TWEAKING SPOONS
Every now and then, when I’m buying tackle boxes on eBay or buying lures at yard sales, I find spoons in varying stages of disrepair. I bet if you would look in your tackle box at home you would find a few of these rascals…
Knowing full well the cost of new spoons, I set some time aside; usually when it’s raining, and start the laborious job of sanding down some spoons and preparing them for repainting. For me, this is a good time to experiment with new color patterns and taping designs. While sanding and spray painting a base color, I try to formulate a picture in my mind of everything that I have tried, everything I can’t afford to buy new and something that just might catch fish! I use two colors for my base colors: White or flat black. Sometimes I cheat and use spoon blanks that I have purchased on eBay. These are also usually black or white base colors, but I do have a few that are red, chartreuse and an orange-red.
This year I am experimenting with some damaged Dardevel spoons and some Len Thompson spoons...
While I am repainting the spoon I also take the time to check out the hardware, replacing rings and hooks as necessary.
I will add to this thread as I take more pictures of work in progress. Any responsible comments are welcome!
First Step
In this first step I remove all split rings and hooks, determining what needs to be replaced or at the very least sharpening the hook(s)...
The only tool that is required at this point is a split ring plyers, which is shown in the picture above.
Second Step
The second step is to remove all paint from the spoon. I like to use 120 grit sandpaper, but you might like to use a paint remover. Just be sure that no matter which way you do it, you must remove all dirt and or solovent before painting...
Third Step
Once the sanding and cleaning are complete,
you will need to determine what colors do you want to use...
Right now I like using spray paints. But many folks elect to use fingernail polish! The black is a flat, low gloss and the white is a high gloss. I have decided to paint the two smaller spoons black and the larger one white. I have determined this by the patterns of tape I wish to use.
Also, these will be casting spoons and I feel like experimenting! So, while the paint dries on the first coat, I'll check out the hardware...
I have decided to replace all three hooks and one of the split rings. I will also add snaps to all three spoons.
There is more to come, I must wait for the paint to dry! I hope you are enjoying this so far, I know I am!
Now that I have two coats of color on these spoons, I can now proceed to putting the clear coat on the two smaller (black) spoons.
I still need to add an additional color to the white spoon before I can clear coat it.
NOTE: Do not clear coat until all colors have been applied or you will find that you will have to sand everything off and start over!
Fourth Step
After all painting is complete, I rough cut and align the tapes to their respective spoons...
The next step will require some sort of razor cutting tool. I chose the Exacto knife...
In the next picture I show the taped but not finished. If you notice from the picture above, two of the three tapes are not cut to the finished size. This is where the knife comes in!
The two end spoons will need to have the tape trimed. The center spoon only requires you to properly center the tape. The picture below shows the completed spoons, hardware and all. They are now ready to get wet!
This completes this "How - To' thread. I hope you have learned something from this and those of you that are into air brushing can show us a few new tricks!
LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.