primers: dip, spray or brush?

[The Dad Fisherman]

I spray on the Painters Touch primer in a can...works best for me. Spray, sand it all away then spray it again....maybe once more if the mood strikes me.

Priming is the one part of the whole plug-building proccess that I can't stand....drives me nuts

[WoodyCT]

I have just finished a batch of plugs using a new primer for me.

Interlux Pre-Kote. A marine grade primer intended to be used under anything except 2 part paints/epoxies/urethanes on wood or fiberglass.

Brushed it on (unthinned) heavy with a foam brush. No sweat, but so much more time and work than spraying.

Let dry 24hrs.

I sanded it with 220, wiped and reprimed a heavy coat since I will be swapping some of them and want a nice finish. Sanded easily- no loading of paper (sanded 12 plugs twice each with only a 1/2 sheet of 220!), and was fairly hard for a primer.

Let dry 24hrs.

Sanded lightly with 220 and then rattle canned with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy and Rustoleum oil based enamel. Wet on wet.

Never seen paint shine so nicely w/o clear coat over it!

Will let them cure for several days and then spray on some Helmsman gloss to add a little durability.

Next time I will thin the Pre-Kote and spray it with a Preval.

I will also be trying some Interlux Brightside polyurethane paint on plugs using a Preval.

[Dr.fish]

I'm far from an expert but I've found that dipping in Zinnser (oil base)works just great. Like the Val oil I thin 50/50 with ODORLESS mineral spirits. Works GREAT in both. I dip each plug in the primer twice with 3 drying days in between each dipping (be sure to open both ends of plug). That's 9 drying days counting the Val oil soak. May seem a bit extravagant, but it seems to be working well. I took 2 of the same plugs, one treated this way the other with just a val oil soak and spray primer. I fished both for 30 minutes...I did not have a scale, but the spray primer plug got noticably heavier and the walking action was reduced. So I'll continue with the double dipping in oil based Zinnser. Another "thing" I noticed...I no longer use my air brush water based paints...almost strictly rattle cans...I make plugs for fish not for show and have found that oil-based paint over oil based primer lasts a lot longer when the epoxy starts to fail, which we all know will...blues, hook swing, rocks, plug bags...whatever...This plug was fished for 5 days (can't believe I didn't loose it)...don't know how many fish were caught on it, but there were both good blue and bass blitzes...Just about all of the epoxy is off but the paint is still in decent shape where hook, rock, teeth, etc. didn't get at it...ya, I retired it...note back hook, swapped out treble for siwash when blues came in. Oh, one more thing...notice no rust...I wash and hang to dry all plugs after use. I do sharpen hooks after a dozen or so fish. Touch up the sharpend point with silver paint pen...hook will not rust.

[mfm22]

I've been dipping Zin-Bin / min spirits [60-40] mixture is not exact ,I'll play with it to get batch nice.
This works well for me ,its fast ,easy ,effective .
I use large jar small plugs 6" & under go down one shot .Larger plugs need to be flipped and dipped.
They are on wire from sealing so I just rehang to dry.

worst thing so far ..one batch looked too transparent ..redip.
I found that after a day or two need to pull wire out to allow thru hole to dry b/4 paint

[Lower]

Wow...2006! Didn't know I've been building plugs that long!!!!! Great new info on an old thread...thanks for the info.