Joe K. showed me how to sign a rod with gel pens in Charlotte and I did my first yesterday. The inscription came out great but I had trouble with the 2 inch wide coat of epoxy on top of it. How do you get a 2+ inch wide inscription to be fairly level?

Thin multipl coats. Always move your finish in a horizonal direction going one way, not back an forth. An just and let set least 10 min. between coats . Do this while the rod is turning. I would also Email Joe at joe@hisrodshop.com. Marty I could not email you you have a hidden email address
Good Wraps Bob

I've taken to using Minwax Wipe-On Poly for coating inscriptions. I first spray the inscription with an artist's fixative (krylon), so that it won't smear. I then get the rod turning and use a stain clothe lightly soaked with the Wipe-On Poly. For a matte finish blank, the satin poly makes the inscription appear to be directly on the blank. It looks great. For gloss coat blanks, it takes a few coats to build up a nice gloss, and still it won't quite equal the lustre of an epoxy finish. Still - what you give up in high gloss you more than make up for in convenience and a guaranteed perfectly flat finish with minimal build up.

As always, I'm sure these techniques are not as durable as an epoxy coating, so if your rods are going to be bouncing around the bottom of a boat, I'd try something else. For fly rods, a thin coat of rub-on poly is plenty good enough for someone who takes reasonable care of their equipment.

I do the inscription, including the poly coat, before I do any wraps. I let the poly set for 24 hours or so and then do a trim wrap on each end, so that the edges of the poly are underneath thread wraps.

Bob

Every epoxy finish has it's learning curve. Some have an easier curve than others. Once you learn the finish you're using, you'll be able to do much longer than 2" with a perfect, flat coat. It all comes with experience.

Generally, too much finish will give the "waves" and if you put it on too thin, it is rough to the feel and light doesn't reflect off it in lines, either.

Putter
Williston, ND

I also put it on with a fast turner. Easyer to apply on long areas. Cool temperatures so it flows or levels.
No heat, this dries it to fast and does not let it Flow Out.
Two - three thin coats

...and you'll be able to easily do it in one coat.

My problem was in using TOO LITTLE FC Lite! Once I began using a more generous coat and smoothing with the side of a credit card I began getting very nice finishes on butt wraps and inscriptions.

So you might try even more...

Keith