I have finally looked at most of the stuff that I bought in Charlotte. I ended up with six blanks from Andy Dear and two from Lamiglas that I need some advice on. These "nautual grey popping rod" blanks are not coated with any finish and it appears that they are well sanded down to a very nice surface appearance. The ones from Andy contain a label that says "No Finish Applied Natural". I questioned Todd Vivian about the Lamiglas blanks and I got the impression that it cost Lamiglas more man hours to get a blank in this condition than to apply a coating. Are these blanks built to complete a rod in the "sanded" state or is it expected that the builder apply some finish. I like the way they look as is and thread really looks sharp on the blank. I have finished one and want some opinions from others before building on the rest of them.

My logic tells me if there is no finish it can not scratch. Does a blank need a finish for protection of the graphite fibers?

Gon Fishn

Bill,
The blank does not need a finish....I spoke with Sharon Johnson at AllStar before I purchased any of the overstocks that I had at the show, and her response was an emphatic "No...they don't NEED a finish". If you wish to apply one, go head on and use Permagloss as it's the best blank finish out there. If i remember correctly many of the Loomis GLX blanks had no finish on them.


Andy Dear
Lamar Manf.

Any finish you put on there isn't as hard as the graphite so I doubt you could really protect the blank just by putting a finish on it.

Andy,
The early IMX and GLX had no finish but now they do have a finish coating on them. On the other side of the coin Lamiglas has quit putting finish on some of their blanks.

Bill,
The finish on a blank does give the blank some protection especially against damage from impact but it adds weight which lowers the efficiency and the resonant frequency, the finish having a very, very low modulus. The question is how much. As near as I have been able to determine the typical finish is going to be on the order of 5% by weight. So on the one hand the rod with finish will be a little more durable but on the other hand it will have a little lower performance. If you decide to add finish I would sure recommend that you do not add any more than is absolutely necessary.

Finish won't add any appreciable protection for the blank itself (painting a car doesn't make it any harder to dent the sheetmetal), not from impact nor from environmental effects. 5% to 7% additional weight is about the average weight gain when you finish a blank with commercial type clear coats. Not a big deal on heavy trolling blanks but maybe enough difference that you can actually feel it on lighter freshwater or fly rod blanks.

.................

Mon, dem fishin poles don need no paint on dem,yes.

Never could talk coon ass too good, yes. I sure hope dem blanks don need finis cause I got about 60 of dem. They sure look good with a little Pledge Wax. I like the look of them.

Bill, where have you been and what has been going on.? I'm gonna be gon fishn a week from tomorrow. They say the trout are really hitting when the wind will let you get to them.

Later,
Gerald Mc

Hi Gerald - good to hear from you. I too like the look of the plain blank. As fur de trout - wen yeserda an ain't gonna tell nothin - don wan U Texicans crossin de Sabine!

Gon Fishn