Air brushing crank baits

[2tall79]

How do you guys clean the hook eyes after you paint?  If I do it when they're still wet I screw up the paint.  If I try to clean them out after they dry, the paint chips.   I've tried various things to cover the eyes as I'm painting but removing them, wet or dry, presents the same problems.   Thanks

[Deleted account]

I mask them with painter's tape, use two pieces with straight edges and stick them together, don't try to wrap the tape around the eye.

[SmugOne]

I don’t clean them or tape them off. It is such a thin coat I don’t have any issues with gunking up the eye or with chipping, and  I actually want it to match the paint scheme.