just wondering what techniques do you use for painting your cranks. I've seen some amazing paintjobs on this site and think how is that possible. How do you get the scale look on the top of the bait and do you guys use air brushes or not. thxs.

Most of the painting is not nearly as complicated as most would have you beleive, good equipment is key however. Scale is made by spraying through screen or netting, and on some baits they use lace, stripes can be made by spraying through a comb. Most of the fins and gills are made by using a stencil with fine detail applied with a pen. On large swimbaits or musky baits I have seen some finework done with rattle can spray paint but on smaller baits, for good detail an airbrush is needed. Oh and did I mention practice?

Everything Whittler said....oh yeah,BEWARE IT IS VERY ADDICTIVE!

What airbrush do you recommend, and where is the best place to order the paints and lures from. Thought I would pratice on some 3/4 pvc pipe. Thanks!

Well me and Whittler use an Iwata HP-C.I don't think it is as important to buy a top shelf brush.An Iwata Eclipse is a great brush for the money.A good compressor is just as impoortant,I use an Iwata Smart Jet but there are many others that work just as well.If you are sure you want to get into painting cranks I would take a close look at what features the brush and compressor have.I would subgest a dual action brush.A single action works fine but you will be limited to it's use.Take a look at www.airbrush.com.You'll learn alot of basics there and alot about the equipment.Good Luck CJ

Airbrushes:  Look at Iwata, Badger, Passche and Aztec. All these company make good quality servicable brushes. Used a friends Aztec recently and was impressed with not only spraying but easy clean-up and the ability to change nozzels for different spray patterns.

Compressors: I have a large shop compressor that I use so I won't be much help here but I will tell you that if you use a pankake type compressor they are NOISY. A standard airbrush compressor is quieter and portable. Just make sure you get a good inline filter, moisture trap and pressure regulator.

Paints:  I shoot only waterbased paints but if you consider a solvent type paint you will need an exhaust system.

Although painting cranks is time consuming it is not complicated and with practice it just gets easier and better. There are some, especially if you check on Ebay, who would have you beleive painting cranks is kin to rocket sicence. They are real good with a sales pitch but if you take a close look at their work it is usually a just two color blend that you will be able to duplicate in your first hour of practice.

I started with Iwata and will never leave, best brush for the money.  I use a gravity feed and love it.  I can shoot with 1 drop of paint and clean up is simple.  I also use only waterbased paint, wildlife colors by Smith Paints.  But there are still some createx colors I use, along with com-art and golden.

Practice on the pvc, it will help become a better painter without messing up baits while learning.

painting is my least favorite part of building baits, but after several years of practice I feel like I'm getting the hang of it.  

I paint mine the old fashion way, with hand brushes and water clean up acrylics. I appreciate the advice on the airbrushes. I think it's time I looked into getting one.

The popper in my avatar was painted with a hand brush. I too like painting the least for any baits I make.  

I have another question. Where is the best place to buy the unpainted/painted lures. I have all the equipment ordered you guys recommended or have purchased locally. So far have only been able to find one dealer online for ubpainted crankbaits. Thanks again!

Yeah,I bought some blanks from an on-line dealer.I haven't used them much.They may work well they may not?

The reason for my hobby is to get custom colors for lure brands and models that I like.It's easier to do than you might think.I use a sanding sponge that's made for fingernails to scuff the lure I want to paint,tape off the lip,prime then paint.

If you get out to some tackle shops you might find some good name brand lures for real cheap.They're usually selling them because they were an unpopular color.

That's the reason I want to paint. Can'i seem to get colors that I think will work well on lakes that I fish. Will probably let my cousin I fish with have some lures (after I screw up a lot). And to get out of sight of wife so honey-do list may not be so long.