Anybody have any ideas on this?   Painted is expensive and unpainted just doesn't look right.

Roll Tide

I find it a bit silly to paint weights. IMO the fish could care less if the weight matches the lure color. Maybe hit the tacklemaking section up for this.

    Tungsten is smooth and paint may not adhere to it's surface.

   

Do-it, a company that specializes in kits for do-it-yourselfers, has a powder coat finish that is supposed to work.  It's called Pro-Tec Powder Paint and comes in a ton of colors.  It sells for around $7 a bottle I think.

The only catch is it won't work on the tungsten weights that have the plastic insert because you have to heat the metal to get the finish to adhere.  

powder coat for the win

Do-it, a company that specializes in kits for do-it-yourselfers, has a powder coat finish that is supposed to work. It's called Pro-Tec Powder Paint and comes in a ton of colors. It sells for around $7 a bottle I think.

The only catch is it won't work on the tungsten weights that have the plastic insert because you have to heat the metal to get the finish to adhere.

Pro-Tec won't adhere to tungsten.  Tried it, made a big mess.

Nail polish, yea it smells like s@%t but the fish here don't seem to mind, and you can get it in any color imaginable(and some unimaginable). Also, you may want a clear hard coat to top it off.

And just for fun tell the cashiers that its for your weekend job, it usually will get an interesting look out of them.  ;D ;D