How can I paint jig heads white without using an oven or airbrush?

They make a vinyl paint but in my experience it doesn't last long at all.  Same with a white finger nail polish.

If you have a heat gun and powder paint you can do it.  It won’t be bulletproof but better than nothing.  I do it with Ned heads that have a molded in weedguard.

Krylon and masking tape? Again, won’t last as long as doing it the oven/airbrush ways.

I use Testors 1145 white.

Tom

35 minutes ago, WRB said:

I use Testors 1145 white.

Tom

Just use a paint brush? Any certain one?

White nail polish from the Dollar Store. Comes with a brush, dries fast and durable. 

Hobby shops have small paint brush’s made for Testors 1/4 oz bottles. 
I use a small diameter rod ( small bore riffle ) or tight wire under a cabinet through screw eyes to hang painted jigs to dry.

Tom

PS 1/4 bottles will cover 50 + jigs.

Tom

^ If going the easy route - then Tom's suggestion of the Testors Enamel is right on the money. It's oil based, dries very hard and applies easily with even cheap brushes. Won't be quite as durable as a good baked on powder, but should be fine, and touch-ups are easily handled.

 

Ya, a 1/4oz bottle will handle several dozen jigs...you don't need to slather on thick coats, a couple thin ones, letting it dry between them, will do the trick.

Stardust Power Paint

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lurecraft_Stardust_Powder_Paint_2oz/descpage-LCSTD.html

Simply heat your jig or other metal bait using your preferred heat source, then give it a quick dip in Stardust paint. The initial Stardust coating will be rough. Return the coated lure to your heat source until the paint smooths. Heads can be dipped in cool water to speed up the curing process, otherwise hang them until cool.

Powder coating also coats the hook eye creating a surface your line digs into clinching the knot tight weakening the line.

Powder coating looks great but is harder than the lead so it chips hitting rocks.

Enamel paint like Testors is functional doesn’t chip and you can keep it out of the hook eye.

I only painted a few thousand jigs over 40 years using Testors, it works.

Tom

If you hold the jig eye with needle nosed pliers or forceps no paint gets into the hook eye.

22 minutes ago, Jig-Man said:

If you hold the jig eye with needle nosed pliers or forceps no paint gets into the hook eye.

Because of your advice way back when, that’s how I do it  

I'm not a fan of powder paint. I use acrylic paint and seal with Devcon 2  ton epoxy. Takes a little longer, but doesn't chip off or gunk up the line tie. And i'm only doing a dozen (or less) at a time...

I recommend Stardust and getting a cheaper $20 heat gun off of amazon, harbor freight, etc.  

 

Stardust doesn't chip like other powder paints and doesn't require an oven to cure.  It is a little more expensive than other powders, but I like it a lot.

I would just go with the Testors paint Tom suggested. You can use hang the heads to dry using Christmas bulb hangers.

 

Allen

5 minutes ago, Munkin said:

You can use hang the heads to dry using Christmas bulb hangers.

Or secure a rod between two uprights and hang them off that....cobbled together these for my jig painting....one in front goes in the oven for hardening, one in back is the cooling rack - just some bent 10 gauge steel wire. My heat source is an arts&crafts embossing heat gun - about $20 from Michaels, JoAnns, Dick Blick, etc.