Nearly everyone of my guides has some kind of blemish. I put too much epoxy on and then spent too long trying to take off the excess. My playing with the finish must of happened after the glue started setting up because some of my guide finish has little pimples about the size of a pinpoint. Also, there are some spots that sucked up the epoxy and the thread outline shows through. I am thoroughly disgusted with myself. Will a second coat hide those blemishes or do I start over and take off the really bad ones? Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bruce, you might be able to sand out the blemishes, and even up the wraps by using 400 grit paper, emrory board or what ever you have handy. Just be sure not to get into the thread. If you are able to straighten them up by sanding, then another coat should be fine. If not, then simply cut them off and go again.

Just a word of advice IMHO, applying finish is one of those things that is better shown than explained, but one thing that really helped me was to apply in thin coats, then get away from them and quit messing with them afterwards. I found the wraps were more level, and even when I had slight blemishes, such as those tiny missed areas, they come out looking much better by letting the first coat dry and applying a second coat, than trying to fix everything the first go around.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Oh yea, if your going to try sanding, then be sure and apply a wrap of tape at each end of the wrap to protect the finish on the blank

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

If you have threads showing or bumped up in places, apply a second coat and then try smoothing as Doug mentioned and then a final coat. Less I mess with the finish the better it seems. Putting on the right amount seems to be the trick, though, and that will come with more experience!!

Get a brand new sharp sharp razor blade and carefully trim of all the pimples. Cutting the mess ups off with a razor blade can be easily done before the finish cures hard enough to sand which may takes four to five days. Go to a local beauty supply and get some Personna Hair Shaper Blades. They will make quick work of the pimples you refer to. Take care not to cut into the thread!

You really need to figure out what you did to cause this if it as bad as you say. How did you tension your thread? What size and type of thread? Was the thread "fuzzy" on the spool? Was it tightly packed? Did you use CP? Were there UPOs present in the air during or after finish application? Are those pimples air bubbles? Did you torch the finish? Did a close relative or close friend sabatoge your work on purpose? What type of turning? What type of finish? How was finish mixed and applied? I agree with the above posts about your work is recoverable and you will get it right with a little practice. In your spare time search this boards archives and read up on some of the topics mentioned and you will soon be highly pleased with your work.

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Gon 2 Charlotte

I did use color preserver, I thought the threads were tightly packed, they look like pimples from messing with the epoxy after it started setting, I used Flex Coat Lite, turned the rod 1/3 turn every 5 minutes for the first 1 1/2 hrs., and I didn't torch the finish. If a friend did that they will be dead. I have a mentor, a professional rod builder, I consult with who lives about 1 hour and 15 minutes away in State College, PA. He's advised me graciously. I'm learning and I won't learn it all with one blank. Thanks for all your help and keep it coming.

Bill , what are UPOs ??? ....... Unmedicated Pfloating Objects ? LOL

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