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Blank Refinishing

Surface Preparation


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GREAT article on surface preperation!!!!!!!! How did I miss this in the magazine? What issue did it run in? I know you covered it in one of your own articles but I had not seen this one. Really very, very, very good. I'm impressed.

I will add one thing to Ralph's excellent article and it has to do with why very fine abrasives have to be utilized in order to easily create a water break free surface.

Coarse abrasives actually require more work to create the WBF surface. The abrasive particles are larger and farther apart and you actually disturb less surface as you work than you do with a finer abrasive. True, you create deeper scrapes and gouges, but these won't create the surface that we're after if we want the best bond. The idea is to abrade or scour more of the surface, not to do so more deeply.

For this reason, the finer grades of Scotchbrite and sandpaper (if you must) are better suited to the task.


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Excellent information as always.

Hi Ralph.
I just finished reading both your articles in the library.
I have to say I was very impressed with both. My knowledge in this crucial area I now realise was poor and based on misconceptions. This really is a very valuable two pieces of work.
Thank you very much.

Best Regards

Mike Oliver

Another reason why RodMaker mag is so highly valued by the builders here in the States Mike. You know that you can trust the info they present.

Ralph, that was great information on both topics. I see lot's of post on refinishing rod blanks and you did a tremendous job of presenting how to do it the proper way. Thanks. Ronnie...

Since reading these, I am even dumber than I thought I was. Before getting into this site, I thought I knew rodbuilding pretty well. The longer I stay with it, the dumber I get. This may not be good for my self esteem. John Butterfield

You don't have to tell anyone! Just do what I do ~ read the articles and then pretend you knew it all along.

If it's true then its contrary to a lot of what I was taught about bonding things in rod building. I'm not doubting it but just thinking we might all be using some old myths in our rod building without really knowing it.

The fact is that a lot of what people do in rod building is based on long standing myths. I think this site has helped crack more than a few of those.

Thanks Tom for this series of articles. It is very generous of you to do this.