Painting your own sinkers

[GRAPEAPE]

Supplies needed:

Shoebox
Toothpicks
Elmers glue
Lead sinkers
Spray paint
Glitter--optional
2 part epoxy (I use the 5 min. setting stuff from walmart 2$)
Paint brush


Take your shoebox and cut off the top rim of the bottom section of the box, you want to expose the corrugated inside of the cardboard.  Next take the glue and put some on the end of the toothpicks, now insert the toothpicks into the gaps in the cardboard.  I left about 2 in between each one.  Let this dry for a few hours before you proceed, if you don't the toothpicks will just pull right out.
should look kinda like this:

After the glue has had time to dry you can begin placing your lead sinkers on top of each toothpick
like so:

Now for the fun part.  Go to wherever you can and get the absolutely cheapest spraypaint that you can find, but try to find colors that match your favorite plastics, for me that was a "bass" green, and black.  REMEMBER: do this in a well ventilated area!!  Using a sweeping motion back and forth put about 3 coats of paint onto your lead sinkers.  Make sure you cover the entire sinker!!
here's a few with the green applied:

Now that you have the lead sinkers painted you need to ensure that the paint will stay on, heres where the 2 part epxoy comes into play.  Mix up some of the epoxy and brush it onto each of the lead sinkers again make sure you cover the entire sinker.
If you want to be fancy you can mix in some glitter with your epoxy and get a different kind of finish. 
Here I have one black and one green with silver flakes in the epoxy:


In total this project cost me $15.80, and I purchased everything but the shoebox!!!

So don't spend lots of money on the pre-painted sinkers, do it yourself and save!!

[marcoman]

I just painted a few last night. It was my first time. I found some glow-in-the-dark nail polish. So I tried it out. They now glow! We'll see if the fish like it tomorrow through Sunday! Has anyone else ever used nail polish to touch up spinnerbaits and jigs?

[Bassinkorea]

Excellent money saving idea GRAPEAPE  Thanks for sharing

[Fish_myster]

I just painted a few last night. It was my first time. I found some glow-in-the-dark nail polish. So I tried it out. They now glow! We'll see if the fish like it tomorrow through Sunday! Has anyone else ever used nail polish to touch up spinnerbaits and jigs?

yes i have and it works great, little ladies still wonders where her polish goes, polish/glitter in it.

[Just_Old_Fisherman]

I saw the same Bass Tech show you did---LOL.  Here is the recap. http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tv/news/story?page=g_tv_BASS_Tech_May06_Show10

[Wildcat26]

I have used fingernail polish on lures that the fish have chipped paint off of.  It works great.

[Jared LeBlue]

Get an old piece of styrofoam and use that instead of the shoe box. All you have to do is put the toothpick in the styrofoam, no glue required. This will save you a little time on glueing the toothpicks in the box.

[scatch1]

has anyone used their new sinkers yet?

[GRAPEAPE]

I've used them quite a bit.  I'm not sure if having them colored really make a difference in the catching, but it helps the confidence.

[marcoman]

I went to my tournament and forgot it at home  . Now I have to wait for our tournament at Kentucky Lake in October.

[Fish_myster]

I went to my tournament and forgot it at home  . Now I have to wait for our tournament at Kentucky Lake in October.

what day is your ty?

[marcoman]

We are going to be there 10-4 through 10-7. Tournament is 10-5 through 10-7. Will be my first time there.