Epoxy sealing hardwoods

[ProfessorM]

Mike I heat the plug in the micro or oven till nice and warm. I use system 3 to seal, same stuff I use for my top coat. It is very thin so i have not thinned it. I like to use an exhaust fan to vent the fumes as when it hits the hot wood it smells pretty strong, after the wood cools the smell goes away quickly. Not as smelly as Eddies stuff. He sealed me some nikes a few years ago and mailed them to me a few days later and I could smell them thru the box in the mailbox outdoors , but it worked very good. IMO I think you get almost the same results with the epoxy. Mix your epoxy put on some cheap gloves and i paint it on with a cheap foam brush. This is a messy job so be aware of this. I make sure I get it in the thru hole with cheap pipe cleaners and the lip slot too. I wait several minutes and then wipe off any excess. Make sure you get excess out of lip slot and eye sockets and grommet areas as once it sets up you aren't going to get it out. I also adjust my grommet holes to accommodate the tighter fit caused by the hard epoxy. I do small batches. I hang up to dry but don't forget to take out hanging wire as it will be in there forever if you leave it in there too long. I have used this for softwoods for several years and have always like it. I don't bother using it much for AYC, which is what I mostly use. I do use it for most of my spooks, howdys though. I basically asked about it for maple, birch, as i have never done it for a hard wood, yet. Tomorrow i will try a few. Thanks guys. P.

[Diggin Jiggin]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

Mike I heat the plug in the micro or oven till nice and warm. I use system 3 to seal, same stuff I use for my top coat. It is very thin so i have not thinned it. I like to use an exhaust fan to vent the fumes as when it hits the hot wood it smells pretty strong, after the wood cools the smell goes away quickly. Not as smelly as Eddies stuff. He sealed me some nikes a few years ago and mailed them to me a few days later and I could smell them thru the box in the mailbox outdoors , but it worked very good. IMO I think you get almost the same results with the epoxy. Mix your epoxy put on some cheap gloves and i paint it on with a cheap foam brush. This is a messy job so be aware of this. I make sure I get it in the thru hole with cheap pipe cleaners and the lip slot too. I wait several minutes and then wipe off any excess. Make sure you get excess out of lip slot and eye sockets and grommet areas as once it sets up you aren't going to get it out. I also adjust my grommet holes to accommodate the tighter fit caused by the hard epoxy. I do small batches. I hang up to dry but don't forget to take out hanging wire as it will be in there forever if you leave it in there too long. I have used this for softwoods for several years and have always like it. I don't bother using it much for AYC, which is what I mostly use. I do use it for most of my spooks, howdys though. I basically asked about it for maple, birch, as i have never done it for a hard wood, yet. Tomorrow i will try a few. Thanks guys. P.

If the grommets won't fit as there is excess sealer in the hole, if you heat a grommet up the heat lets it slide right in... I hold the grommet in a set of small vice grips, & heat it w/ a small propane torch for just a few seconds.

[WoodyCT]

It's death in liquid form but can be stored in a plastic bag w/o eating it?

You heard it hear first.
Thought of it on my way to work today. Use a tintable epoxy. Tint it white, yellow or black. Epoxy seal plug. After cure, lightly sand and wipe clean with DA. Brush on more of the tinted epoxy if needed to even out color. Spin/flip until cured. Apply/paint eye. Clear coat with same epoxy minus the tint.



Won't work for multicolored scaled striped sissy plugs however.

[numbskull]

Won't matter how you seal it, Paul, as long as it weighs 2.3 oz when you are done.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Won't matter how you seal it, Paul, as long as it weighs 2.3 oz when you are done.

the pressure is on. Come on 2.3

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

the pressure is on. Come on 2.3

Darters are very weight sensitive, Paul. If you are trying to make a true copy you need to get the weight close. 2.3 will run 2.6 wired and finished, and 3.0 with 3/0 hooks. I can't speak for what happens if you go too light, but I've got about 20 finished bodies that ended up 2.6-2.7 and they don't make functional plugs, even rigged with 2/0s (with 3/0's they sink tail first).

Remember, the originals were hard maple (I believe). If you use soft maple you will be light unless the sealer adds weight.

[PNG]

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

It's death in liquid form but can be stored in a plastic bag w/o eating it?

Ive been using cpes in limited applications for awhile. I wanted something that would toughen up swamp cedar without adding weight and it does just that. Havent tried with a hardwood yet.
I use a hvy duty zip lock bag. I have had lesser bags leak. Outside or at works heated garage, it does have a certain odor which I believe to be the high VOC's which is why as an epoxy it has the consistancy of kerosene and not molasses like envirotex etc.
Another nice thing about it is to seal the bag when done - keep cool and second dip the next day if there is any leftover.

[GattaFish]

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

You heard it hear first.
Thought of it on my way to work today. Use a tintable epoxy. Tint it white, yellow or black. Epoxy seal plug. After cure, lightly sand and wipe clean with DA. Brush on more of the tinted epoxy if needed to even out color. Spin/flip until cured. Apply/paint eye. Clear coat with same epoxy minus the tint.

Won't work for multicolored scaled striped sissy plugs however.

Jon,,,, that was two years ago for me,,,,

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by Diggin Jiggin

If the grommets won't fit as there is excess sealer in the hole, if you heat a grommet up the heat lets it slide right in... I hold the grommet in a set of small vice grips, & heat it w/ a small propane torch for just a few seconds.

that is a good tip, although I allow for the hole shrinkage with a larger hole but i will use that next time if i end up in a bind.

[Tagger]

CPES ... I cut the bottom off a water bottle .. mix in there .. I have pumps on resin and hardener that deliver 1 ounce each ,, so I'm mixing 2 ounces ,, i think ? .. I brush on with an acid brush and use hypodermics (woodcraft) to pump stuff threw ... do like 8 - 10 plugs at a time 12 max..