I've been reading the posts over the last several days and it seems that most folks put multiple coats of finish over there wraps. Is the general consensus that you should have or need more than one finish? I know it depends on the finish used, but am wondering is it better to use one thicker coat or multiple thin coats?

I use to use one thick coat and had no problems except for the bubbles sometimes. I started putting on a thin coat just enough to soak the threads and seal everything and then another coat to finish it all off. I seem to get a better finish on the guides with 2 coats and have less problems with bubbles.

I use two coats myself. I have tried one thick coat and I just don't get a real nice smooth finish that way even if there are no bubbles. I usually try to put on a medium thickness coat, correct any issues such as bubbles or uneveness and then put on the second coat just thick enough to give me the desire depth of finish. This works especially well with intricate but wraps since they tend to be somewhat uneven to begin with.

Same as Mike here, I just get a better finish with one thin and another thin vs one thick

I use one of the High Builds and get excellent results with on one coat. Have never seen the need for more than one coat. I only build Bass and Light Bay rods with an occasional Fly Rod. I expect that if were building heavy off shore stuff that i would use more than one coat. Been using one coat ever since the fabulous two part epoxys became available. What 25/30 years ago.

Later,
Gerald Mc

High build, one coat. Pay lots of attention to the doing of it. Turn by hand for the first 45 min or hour, and remove excess epoxy as it sags. Don't brush the epoxy, let it do its thing. Pop or flame any bubbles. Works for me, and, from several long threads on this board, for others too. I'm sure two thin coats would work fine too, but it's not my method.

I am finding that one coat is proving to be difficult to work with. Granted I can become better at working with one coat, but even on the one coat rod that I just finished, I had to go back and touch up a couple of the wraps.

My next rod, I'm going to do two and compare. I'll let you know my findings.

However, my hypothesis is that newbies would likely do better with two coats and those who have worked with epoxy for quite a while would be proficient with one coat.

Ryan Mann

I agree with Gerald and Tom. I've used a one coat rod finish for over 20 years. Learned how to use it right and stuck with it. Maybe that's why they call it "1 Coat"?? LOL!

Don't get me wrong. I've had to sand an occasional football and add a 2nd coat to a wrap once in a while that I didn't get enough on. But it's just one in 30 or more now. The time saved makes the learning worth it to me.

If you take a bit of time and learn it, it'll work forever for you. Anything to cut down the time building on a rod and still have a great rod when done. I do strive to eliminate any unnecessary steps in my rod building as long as it doesn't affect the quality of the finished product.

Putter
Williston, ND