i am looking for any suggestions on cleaning up a rod. i am looking at improving the appearance of several rods that see very heavy saltwater duty and are structurally fine, but there are scuff marks on the blank and some minor scrapes on the epoxy thread coverings....I don't want to strip the rod down to the blank and refinish it because i feel it doesn't need that kind of attention....i really am just looking for a cosmetic fix.

thanks

josh

You may want to try a hard floor past wax after washing the rod down and cleaning all the loose junk off it. This should bring back some of the old shine and hid old scuff maks. As for the wrappings take scuff pad and abrad lightly the old finish. Clean off all the old dust and recoat
Good Wraps Bob WARNING DO NOT WAX BEFORE YOU PUT THE NEW WRAPPING FINISH ON WAX AFTER FININISH HAS CURIED FOR 48 HRS. HOURS>
Good Wraps Bob

I wrap masking tape over the epoxied guide wraps, right up to the edge of the finish, to protect the guide wraps and their finish. I then scrape the finish off between the guide wraps using long strokes with a utility knife. See my previous on how I do this,

DON'T WORRY, IF DONE >>PROPERLY<< THIS IS SAFE.

Wipe blank with alcohol, finish scraping off any old finish, then wipe down with a rag dampened with acetone to remove any trace oils. Cleaning with an acetone dampened rag is also safe, see my previous posts on my expirements soaking blank pieces in acetone.

There have been MANY posts on materials used as coatings for blanks. Personally I will not use urethane rod finish (u-40) for this (rod coating) because of poor durability results i have had with the stuff. After a seaon in a rod holder the stuff begans to flake off at the slightest provocation, a nick or scratch. For recoating a rod blank I use 2-part epoxy paints in either clear or black. If sprayed on I'll leave the masking tape in place, spray, then immediatley remove the tape. If brushing it on I'll remove the tape and brush it on in long strokes while rod is rotating, cutting in the paint right up to the finish on th e guide wraps. I have done a few dozen rods using this procedure with excellent results.

I guess you could also take the rod to someone to paint it for you, that was not an option for me as I like to do all my own work.

Lou