Every time I work on this rod for my son which I need to have done by next Saturday something goes wrong on the finishing step.I have removed the guides once already.

This time I have gotten too much CP (clear coat cp) on the wraps. Of course I had to try too fix it too late. So I have some real hvy spot which had alred begun to set up when I tried to take off excess and some is wavy. I have done this on before but when it comes to this rod I really screw up. Performance anxiety--choke.

What can be the effect of too much cp which in spots looks like finish?

Should I just cut them off again and just go to a different wrap?

Maybe I will feel better when It is dry.
thanks

John kepka

John, I typically lay a heavy coat of Flex Coat CP/Sealer and I do get some small, white particles or even white, mottled areas, that appear to be laying on the wrap while drying. Given enough drying time, they do disappear. I usually wait from a few hours to overnight before I apply the finish.
Even those areas that are still mottled, seem to disappear when I apply the finish. What you might try doing if you have only applied the CP/Sealer and not the epoxy/finish is wet a brush with warm water and stroke the wraps that have these spots to either incorporate them into the wrap or remove them.
You should not have to re-wrap the guide to fix this problem. You can scrape heavy areas and light reapply cp/sealer. Just make sure the wraps are very dry when you apply the finish.
Patrick Vernacchio

John,

My 1st reaction is that I have used at least three different cp products and even recoated a few. It seems always to end-up with a satin appearance.

With this kind of trouble and the shortness of time, it might be easier to try a fresh bottle of CP, and even, a different brand. At worse, you'll have a backup supply.

My experience is that the 'epoxy step' tends to smooth-out the overall appearance, anyway.

Plus, your son will no doubt be pleased that you love him enough to make something as nice as a custom rod for him.
Something with a long life.

Good luck and Merry Christmas.
Bob

Sooner or later EVERYONE runs into "the rod that refuses to be built" . I have one that I've been working at off and on for myself for over 6 months. If it could go wrong - it has. It's a stand-up tuna stick - found the spine & set the tip (with epoxy) assembled the butt section. Gimble didn't line up with the reel seat. It was off almost 30 degrees because I set it aside to dry standing up and the gimble rotated. Fixed that and then looked at the tip - 180 degrees off the reel seat -- Total "What did you do to yourself!" situation. Got that all taken care of - of course now 180 degrees off where I intended it to be. Followed by guide wraps that blotched ... then epoxy that I mixed two parts of side A and no side B (telephone call interruption) that resulted in taking the guides off a second time. ... This one just refuses to go outside and play with the fishies. Luckily it's for me and I am last in line for new rods.

I had this happen on a large butt wrap flex CP started to dry before I could finnish putting it on. Solution add water to CP and it works great. I mix it in bottle everytime I use it with a narrow plastic spatula just swirl in a cirular way, you won't get bubbles. Just use a couple med heavy coats. As for the large butt wrap that I screwed up, before it completely dryed I wet a cloth with water and wiped with the flow of the thread to thin the stuff that was not set up yet . Repacked any threads I moved and let it dry,then I used a thread pick to remove any white clomps that were left. Then I put on a coat of the water thinned stuff and let it dry. Turned out pretty good. As it thickens again over time I just add more water. Folks here won't agree but I've used it a lot and no problems.Ed...