Glow Glow Glow

[GLF]

Some of the hottest fishing baits on the market have glow in the dark paint on them. Anything that will make your lure more visible under water is a plus. Since glow paint is not light dependant, you can throw the depth/color principle out the door. Take a charge glow lure into a dark closet, and you will see. How much do you really know about glow in the dark paint? Most of the lure manufacturers state "Some of our lures will glow up to 14 hours". This is a true statement. However, not all colors will glow up to 14 hours. Some will only glow for 30 minutes!

Before I cover the colors and their glow durations, I will take you through the painting processes. I do not know what specific process each manufacturer uses during their painting process, but there are some general principles that should be followed. There are two ways to apply paint to spoons. One is with a solvent based paint and the other is with powder paint.

Solvent Based paint

Before any paint is applied to brass or nickel plated metal, it should be etched. Etching will clean the metal and allow the paint to adhere very well. Plastic lures should be sanded lightly with a fine sand paper. If it is not etched or sanded, the paint may chip or peel! To get the best glow effect, the lure should have a quality white primer applied to it. Next, the glow paint is applied. This may be multiple coats to achieve the desired look. Last, a clear sealer with no UV-filtering additives is applied over the glow paint.

Powder Paint

Before any paint is applied to brass or nickel plated metal, it should be etched. Etching will clean the metal and allow the paint to adhere very well. Warm part to be painted in a preheated oven at 350-400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Immediately after heating, hold or hang part sideways to allow spraying in a sweeping motion. The powder will adhere immediately and flow out to a smooth finish. If metal has cooled to the point where powder does not flow out completely, return piece to the oven until desired effect is achieved. More paint can be added as necessary. For maximum durability, hang piece in oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. The priming, painting, coating process should be the steps as the solvent based paint.

Colors and Duration

Now lets look at some of the glow in the dark color's and information about them. I will start with the glow colors that last the longest and work through the ones that last the shortest.

Ultra Green Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Very High (25914)

Duration: Very Long (12+ hours)

Glow Color: Green-Yellow

Daytime Color: Almost Clear with White-Green Tint

Brightest Glow Paint Sold Anywhere

Brightness and Duration

Ultra Green Glow Paint is the brightest glow paint sold anywhere. Technically, it will continue to glow for days. But us humans can see it for about 12 hours after a full charge.

Ultra Blue Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Very High (9416)

Duration: Very Long (9 hours)

Glow Color: Aqua Blue

Daytime Color: Almost Clear with White-Green Tint

Very Bright, Long Duration, Unique Color

Brightness and Duration

Technically, it will continue to glow for days. But us humans can see it for about 12 hours after a full charge.

Pure Blue Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Medium (3209)

Duration: Medium (3 hours)

Glow Color: Sky Blue

Daytime Color: Almost Clear with White-Blue Tint

Impressive Pure Sky Blue Color

Brightness and Duration

Although not initially super bright, this paint maintains its glow for a long time. It continues to glow for about 9 hours from a full charge.

White Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Medium (2471)

Duration: Medium (2 hours)

Glow Color: White

Daytime Color: White

Pure White Color

Brightness and Duration

White Glow Paint's strength is in its color, not its brightness or duration, both of which are limited. It will glow for about 2 hours from a full charge.

Purple Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Low (913)

Duration: Short (30 minutes)

Glow Color: Deep Purple-Blue

Daytime Color: Almost Clear with White Tint

Awesome Deep Purple Effect

Brightness and Duration

High Purple Glow Paint's strength is in its deep, pure color, not its brightness or duration, both of which are limited. It will glow for about 2 hours from a full charge.

Zinc Orange Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Medium (3821)

Duration: Short (10 minutes)

Glow Color: Deep Orange

Daytime Color: Orange

Deep Orange Glow

Brightness and Duration

Zinc Orange Glow Paint's strength is in its deep, pure color, not its brightness or duration, both of which are limited. It will glow for about an hour from a full charge.

Zinc Red Glow in the Dark Paint

Brightness Rating: Medium (3853)

Duration: Short (10 minutes)

Glow Color: Deep Red

Daytime Color: Red

Pure Blood Red Color

Brightness and Duration

Red Zinc Glow Paint's strength is in its deep, pure color, not its brightness or duration, both of which are limited. It will glow for about 30 minutes from a full charge.

Charging/Recharging The Glow

Now that you have seen some of the colors and the duration of the glow effect, you have an idea on how frequently you should recharge them. Here are a few ways you can charge them, and how long it takes to charge with them.

Sun Light - 5 Minutes

UV Light(Black Light) 5-10 Minutes

Normal Light 20-30 Minutes

Lots of people use a spot light, and will shine it on the lure for a few minutes.

Mike Heckman(GLF)

www.greatlakesfisherman.com

[Midway97]

Great article Mike, very informative. However, you left out where to obtain said finish materials and guesstamate cost? Ok fishdog guys, do you have this stuff in your arsenal? :confused:

[GLF]

I did not write the article to make everyone a lure painter. I was trying to make everyone aware of the duration of glow colors for glow lures. After 30 minutes, a red glow lure will no longer be red. So, it would need to be brought back in and recharged, then put back out.

Do a google search for "glow paint" and you will find everything you are looking for

[Severus]

Very informative, Mike. Where did you get the test data? I think many of my lures were treated with the ten minute variety, unfortunately.

[Severus]

Also, do you have any idea where these glow compounds come from? I presume they are synthetic.

[GLF]

There are different varieties of the glow paint that lure manufacturers are using. Some of it has to do with there painting process. The new Ultra Glow colors are the ones with the greatest duration.

For those that are interested in making their own lures, you can find everything you need here. www.luremaking.com They also have glow in the dark paints.

For more information on glow paint, you can find it here. www.glowinc.com

[groover]

FYI

There is a cdompany that sells these paints or compounds on E-Bay called "glo by glo".

Jeff

[GLF]

I have seen them on ebay as well. You can find anything on ebay

Welcome to the site groover.

[Satisfaxion_Gauranteed]

cool article! I found it pretty informative as to why some of my lures glow longer than the others.

[GLF]

Very informative, Mike. Where did you get the test data? I think many of my lures were treated with the ten minute variety, unfortunately.

Sorry Severus The data came from the paint manufacturer.