there's an interesting thread over at [www.flyfisherman.com] under the rodbuilding forum. a gentleman was using the flexible mesh drywall tape and discovered what apears to be failure of the tape used as a reel seat arbor. anybody else have this experience?

eric zamora
fresno, ca.

[outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com]

Then he did a poor job on the assembly as there is nothing to fail with the tape. The mesh traps and holds the epoxy. It forms a hard, solid mass when done. I would think he either did a poor job in working his epoxy into the tape grid or did a poor job with his surfaces preparation.

I read the post. It's a bit silly. The adhesive on the tape did not react with his RodBond and cause it to fail to harden. He either didn't mix the stuff well or didn't get close enough to a 50-50 mix. As Ralph O'Quinn would say, he's "witch hunting." His conclusion that the adhesive on the tape "reacted" with the RodBond is a poor conclusion. He's looking everywhere but at the person who did the measuring and mixing. If he'll look there he'll find the culprit.

Got to agree with William. If he did it right the blank would have failed long before the arbors would.

As William said the open mesh design squeezed the epoxy thoughout the entire arbor. It wouldn't matter if the tape completely disentigrated there would still be a solid arbor of epoxy left. I use fiberglass tape but usually only on heavy offshore rods. Normal procedure for me is to apply epoxy to the tape every three to five wraps. I'm assured of complete penetration in doing so. Jay

I have used Rod Bond with fiberglass dry wall tape to rebuild rotted out wood butts among other things. Rod Bond and tape works perfectly when done correctly and will probably last many lifetimes. This fellow has obviously done something wrong.

thanks everyone. your assessment seemed, on first read, kind of harsh but perhaps correct. what do i know? i'm new to this. i had hoped the poster, tom, would chime in and fill us in with some details. perhaps there's some valid point he didn't mention that might change the verdict. i suggested that he post here with his problem; perhaps i should have waited even longer. i sincerely hope i haven't overstepped my boundaries but i wanted to know what everyone here thought before i began with the tape myself.

eric
fresno, ca.

The drywall mesh and Rod Bond is as near to an idiot-proof arbor as I've seen, for building your own, but this person seems to have outdone himself. Ralph

Y'all are too kind.

LoL

IMHO - graphite arbors are the only way to go.

Drywall works great for me. I use it between masking tape arbors on each end. This makes for a cleaner job and keeps the epoxy from running out the ends. It also centers the reel seat better. Ralph - I am 180 out with you, I would never use arbors, masking tape is easier and works just as well, if not better. John Butterfield

The foam type arbors that Flex Coat sells are by far the fastest (and probably the best) way to mount a seat (anybody can do it with these in under a minute flat).

Drywall tape is a good method also. I strongly suspect that the fellow that had this trouble just didn't go a good or proper job either mixing, measuring or applying it. But I suppose it's only human nature to blame the tape or the adhesive rather than the tapee or the adherer.

..........

I like the FlexCoat arbors too...Sometimes I put a wrap or two of mess tape down and coat it then slide the FlexCoat Arbor in place.

I think you can sometimes have too big of a mess arbor.

uhhh, what is a mess arbor?

eric
fresno, ca.

I only used "graphite" foam arbors until I discovered the mesh.

The mesh is much faster to work with, and I've had 100% success with it. I've had 100% success with the arbors, too, so it's really up to the builder.

TH

I've never had a failure. I agree with William Colby; the man didn't do something right. I have a handout about installing reels seats with fiberglas drywall tape for those who are interested