Here is a picture of three of my jigs I painted yesterday. I did them all the exact same way with the exception of the color of paint. The black and blue and the fire craw came out great but the green pumpkin is blistering and dimpling almost like it has bad acne. I tried to make it a little thicker and I tried to cut down the temperature on the bake time, but it still happens. Any thoughts? Thank you.

More detail will help us like how you heat the jig, fluid bed or jar, your method of baking, etc.

Are your paints stored the same? I’m wondering if there could be some moisture in the green paint.

I got the fire craw and green pumpkin in the same shipment from Barlow’s last week. The black/blue flake I have had for a bit but I store them inside together. I pour my own lead, these are all the same batch 3/8” and 1/2 oz. I use a heat gun on high to heat and hold it for about 20 -25 seconds. I use a fluid bed and it’s rolling nicely. I dip immediately out of the heat quickly once and tap off the excess. I then bake in a designated toaster oven at 350 for 20 minutes. I tried the green pumpkin at 300 for 20 mins also to see if it would help, it did not. Like I said, the black/blue flake and the fire craw come out very pretty but the green pumpkin is pock marked. I would fish them but I wouldn't give them to a friend and be proud of it. Thanks for any thoughts and replies.

The only time I seen that happen is if the pour has slight divots in the jig or if the lead is contaminated, maybe have some oil or other contaminates on it. Looking at it closer, I see it also happened by the collar.

Did you get the pock marking out of the fluid bed or after you baked it? I'm thinking that the heat is too high, just a guess. Also try to use a jar instead of the fluid bed, see if the helps. Not all paints are equal. Your green pumpkin doesn't like something. I'm still thinking heat. Do you count out how long you heat each jig before you put it in the fluid bed? All your 1/2 oz should be one number and 1/4 oz would be less. Just giving you something to try.

Also try to heat your jig like normal, dip it in your fluid bed, and then does it gloss over. If not put it back over your heat gun, but heat it and then see if you get pot marking after the heat gun re-heats it. just don't burn the paint, because if you do, the paint will bubble. Let us know how it goes.

What count do y’all do for a 3/8 jig over a heat gun on high? I did 22 seconds but I’m thinking that may be too much for the green pumpkin.

I don’t do mine the same as cadman does. I hardly ever have mine under the heat gun for more than 10 seconds. I just want mine hot enough to give me a dull powder coat that will be thin and have no runs or drips when baked.

I don’t sell jigs so I only bake mine at 350° for 10-12 minutes. The paint rarely is gone before the jig goes to Davy Jones locker.

1 hour ago, Boondocks Hunter said:

What count do y’all do for a 3/8 jig over a heat gun on high? I did 22 seconds but I’m thinking that may be too much for the green pumpkin.

Boondocks, everyone over the years has found their sweet spot on how to make and paint their jigs. There isn't a right or wrong way to paint and pour jigs. You have to find what works for you. The way I do them may or may not work for you. However, the way I do them, probably isn't your dimpling problem. I think that, that is a whole different issue. Now to answer your question. This is the way I do it, remember this is not gospel, this is just what works for me:

Once all my jigs are poured, I file all the sprues and any bad spots. Now they are ready for powder painting. If I have 20 or 30 jigs I do not set up the fluid bed. It is faster for me to heat, swish, rack . Now I use a multi heat heat gun. You don't need a fancy heat gun. The hotter ones take less time to heat a jig, the cooler ones take more time. So, let's say I am doing 1/2 oz arky jig. with teflon pin in hole, I take the jig and count out 1,2,3 etc till about 20 (seconds). I immediately swish the jig through the powder paint and see if it glosses over. This is my test piece. If it glosses over, then I rack it if it looks powdery then I add a few more second in the heat. So at some point you will find a rhythm that let's say it will take 30 seconds of heat, swish and it glosses over. This will be your number for all the 1/2 oz arkies for that day. If you are doing 1/4 oz, then you know that 30 seconds is too much so, try 20 seconds and see if that works. However, every day you pour and paint, may not be 30 seconds for 1/2 oz and 20 seconds for a 1/4 oz. This is just a starting point. The numbers I gave you may be too hot or too cold for your heat gun. Once they are all painted and racked, they go to the toaster oven. Just a thought but check your toaster oven to see if it is accurate. They are notorious for not matching the heat on an actual thermometer. This is what I do and works for me.

Thank y’all for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it. I’ll let you know if I can get this Green Pumpkin smooth. 👍