Time between seal and test swim?
 

I'm just getting started and have been reading and learning from you all.

One thing I have not been able to find an answer to is what's the shortest amount of time I have to wait between sealing a plug and taking it for a test swim? Do you have to let it dry completely or will it be waterproof enough after a day or two? Would there be any major weight effects altering the plugs action with the sealer not completely dry?

I am currently using 60/40 BLO/turp while we have the deep freeze here in Vermont (I have an unheated cave). In warmer weather I plan to use Waterlox Marine Sealer.

When I used the BLO mix I would give them a solid week-10 days to dry

Usually the seals don't get my plugs until a test swim and that really pisses me off!

Oops, sorry......wrong type of seal. My bad.

BTW I always seal before test swimming them hoping I don't have to drill anymore holes for something. If your not sure if the design will stay then just add a coat of Bullseye Shellac then no biggie if yiou need to trim something off or drill something new or maybe it has no hope and it's back to the seconds bin you won't have wasted a lot of time.

Take the plugs inside to dry. They should be good to go after 72 hours.

I do take them in after they hang under a spot light (those aluminum half spheres with a plain light bulb) with an aluminum foil skirt wrapped around it to keep them warm for a day or two and allow the VOCs to purge off.

I usually prime them white before a test swim so you can see what they are doing.

I'm w/flap... seal proto's in something quick and dirty even poly is fine... You don't want to wait a week between proto's.

I do the same, then take a sharpie and draw a line straight down the back of the plug and put dots where the eyes go. Helps to judge the action better, especially on a swimmer.

Jigman

like a swim test dummy :rotf2: