I just baked some jigs for the first time. My problem is that it changed some of the colors. My blaze orange which was a bright flourscent orange now looks more like burnt orange. The sapphire blue darkened more and now it does not sparkle like before I baked. I am assuming that maybe I need to lower the heat or bake for 15 minutes instead of 20. I baked these at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. I need to know what to do to solve this problem.

If you are using a toaster oven like I do, you might get an oven thermometer to verify the temp is what the dial says it is. On my cheap w-mart toaster oven it is 300 inside when the dial is set to just under 250.

If you bake them too hot or too long can it cause hooks to become brittle?

I turn it on for 7 minutes and then turn it off and let them stay until they cool. Sometimes they change color if you are using a candle and getting soot on the head before you paint.

good point Friday, I was going to ask what he used to heat the heads with?

Color changing usually means too hot.

Also make sure you stir your paint after you do four or five jig heads...Keeps your paint fluffy and gives a better texture

ok thanks everybody for your help.

One thing to keep in mind with any epoxy is a longer cure at a lower temp will usually give the same result as a shorter time / higher temp cure.

also, different paint colors require different temperatures and cure times. its best to separate colors into their respective temperature and cure time so that you get the best result possible.

I do not bake most of my jigs. I have never had a problem with them chipping unless I am in a lot of rock or trolling in dirty water. To each his own though. I have caught 20 + fish on the same jig with no problem and usually loose one before that many fish. Color changes usually when the temp is too hot or you bake too long. I use 20 Minutes @ 220 degrees for those I do bake and they seem to be OK. I have tried higher temps resulting in lead melting or color changing dramatically. Getting the lead hot enough in the beginning, and then tempering it a little after it is dipped in the color seems to work just fine. I am a novice but this process has worked well.....Had a good teacher too... not mentioning any names (Sloedown). My teacher is a wizard @ this!

If you bake jigs be careful especially if you are using glitters or some metallics since they melt or discolor at very low temperatures. Like No Net Needed said just heat the head, dip, then a quick pass by the heat to set the paint.I have caught hundreds of fish on a jig that was not baked & still had paint on the head, but I usually loose a jig before it has time to wear the paint off.