Your Guide To Success!
Are you looking to start painting your own fishing lures? Do you want to be able to create custom patterns, colors, and details unlike anything available in retail stores? Excited about the prospect of catching a fish on a lure you made? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here at SprayGunner, we have everything you need to get started painting lures like a professional, and our Lure Painting Basics Series will be your guide to success. In this post, we’ll be going over some essential items and terminology you’ll need to understand so you can get started on your very first lure.
Blanks:
Before painting your own fishing lure, you’re going to need to learn the lingo, but don’t worry, we’re here to help. Knowing some basic terminology will help you find what you're looking for quickly and get you on the water faster.
The first thing you’re going to need to know about are paintable lures or fishing lure “blanks”. Lure blanks will typically be made out of plastic or wood. Higher end lures will often be made with special resins or composites, but we’ll save that for another time. The most common lure blanks will be crankbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits, or topwater baits. Spray Gunner carries a variety of blanks to help you get started. Don’t know what each blank does in the water? No problem. The descriptions on our website will help you decide the right blank for the right situation!
Reducer:
When airbrushing, consistency of the paints is very important. That’s where “Reducers” come into play. A reducer is a solvent, or mixture of solvents added to paint to modify its consistency. Reducers help thin paint making it easier for your airbrush to spray and apply, reducing drips/streaks, and helping break the paint down into smaller particles for proper coating. Certain paints will require specific clear coats. Luckily for us, SprayGunner’s descriptions typically include the optimal clear for that paint and its link.
Primer:
Next on the list is “primer”. A primer or a paint that will serve as our surface layer or “base coat”. A primer is formulated to ensure maximum adhesion for your colored layers. Primers help your paint jobs last longer and as a sealer for more porous surfaces. White is the most color used for primers so that is what we recommend getting first. AutoBorne Sealer White 6001 by Createx is our go to for high adhesion, lasting paint jobs, and showcasing vibrant colors.
Paints and Colors:
After you have your primer, it’s time to pick out your paint colors. Fortunately, SprayGunner makes it easy by creating custom paint sets specifically designed with lure making in mind. Popular color patterns will usually have similar names to make it easy for fishermen to find the right colors quickly. Patterns like “Fire Tiger”, “Sexy Shad”, “Green Pumpkin” and “Spring Craw” are all characterized by certain base colors. Most artists and manufacturers will put their own creative spin on it, but knowing these terms is helpful in finding a paint set that matches your needs. For example: “Fire Tiger” combines fluorescent greens and yellows with an orange underbelly that contrasts with black accent markings. Check out some awesome “Fire Tiger” examples above.
Clear:
After you’re done spraying on your final color layers or topcoat it’s time to apply a “clear coat”. A clear coat or clear is used in lure painting in order to protect the paint from damage, UV fading, discoloration and weathering. It also can enhance your colors by providing a glossy and durable finish. Clears can come in a variety of finishes like “Matte”, “Satin” and “Gloss”. Matte finishes are flat, less reflective and the least shiny of the three. Satin offers a moderate sheen and higher durability than matte. While Gloss is the most shiny, reflective and the most durable of the three. Which is what makes it our favorite of the three when it comes to finishing a lure. Spray Gunner offers a variety of clears, but our go-to for starting out is Createx Colors Intercoat 4030.
What Comes Next:
Now that you understand the basic lure painting terminology, it’s time to move on to the tools and equipment that you’ll need to get started. Be sure to follow along and check out our next Fishing Lure Basics: Blog to make sure you have everything you need to make your very own fishing lures.
See you next time!