and there is a slight yellow tint ..It does take a beating..when this is gone I think I'll switch to ..sys 3 clear coat .. unless something eles catches my fancy... ......CS.. urethane ? hows it hold up ?

[NIB]

Hey CS Whataya do if Ya lost yer marbles.

[Jigman]

Originally posted by NIB
Hey CS Whataya do if Ya lost yer marbles.

Act like bassmaster

Jigman

[capesams]

If I drop to many I just run to the 5+10 an get more

when an if I get to bm's stage ,I here by give anyone my permission to whoever has the nuts to shoot me....having one bm on this small sand dune is enough , don't think the place could handle another one

[bassmaster]

Sams Cape You love I

[Slipknot]

another trick is to displace the oxygen with propane. Just use a propane torch (unlit you wiseguys) and shoot some in the can then close the lid real fast, the propane is heavier than air. It's easy and you don't lose all your marbles. I do it with latex paints also to eliminate the skin on top.

[JHABS]

Slip, I lost my Marbles...............................

[NIB]

I used to play a game like marbles with bottle caps,on the stoop when I was a kid in Brooklyn.

[capesams]

no more tip of the month fa u guy's

[Slipknot]

Originally posted by capesams
no more tip of the month fa u guy's

Plug-Nazi :