Do I need a drying wheel for curing epoxy topcoat?

Unless you have another way to keep the epoxy from moving around and drying unevenly.

Note - I'm referring to rod building so if you are talking bait building, ignore.

i don't use a wheel. i hang the bait from the line tie and don't put on too thick of a coat of epoxy. i put on one thin coat, let cure overnight, sand with 400 grit and apply a second coat. have had no problems with this method.

It also depends on the clear coat you decide to use.   Really thin clears will need to be turned on a wheel.   With thicker coatings you can turn them by hand for approx 20-30 min and then hang to cure.

What do you mean turn them by hand?

Also, do the parts have to be exactly 50/50?

What do you mean turn them by hand?

Also, do the parts have to be exactly 50/50?

Clip a pair of hemostats to a line tie and sit there and slowly turn the bait by hand for 30 min...or you could hang it from a line tie at the nose and then flip it and hang it by the tail. if you do this you should flip it like every minute. i like to just turn it by hand.

50/50 with epoxy will give you  the best results, i've found that if they're not equal the topcoat won't cure as hard and could be discolored.

Here's another question: how do you cure a swimbait like these that has no tail hook hanger? These are going to have free-swinging lexan tails.

I have a low tech but effective way of turning baits without a drying wheel. This is because I've never gotten around to making one.

All you need is are at least 1 (but 2 is better) paper clips and some fishing line.

Turn the paper clips into an "S" to turn them into hooks (folder out the inner section.

Take the first paper clip and attach the line to it and the top half of the clip in the bend of the S.  The bottom of this clip with attach to the nose or tail of your bait.

Tie the other end of your line that is attached to the first clip to the bottom half of the second paper clip.

Attach the upper half of the second clip to something so that the bait hangs vertically.

Twist the line as much as you can with your fingers and let go.  As you do, the line will untwist and the bait will spin as it unravels, stop and spin back the other way.

Repeat the twisting.

This is low tech, but it works and I have successfully made many baits drying the epoxy this way.

Here's another question: how do you cure a swimbait like these that has no tail hook hanger? These are going to have free-swinging lexan tails.

i would epoxy each piece individually (this is what i do with most baits)

when you get the the last piece, just clip your hemostats to the hinge.

also, you might want to consider rounding off the edges of those baits as epoxy does not like to stick to a sharp edge like that.