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| I have been using Etex for the topcoat on my lures. I was thinking about trying another product. Like Nu Lustre or Diamond II. Has anybody tried these products? I was wondering how they compare to Etex as far as applying, dry time, and overall finish?
Thanks,
Scott |
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Posts: 1207
Location: Pigeon Forge TN. | I have used Diamond and like it very much. It is really hard but expensive to use.
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Posts: 304
Location: PA | I use Nu Lustre 55, I personally think its the best coating out there and I've used them all. It's goes on thicker than etex and is harder more durable but not brittle. And more user friendly for a beginning bait maker. |
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Posts: 910
Location: South-Central VA | For me, it's Diamond II. It's a higher build than Etex so you need fewer coats. It levels extremely well and I usually recoat in 4 hours at 70 degrees. It's also clearer, something I noticed when doing 7 coats on my snakeskin lures. As far as application, it's the same. Brush it on and put it on the dryer.
I signed up as a dealer with Bullard Intl and I'll have some samples of it with me at the Minnesota Musky Expo. I'd be happy to give you a sample pack to try the stuff out.
jeremy |
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Location: Money, PA | The Diamond II I see is nearly double the price of the e-tex, but if less needs applied would work out in the long run. I'd be interested in trying a sample jeremy. Theres another product called EX-74 that I didn't see mentioned here...another resin I'd be interested in hearing what those who have used it have to say about it.
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| Jeremy,
How does it compare to etex and far as durability?
Scott |
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Posts: 910
Location: South-Central VA | The durability is pretty close to the same. I've thrown both on the rocks and concrete floors. Diamond II has a bit less of a tendency to crack or chip. Again, what sets it apart for me is the clarity and the cure time as well as the ability to get the same thickness of buildup with far fewer coats.
I'll have a new batch coming in the next couple of weeks. If you want a sample to try, shoot me an email with your address.
jeremy
Edited by bowhunter29 2/20/2013 9:51 AM
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Posts: 110
| Jeremy got me started using it and I like it alot. I usually only put two final coats on but that is over 3 or 4 coats of D2T. I use the D2T between paint coats because it's cheaper and it dries faster, but the diamond II has a much nicer finish. You definately have to have it on a wheel and it takes 8/10 hours (in my basement) for it to cure enough to handle. |
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Location: South-Central VA | Gunnr brings up a good point. If you're using it in a cooler location like a basement, it's going to take longer to cure. Like I mentioned above, you can recoat in 4 hours at 70 degrees. After my final coat, I wait 24 hours before handling a bait to put the hooks on. The epoxy is dry enough to handle in 24 hours, but isn't fully cured for 3 days. You can speed up this process significantly by using a heat box. For every 20 degrees above 70, the cure time is cut in half. So if you hang your lures in a drying box at 90 degrees, they will cure in 1.5 days instead of 3.
jeremy |
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| Thanks for the info Jeremy. |
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Posts: 1207
Location: Pigeon Forge TN. | When I painted Commercial, I used a lot of Etex on Magic Makers. I then started using the Etex-74 cause it was more forgiving and even harder.
I sold my drying wheel a while back and don't spin lures anymore. Just don't have time. |
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Posts: 219
Location: Ohio | I just started using ex74 a few weeks ago. It was recommended to me by a couple other manufacturers at the Ohio Show. So far I really like it. Goes on thicker and cures faster than regular etex. |
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Location: Money, PA | Good info here...thanks guys.
I too notice that the more you heat any of this two part resins, work time and dry time is certainly shortened. Theres pros and cons to heating/cooling. I personally like to apply a thinner epoxy because it seems more workable. Everyone has their own preferences.
The only bad thing I found about the EX-74 is its only available in gallon jugs (correct me if I'm wrong) Not sure what the shelf life on it is....I'd hate for any of it to go to waste. Alot of these resins or silicones have limited shelf life time.
Good Thread....jeremy I shot you an email.
Edited by ShutUpNFish 2/20/2013 10:56 AM
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Location: Almost Heaven | If you guys have not seen or tried any of Scott's baits check out JB Lures. They are down right beautiful |
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Posts: 910
Location: South-Central VA | Epoxies do not have a shelf life. You can use it tomorrow or 10 years from now, it will work exactly the same.
jeremy |
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Location: Money, PA | I was told by someone who has been working with the stuff a long time that with age the epoxy could "yellow"....Have not experienced that myself, just going by something someone told me. Thats why I always buy in 32 oz. kits....If age doesn't effect it at all, I'd certainly buy the gallons. |
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Location: South-Central VA | All epoxies yellow over time. There's a dramatic difference between looking through 3" of epoxy in the bottle and looking through 1/8" of epoxy on a lure. It will yellow over time, but it won't 'go bad'.
jeremy |
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| Thanks for the complement turkyt.
Scott |
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Posts: 110
| I've had both the D2T and the diamond II resin part turn to a gel like state and get cloudy looking after sitting for awhile. Just put the bottle in some water in an old pan and heated it up...turned back to a clear liquid and worked fine. Both of the hardners have got a yellow color to them but it doesn't show when it's mixed and on the lure. |
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| Great thread, think I’ll try the D2 stuff out too. Do you use their brush cleaner system? I always throw mine out. It would nice to get a quality brush that I can use over and over.
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Posts: 321
Location: Glen Ellyn Il | I store my brush in a mason jar with some denatured alcohool, I also use a shot glass to mix the epoxy clear can easly be cleaned with some D.A. and reused over again. Also EX-74 is UV resistant and should not yellow, Has un unlimited shelf life if properly stored
Gino |
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Location: South-Central VA | Mike,
I use both Bullard's brush cleaner and the stuff made by U40. I don't use throw away brushes because of the lack of quality with them.
jeremy |
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Posts: 348
| So how many coats of regular etex would you say your using? An how many now with etex 74? Just curious I've been using etex light an haven't had to many issues hate the drying time but it is what it is. |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | I reuse good stiff bristled oil painting brushed by Blick art supply....clean them with straight acetone....they last me a few months each. I also heard you can thin the resins down with a few drops of denatured alcohol...never tried that |
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