I've heard people saying they use spatulas rather than brushes for the finish. Where do you get these? Tom.

I ordered one from Joe Kassuba at the Trondak booth when I was at the Charlotte Show. He sold all he had and then started taking orders.

a constant supply comes in the mail. i get lots of offers of credit cards and they contain thin plastic fake credit cards. i cut those up into strips of various widths. i also use my expired cards the same way.

since i quit my white collar job.....im using up my dress shirt collar stays!
RB

Mike Barkley has bought a deck of playing cards; just cut them into the widths needed for the guide you're finishing-sounds about as easy as anything.

Putter
Williston, ND

Tom: I often wondered that myself until this past summer. We were visiting New York City and walked through a Saturday street fair. A guy was selling "dental instruments" - not good ones and not something I'd want in MY mouth. Nonetheless, he had bins of stainless spatulas in all kinds of widths. I bought 6 different ones. They work great.

That doesn't really help you, though. Before I got these, I cut up all of my familys' expired library cards. Worked great.

Aaron

I got mine at craft stotes Michaels
Good Wraps Bob

Tom, I was fortunate to have Joe Kassuba instruct me in the use of a spatula to apply epoxy (eh.pox! see) to a guide wrap. It is very easy to get consistently great results when done correctly. The spatulas he sells have a flat blade on one end ( the spatula part which he shapes) and a pointed pick on the other end. Joe had me use the pick end to lay a line of epoxy against the outer edgeof the wrap which prevents any water from getting under the threads. Then, with the flat end he had me load on a good amount of epoxy and spread it a bit making sure to press it well into the threads to fill the spaces along the sides of the guide feet. Then addind more epoxy and spreadiing even while slowly turning the blank. Next, I had to remove the excess epoxy by hoding the spatula at an angle and running it across the bottom of the wrap from one side to the other..and carrying the excess away. After wiping the spatula clean I repeated the process afew times until all the excess was taken off. Then it is just a matter of letting it cure..either by hand turning it 180 degrees every ten minutes to start and waiting linger between turns as it sets up..or by turning it on a rod dryer. The spatula that Joe sells for $11.00 is more than just a stadard item you would find anywhere. I bought one and consider it a worthwhile investment. Applying finish used to be the most feared part of rod building for me. Now it is a piece of cake!

I was a wittness to David doing his thing at the show and he was nerveous but did very good under Joes direction. Joe is a super nice person and I enjoyed his company at dinner Sun. eve.

Joe Kassuba is aexcellant deminstrator on how to use a spatula
Good Wraps Bob

To add a little to larry's post above, I do the same only I cut my cards so that they will fit into an exacto knife handle. Gives alittle extension and more control.

Bill in WV