I'm building a spinning rod that the blank is gray.I ordered chrome guides and I ordered a medium gray thread to wrap with. Before I started I wrapped some thread on a portion of the blank under the handle area and was pleased with the color it turned when epoxy was applied. Well I finish the rod , epoxy the wraps and am pleased with the final results as it is on the dryer .I get up this morning to find that the thread has turned almost completely clear . The guides look like they have no wrapping on them at all. What went wrong? what do I do now ,short of tearing it down and starting over ? I guess I could color a batch of epoxy gray and paint it with a thin layer... What a disapointment.
Thanks for your time
Ken Blevins

HI Ken
Did you use cp ? IF not that's what will happen some people like this some as you just found out do not. Hope this helps Marcel

Hi Ken

Ken,
As marcel stated, lack of CP gives the wrap a translucent appearance. You can use NCP thread and eliminate this. Or use CP.
A lot of people like the translucent look and do this on purpose.
It is not going to affect the fishability of the rod, so, if it was mine I would just use it.

Hiya, Ken - What happened is that any regular, nylon guide thread will turn translucent when no Color Preserver (CP) is first applied to the thread itself, BEFORE the thread finish (epoxy or varnish types) is applied. Your threads are now sealed in the epoxy, and there is no way to make any CP penetrate into that layer of thread and reverse it's translucence.

The good news is that the thread is now sealed in the epoxy, and this is just as strong and at least as well protected from infiltration as if the CP had been applied before the epoxy. A recent Thread discussed this at length. For the full Post & Replies, see:
Strength difference of wrap with CP versus no CP?
Tim Collins 01-09-2005 11:16AM
[www.rodbuilding.org]

I know the bad news is your disappointment. But now you can show your Grandson the coolest fishing rod in the county: Grandpa Ken's Invisible Thread Fishing Rod. You can explain the magic to him, and he'll be wanting to make one himself, too !

I'd leave well enough alone, and just put on another coat or two of your epoxy. IMO. Best Wishes, Ken. -Cliff Hall, Gainesville, FL-

I don't understand why the final wraps did not look like the test wraps on the butt? I guess that is part of your question. I have done that several times and it made a good test. Did you let the epoxy harden fully on the test wraps?

I guess you could "marbalize" the wraps if you have the latest copy of rodmaker.;

Another way to go is to just learn to like it like it is. I always have liked almost transparant wraps. The new Sage XP's are finished that way.

Bill I knew in advance that the thread would change colors without CP and I was counting on that very thing.But I didn't let my test wrap dry because I saw the darker color I was after while it was wet so I just cleaned off the butt and continued on. Like Cliff said "Papaw" now has a really cool rod
You live and learn or you get bumps on your forehead
Thanks again
Ken Blevins

That's what happened. You did not let the epoxy fully dry and finish it's job I like that look myself

Cliff wrote:
"...and this is just as strong and at least as well protected from infiltration as if the CP had been applied before the epoxy..."

It is stronger and better protected with just epoxy and no CP.

Putter

Ken. You have accidentally accomplished what many do on purpose. Many of the very best rods, particularly bamboo use the clear finish. Some new Sages do. If you must, tint some epoxy, or better yet, get some klass kote paint (sponsor) and paint it any color you want.

Putter,

That's a matter of opinion LOL!!!!!

I think Tom's tests on this pretty much confirmed it.

Putter