I'm finding my plugs are coming out much better aesthetically and perhaps durability wise (by keeping water out) when I epoxy/clear coat with the metal lip already installed versus epoxying, then installing the lip and having to deal with a narrowed lip slot due to some epoxy creeping in.

How are you guys doing it? What do you find works better?

I epoxy swimmers before I put the lip in......I got this tip from MAC....I put an index card in the slot while I epoxy, then pull it out after I finish....just make sure you remember befre it dries.

Then I put a little dab of 5 minute epoxy on the lip, slide it in, let it set up and then thru-wire.

I've been doing both . 1st coat of epoxy no hardware
2nd coat after all is rigged. seems to be working out well .
plugs are more durable than just one coat ,and seals up lips and wrap .

I wire everything before I epoxy...

I glue the lip in after the plug is finished, primarily because the rods I spin the plug on won't go through a lip slot.

I epoxy swimmers before I put the lip in......I got this tip from MAC....I put an index card in the slot while I epoxy, then pull it out after I finish....just make sure you remember befre it dries.


same ,, i just use plastic coated playing cards ,, rip em in half ..You still have to remember to pull them out though ..


The 5 minute epoxy I've used on flag wraps turns rubbery in the water and comes off easily ... not sure it's the same stuff ,, but look out for that ..

, primarily because the rods I spin the plug on won't go through a lip slot.


That's my problem too, so I started just doing one plug at a time after a few disasters with the plugs detatching from the rod. Takes much longer doing one at a time, but they're coming out much better. There's got to be a more productive way so hopefully I'll figure it out before next winter...

That's my problem too, so I started just doing one plug at a time after a few disasters with the plugs detatching from the rod. Takes much longer doing one at a time, but they're coming out much better. There's got to be a more productive way so hopefully I'll figure it out before next winter...

Go to the hardware store and buy some "piano wire" from the metal rack (or 1/8" brass rod if you drilled 5/32). Get a size that is less than your thru drilled hole. It is very stiff and you can spin 3-4 plugs on a 36" section. Find a way to attach it to your spinner and support it with a rod support or two. Put some small bends in it to keep tension on the plug so they don't spin on the rod. Do the card trick for the lip slots. If you had a way to attach several rods together you could spin a line of plugs.

as far as spinning rods i just use a length of the thru wire. Been using the same wire for years and I have heated it up lots of times to soften the epoxy so I can pull it off if it creeps into the holes and gets stuck. As far as the lips i have done it both ways but this year I will put the lip in and then epoxy, not assembled, just in place. Have not done any lipped plugs yet this year but got lots to do so I will go that method. If it doesn't go smooth then I will resort back to shim in the slot, remove before it gets stuck, and install after. I find a small, thin, fine tooth , coping saw blade will remove any hardened epoxy if the worst case happens thus allowing easy installation.

Put some small bends in it to keep tension on the plug so they don't spin on the rod.

I started spinning plugs inline in a rod box ... My problem was maintaining a consistant speed because of belly weights in the plugs .. You could run your hand over the finished plug and feel the epoxy sag ..

never had that problem but I am only doing 3 plugs per wire. I have never had any problems with slipping plugs or sagging, now having someone pull the plug on the little motors is another story. Like G said kink the wire.

If anyone is willing, could you post a pic or two of your epoxy drying setups?

Hard at work as we speak. Pencils look familiar?

I can do 12 at a time, 3 per rod. That is the max i find you want to do before the epoxy gets ugly. Most times i only mix enough for 8 total plugs. The 4 motors were taken off a cheap rod building set up i bought off M&D's. Threw away the rod stuff and kept the motors. All self contained to keep dust off and heat in. Been working good for me for a few years. Most times I find I have trouble with epoxy it is usually my fault, pilot error.

Hard at work as we speak. Pencils look familiar?

Oh boy, yes they do...

It looks like you are doing 4 to a box on straight through wired plugs? How about metal lipped stuff where the through hole is not in the center of the plug, are you concerned with an off center roll to the plug causing problems or is there a special way to rig the plugs so they spin on a flat plane?

Most times I find I have trouble with epoxy it is usually my fault, pilot error.

Same here. The epoxy is easy to grasp, but my execution teeters between near perfection and near disaster due to rank stupidity on my part.

I love the christmas lights too, they give the dryer a nice warm feeling(no pun intended).

To all:
Have fun this weekend, I'm going up to North conway with the wife and kids, will touch base next weekend and maybe see a bunch of youse at TFCTFN.

no problem with metal lips. They spin so slow that out of round, gravity, is not a problem. Like I said I will just place the lip in position and epoxy. I will assemble, through wire after they are dry. The plugs have not been wired yet. I do that after. They are just on a wire for spinning purposes if that what you meant. Have fun with family and see you at too cold to fish nite.

if you are worried about the off center pugs running out of center you could bend the wire that is put thought them accordingly to make them run true with a little tinkering but I don't feel it is necessary with clear coat as it is very thin and levels out fairly well. To be honest I really don't have a lot of....., never mind I don't want to jinx myself and have to go pray to St. George again.

I love the christmas lights too, they give the dryer a nice warm feeling(no pun intended).



Yeah I stick them in the window at x mas time, wife luvs them:fury:

I've done it both ways, witht he set up I have it works out much better to assemble then epoxy... the exception being jointed plugs, I do them in two pieces, the front section is epoxied/assembled, the rear sectioin is secured with wire to my spinner then assembled latter..

I've shown mine here before, this is the top half... it can handle 18 8" plugs... and runs on a timer... like ronco , set it and forget it... the bottom half turns plugs in line and can handle 6 8" plugs.... both are geared to run @ 3 RPM..

This is my setup.
It holds a dozen plugs. I've been using it for years and it hasn't let me down yet.

I like the fact that is weghs next to nohing and the lid closes up tight to keep out dust and stuff. :)

PatrickD

i like those darters. I got no digger darters:)

Thanks for the pics, I've just solved a huge problem, I think.

i like those darters. I got no digger darters:)


REALLY??
You should've entered to darter swap like you r buddy Lu. :)

No worries P...I'll hook you up.
I got so excited at Plugfest that I got up and turned 36 darters this morning :jump1:

I'll be drilling, sanding and sealing all afternoon!

Patrick