Is there a difference in say, a disposal lighter, or a torch, or an alcohol lamp.....
as far as soot and heat and finished product....???

I have used a disposable lighter to flame tag ends on wraps, and on the wrap finish to pop bubbles.
The results were less than stellar. A lot of soot, and actually burnt some of the finish and caused my trim wraps to turn dark.
I realize that I probably applied too much heat at too close of a distance, but, is one flame better than another.....????

Oh......and I found a better way to pop those bubbles.......which I picked up from this site.....and that is......just blow on them...(actually exhale)...I did this yesterday with very good results.....and no flame.

Thanks for any and all comments.
pb



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2005 01:43PM by Pete Baldwin.

It's not the flame, but how you use it. You can easily do all you need to do with a butane cigarette lighter. And you won't burn or soot the finish or wraps if you'll keep the flame off to the side or at least 2 to 3 inches under the wrap. Keep it moving and rotate the rod as you're warming the finish. You won't soot anything unless you actually touch the flame to the wrap or the finish.

Alcohol lamps are often favored as having a "gentle" flame and less tendency to soot things. But again, you never actually want the flame to touch your finish or your wraps. And a very minimal amount of heat is really neccessary to release bubbles.

If you need to singe a tag end, put the protruding end at 90 degrees, and bring the flame in from the side of the wrap. Just quickly touch it and you should be fine. Or better yet, try to make the tie-offs without any protruding tag ends. I know it's hard and once in a while you just get one.

..........

Tom is right on. The Bic style lighters are very safe to use on a rod bench vs. the 'invisible' flame of an alcohol torch that can be forgotten and tipped over accidently with disastrous results.

Keep the Bic moving and keep it off to the side when warming finish.

Just touch it to the side of the wrap if trying to remove a tag end; or put the tag on the top of the rod and bring the lighter to it.

Even when warming to the side, if too much heat is used, it can do some goofy things to finish; all of which have to do with 'boiling' it.

Putter
Williston, ND

Use fingernail clippers and you won't have tag ends to worry about. I use a super high, super hot flame from a prophane torch directly on the finish, trick is, you have to keep it moving at all times.Jesse

I also use a propane torch. I don't worry about bubbles. When the epoxy job is finished, I flame the whole thing with a propane torch. You must keep it moving all the time and don't get too close. All bubbles go away and the finish smooths a bit. A good idea to practice first until you get the hang of it. I learned this from the best full time rod maker I have ever met. He makes the rods for J & M Tackle in Orange Beach, AL. Some of their rods go for close to $1,000. John Butterfield

I use a product which is a butane torch, which takes a canister that looks a lot like a disposable lighter, but is refillable. This is a great little tool and creates a nice blue torch flame and I got it from a camping store.