Howdy all,

Ive got a few customers who have asked for their name to be put on the rod just above the cork handle (Fly Rods) where you would usually put the brand name of the blank your builing. I bought a pen for doing just this but what ink should i use. It needs to be in either gold or silver. Could i use a standard enamal spray paint by spraying a liquid film onto some foil then dipping the pen nib into it?

Second question is would it be a recomendation to put one coat of permagloss on the rod first before signing the name then finally finishing it with guide epoxy?

Cheers


Rob

Rob

Lots of way to do it.

Mine are not expert signatures; just simple means of identification, ownership etc. but here's how I put mine on.

Lightly scuff the surface area of the signature with Scothbrite. This helps the roller ball on the gel pen I use distribute the ink. Then I hand letter the name and whatever is going on the rod. That is given an hour or so to dry. Then a light coat of spray polyurethane over the signature to keep the epoxy from smearing. After the poluurethane has dried, then epoxy over. The scuffing on the blank never shows.

I use a nib (dipping fountain pen) and the ink from a Calligraphy pen. I take the pen apart and keep the ink in a very small jar. I have been using the ink from one gold pen for over a year and can't remember if the brand was Sanford or Pilot but it is the best readily available ink I have found. It is fairly think and does not come off once applied/dried. Works much better than the several inks I have purchased that are designed for Calligraphy stylus pens.

I don't do any surface prep other than cleaning the blank. The ink is completely stable in seconds. I cover with FC high build. If you make a mistake, wipe immediately with alcohol. If you are a second too late you will have to sand.scotchbrite to remove the remnant ink.

Good luck.

Rob I use Sanford verithin pencils no. 754 in gold and no. 753 in silver.
I usually scuff the blank with fine steel wool unless the blank has a matte
finish you probably won't need to. I take a wet cloth and wipe the area I
intend to write on and then autograph on it right away while it is still damp.
If you make a mistake wipe off with damp cloth and do over until you get it
the way you like it. Best of all the pencils never dry out and will last for years
good luck,

I use a Rapidograph technical pen and acrylic artists ink, which is available in many colors. Just wipe the rod off with an alcohol swap and write, let dry for about an hour, spray with a light coat of Krylon crystal clear acrylic from about 10 inches away, let dry for another hour and the finish with whatever, I use Permagloss or spar urethane.

I sign all of my fly rods with a steel nib pen and silver "Winsor and Newton" brand ink. This is sold at Pearl Paint stores and can be ordered throught their website. It comes in many colors, both metallic and non-metallic and dries to the touch within 3-5 minutes and can be finished directly over with flex coat.

HTH,

Lou

Thanks to all who wrote in with suggestions.