I seem to recall from somewhere that you should wait several days after applying the epoxy thread coating before you attempt to use the rod. The reason was that it took several days for a full cure of the epoxy and that any premature flexing could cause the coating to crack. Any thoughts out there on this?

Thanks
Dave

No, it won't cause it to crack - the stuff won't be hard enough to crack before it reaches full cure. However, you can easily get fingerprints or smudges in finish that hasn't reach a certain stage in curing. I've seen some finish jobs that got handled, used, wet, etc, not long after they were finished and the epoxy lost it's gloss and just didn't look very good from them on.

Best to wait 2 or 3 days at least before using it. Depending on the brand and the temperature involved, some epoxies can take several days to a week or more for a reasonably hard cure. In warmer temps, you can use it a little more quickly. In cooler temps, give it an extra day or so. Whatever you do, don't use a rod that has finish on it that is in any way tacky to a firm finger press.

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I have the same understanding that Tom has presented. My rule of thumb is wait a week after the final coat of epoxy. By then, the epoxy is set and hard to the touch. I have not had any problems with my finishes after 7 days.

Bob Widmaier