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A new powder paint came out last week… and it’s one of the best powder paints for jig heads I’ve ever seen.
I’m talking about the new Motor Oil color in the Nova Stone powder paint line. 👇
Why is this a big deal?
Listen, I’ve tested dozens of powder paints.
I’ve built hundreds of jigs.
I’ve been making baits for over four years now.
Through the Jig Is Up Lurecraft brand, I’ve posted over 60 articles teaching others how they can make baits and catch fish.
So I’ve gained a little experience in the bait making game.
And in all my experience, this new powder paint is hands down the best I’ve ever used.
“Alright Blaine, so maybe you know a little of what you’re talking about. But really, how is this paint different from any other?”
To tell you, we’ll need to take a quick look at the jig paints on the market now, what makes Nova Stone powder paints different, and why the Motor Oil color is particularly great.
Welcome back to Jig Is Up Lurecraft! Today we’re diving into the best powder paints you can use to make your own super fishy jig heads, starting with a classic favorite….
👉 Stardust – The Good Option
…Stardust ⭐️.
Stardust paint is marketed around one thing – it’s extreme durability.
Whereas most jig paints are powder paints, Stardust is technically a polymer paint. (I know, I know, it’s not a powder paint. But as one of the more popular paints around for jig heads, it had to be mentioned!)
It applies just like a powder – simply heat the jig head and dip it in the paint.
But whereas powder paint requires an additional heat cure, with Stardust you only have to dip the painted jig in water for it to be fully cured. The polymer adheres incredibly well to the jig head. This allows it to resist paint chips when bouncing a jig off of rocks or boat docks.
“Wow Blaine, this paint sounds like it has it all. Why would you ever want to use anything else?”
Stardust does have one big downside.
It applies really thick onto jigs.
Why does this matter?
Three important reasons.
One, if you are painting a jig head that has a lot of detail, you lose all those fine details because the paint is so thick. If you use simple Arky heads and football heads, then this is a non-issue for you. But for jigs like the Poison Tail swim jig, you’d lose the gill plate and other fine details that make those more complicated heads look so good.
Two, thick paint means it’s really hard to put more than one color on a head. Only way you can put multiple Stardust colors on a jig, is to use a larger head that can take lots of paint.
Three, thick paint means you cannot use a fluid bed to dip a jig and apply the paint. I dip my jigs into the paint jar anyway, so this doesn’t matter to me…but some of you like your fluid beds, so consider yourself warned – Stardust is too thick, it doesn’t play well with fluid beds 😬.
Not a deal breaker for everyone, but something to consider.
I’m new to all this – what’s a fluid bed?
Quick in-a-nutshell explanation. A fluid bed is a PVC cup system you connect to a pressurized air source, like a low-powered air compressor. Powder paint goes into the cup, the air flows into the cup and makes the powder light and fluffy.
You heat the jig, dip it into the fluid bed, and voila! the powder paint is applied to the jig in a thin, even coat.
If you don’t do multi-colored jigs and durability is your biggest priority, then Stardust is for you!
👉 You can get Stardust here at Lure Parts Online.
Quick Breakdown
Pros
Extremely durable ➡️ Stardust holds up super well to rocks and boat docks.
Lots of colors ➡️ All the standard colors are available, and then some.
No heat cure required ➡️ Simply dip the painted jig in water, and the paint’s cured!
Cons
Makes multi-color designs difficult ➡️
Too thick to show detail ➡️ Stardust applies really thick, so gill plates and other details in a jig head easily get globbed over.
Too thick for fluid beds ➡️ If you want to use Stardust, you’ll have to dip into the jar 🤷♂️.
This leads us to the most popular jig paint on the market…
👉 Protec – The Better Option
…Protec.
Protec is very popular. It’s the ol’ stand-by most jig makers start with and never depart from.
And for good reason.
It’s available in tons of colors. You can buy it just about anywhere (I’ve bought it from Bass Pro Shops before!).
And it’s super easy to work with. Heat the jig, dip in the powder, and then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes to cure.
To be candid I’ve painted hundreds of jigs with Protec powder paint, and I can only say good things about it.
Sometimes the powder doesn’t stick well if the shop is chilly…sometimes the jar of powder gets a little clumpy if it’s sat in a humid room…but those are the exceptions, not the norm.
I think every jig maker should have some Protec powder paint in their shop. For basic colors – like black, white, green pumpkin – Protec is simply the way to go.
Now compared to Stardust, Protec is not as durable. Paint will sometimes crack and chip if you’re banging the jig against stuff. At least, that’s what I’m told.
Honest truth? I cure these jigs and fish them hard. I’ve yet to see Protec paint chip on a head….
Your mileage may vary, but for me…Protec has been rock solid.
The best part? It applies way less thick than Stardust does.
That means multi-color heads are a breeze… and yes to fluid beds!
My recommended colors ➡️ black, white, and green pumpkin are staples. My two absolute favorite Protec colors are Magic Craw Blue (for bluegill patterns) and Coppermine (for craw patterns).
If you simply want a no-frills powder paint with oodles of colors, Protec is the one for you.
👉 You can get Protec here at Barlow’s Tackle.
Quick Breakdown
Pros
Fluid bed ready ➡️ Protec is much thinner than Stardust. Thin enough it can be used with a fluid bed!
Lots of colors ➡️ Available in just about every color you’d ever need.
Easy to find ➡️ Tackle Warehouse, Bass Pro Shops, Barlow’s Tackle – all these places and more carry it.
Great for multi-color designs ➡️ It applies thin enough that you can apply multiple layers of paint very easily (like this pattern).
Cons
Less durable than Stardust ➡️ But still more than durable enough for most people!
Last but not least is the king of jig head paints…
👉 Nova Stone – The Best Option
…Nova Stone powder paint.
At this point, you might be confused.
“Blaine you just sang Protec’s praises. You just said Protec did everything you wanted it to do.”
“What does Nova Stone have to offer above Protec powder paint?”
Two huge things.
One, it’s the easiest paint I’ve ever worked with.
The powder is so fine and so fluffy, it goes onto jigs like a dream.
I love that.
I love, love, love how easy it is to get an even, thin layer of this paint onto a head.
Understand, it’s not that Protec was bad in this regard. Nova Stone is just that good.
Two, the Nova Stone colors are absolutely gorgeous.
I honestly don’t have words for how good these colors are. Each one is a color shift, meaning it looks like one color at one angle and then subtly morphs into another color as you shift the jig in the light.
Maybe that’s not something you care about. Maybe you simply want to make budget friendly jigs so you can save some money on tackle.
For those of you who want an easy jig painting experience, you should still consider this paint. Hands down the friendliest paint I’ve ever used.
For those of you who want to craft jigs that are truly unique – unlike anything you can buy on store shelves – this is the powder paint for you.
I’ve used several Nova Stone colors so far. My favorites include Mossy Craw (here’s a recipe with that) and Sunburst. And now Motor Oil.
They all look so good.
“Wow, Blaine. This sounds impressive. What makes the new Motor Oil color such a big deal then?”
Most of the color shifts have two or three colors that morph in the light. Motor Oil easily has four colors that it shifts between.
Simply put, the Motor Oil paint looks next level. It’s absolutely dazzling. Green, gold, red, purple….there’s a lot of color shift going on.
The first words out of my mouth the first time I used it?
Wow.
Motor Oil has been a popular color among soft bait makers for a long time now. This is the first Motor Oil powder paint that’s hit the market for us to put on jigs.
It’s been a while in coming. But from all I see, it was worth the wait!
👉 You can get Nova Stone here at Barlow’s Tackle.
Quick Breakdown
Pros
Fluid bed ready ➡️ Nova Stone is a very fine powder, meaning it is very easy to use in a fluid bed.
Amazing colors ➡️ Simply the best jig head colors I’ve ever seen.
Very friendly to use ➡️ This paint is very fine and applies onto jigs easier than either of the other options.
Great for multi-color designs ➡️ It applies thin enough that you can apply multiple layers of paint very easily.
Cons
Less durable than Stardust ➡️ Just like Protec, Nova Stone is not as durable as Stardust. But I’ve found it to still be very durable.
Priciest option ➡️ Because it’s made with high quality pigments, this paint is more expensive than the others ($12.50 vs $8.50 for Protec as of right now).
FAQ: Best Powder Paints For Jig Heads
Do I need a fluid bed to use powder paint?
Nope.
A fluid bed makes things easier and more consistent — but it’s not required. You can dip your heated jig head straight into the jar and get great results (that’s what I do).
Just know that Stardust is too thick for fluid beds. If you want to use one, you’re better off using Protec or Nova Stone.
How do I cure powder paint on jig heads?
It depends on the paint.
For Protec and Nova Stone – you heat your jig head, dip it in the powder, then bake it at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Stardust is a different animal. No oven required. Just dip the painted head in water and it cures right then. Doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Can I put more than one color on a jig head?
Yes!
Bear in mind, this is very challenging with Stardust. Stardust applies so thick that layering colors is really tough.
Protec and Nova Stone both apply thin enough that multi-color designs are pretty easy to do.
Is Nova Stone harder to use than regular powder paint?
Actually…the opposite.
Because it’s such a fine powder, Nova Stone applies thinner and more evenly than Protec or Stardust. If anything, it’s the most friendly of the three when it comes to application.
What’s a colorshift paint? And why does it matter?
A colorshift paint looks like one color at one angle…and then subtly shifts into something else as you move it in the light.
In the water, that means your jig looks alive.
It’s doing something a flat-colored factory jig simply can’t do.
Nova Stone is a colorshift paint. Every color in the lineup does this. The Motor Oil color takes it to the next level – it shifts between green, gold, red, and purple depending on the light.
Is the price difference between Nova Stone and Protec worth it?
Depends on what you’re after.
If you want reliable, everyday colors – black, white, green pumpkin – Protec at $8.50 is all you need.
But if you want jigs that look like nothing on the store shelf…Nova Stone is absolutely worth the extra money.
You’re paying for next-level colors and ease-of-use. If those are your highest priority, then Nova Stone is for you.
Which paint should a beginner start with?
Protec 100%.
It’s widely available, easy to work with, and comes in every color you’d ever need. Many baitmakers start with Protec and never switch to anything else.
If you’re just getting started painting your own jigs, then Protec is for you.
Are Stardust, Protec, and Nova Stone the only jig paints available?
No, actually. Those three are simply the ones at the top of the list (in my humble opinion).
Other powder paints include
Boss Powder Paints ➡️ This paint is known for it’s natural looking camo patterns.
Barlow’s Powder Paints ➡️ Alongside their Nova Stone paints, Barlow’s Tackle also has standard powder paints that are similar to what you get with Protec. Lots of good basic colors, with a few fun colors thrown in.
Double Dazzle Powder Paints ➡️ Another product from Barlow’s Tackle. This powder paint is basically tons and tons of glitter!