While putting on some trim bands I felt a slight nick in the finish on the blank between two guides. it is a slight nick and doesn't appear to go down into the blank It's not noticable to anybody else but me., and since I know it's there I want to cover it up and smooth it out. It may have been there before but I may also have done it

What can I use on it? CP, some type of wax?

Thank you.

Warren.

If you want to smooth it down without marring the finish, rubbing the nick with some paper towel over your hard fingernail may give enough abrasion to the nick, without marring the rod finish. If you want to cover that spot with rod finish after you smooth it out, then use a solvent-based rod finish. That would be a varnish or the rod-builder's PermaGloss. If it really is that inconspicuous, you may just want to use the paper towel or the side of a wooden tooth pick to smooth it out, then just leave well enough alone. You may draw more attention to it by putting a varnish on it than if you had just left it alone. A matte or satin finish with a glossy spot tends to stick out. If it truly is just superficial, then it doesn't need varnish. Adding varnish would only keep out dirt or liquids from penetrating into the rod matrix or fibers, which is unlikely in a slight nick. The varnish would NOT increase the blank's strength anyway at that point. LOL. -Cliff Hall-