What type of epoxy do you use to seal a completed lure? How many coats?
Enviro Tex Lite( ETEX) is my favorite. I’ ve tried many other brands but really no reason to look any further. It dries super hard and is clear as glass. I do at least 3 but will do up to 5 coats on the large lures. Small lipped stick baits I try and stay with no more than 2 coats because I don’ t want to add weight to the lure. If I foil the lure it will get a coat of ETEX and cured before the final paint also.
Which tools do you favor the most when making baits?
My wood working electric tools like Sander and scroll saw but I use a lot of hand tools also. Small wood working handsaws and carving knives. I will go through the snap blade disposable blades like crazy. My home made lure spinner I built for doing the topcoat is a very important tool also.
How many custom baits do you usually make in a year? Never counted but including the small resin cast lures I build close to 200 a year probably. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out making lures?
Keep it fun! Don’ t think you have to have the most expensive equipment to build and paint. Use what you have. Think out of the box and be original. Just be patient and enjoy.