Sealing Decoys

[mrklean]

Well i have started doing some basic decoy carving, i have the finned, weighted and sanded, what is a decent sealer to use before and after painting? Someone told me to use a Rustoleum clear spray sealer, while others have told me to look for clear epoxy's?

[shamalex72]

I have been using a clear spray before swim testing, then a spar varnish after paint. Seems to work pretty good. For a while I used a boiled linseed oil/paint thinner mixed 50/50, I would brush it on before paint.

[BoxMN]

I don't know anything about decoys (fish that is ) but my brother has been making lures, and tested out lots of stuff. What he came down to working best for finishing sealer is EnviroTech (sp?). It is basically the self leveling urothane sealer you see on the bar or table tops of log or other tables, the stuff that is really thick and clear and hard.

It puts a great finish on, looks good and lasts. The two probs:

1. it is spendy

2. it is thick, and takes a while to setup, so you need to hang the lure/decoy properly so it drips off right. It will leave a bubble where it drips. My bro rigged up a grill rotisterrie motor to "spin" a couple lures at a time, so it dries without pooling anywhere.

So, worth a look at the stuff. Really, REALLY nice finish. Good luck.

[mrklean]

I have been using a clear spray before swim testing, then a spar varnish after paint. Seems to work pretty good. For a while I used a boiled linseed oil/paint thinner mixed 50/50, I would brush it on before paint.

What kind of varnish do you use? The sealer doesnt look like it would be the best for a final coat, the bait really got sucked in still when we primed them.

[shamalex72]

Any kind of spar varnish. The last can I used was the Ace Hardware brand.

[mrklean]

so as long as it is a clear varnish it should work, how many coats?

[shamalex72]

Just make sure it is an exterior varnish, and two coats is what I usually do.

[BOUNCED]

Just remember Spar varnish has a tendency to yellow. Don't expect your whites to be bright white.