My latest rod project was, of course, my 7 wt Dan Craft FT. This is an incredible rod. Test cast it, side by side, this weekend with another 7 wt I have...a 9'6 Lamiglass Esprit. Man..no competition. The FT is lighter...more accurate and longer. And I thought the Esprit was a great blank! Not even in the same league...

Anyway...The rod turned out very nice. Perfecty flat, even Flex Coat LIte surface on the wraps...not a pimple or dit in sight. However....As I've cast it I've noticed that not all of the wraps have straight lines of Flex Coat just past the end of the wraps. Some of my efforts there resulted in uneven and slightly wavey ends of the Flex Coat.

So here is the question.....Would you just go with it as is (the rod is for me) or apply another very thin coat of the FC lite to "even out" those wavey ends?

Thanks,

Keith

...go fishing, the next rod will have better lines. The rod after that...even better. etc........................................

I know what I would do, I would attempt to make it perfect and then I would really botch things up and wish I would have left well enough alone. It seems Mr. Murphey always gets the last laugh in those situations when I try to correct something. ha

I agree with Rob, I think Mr Murphy is just tempting you.

Take to the Elk and catch a bigun with it, the fish will never know the difference.

Bob

Fish it! :)

DR

Murphy's law states that whatever can go wrong WILL go wrong.

Putter's law states "that dang Murphy is a *^^^%((* optimist."

Putter
Williston, ND

Definitely leave it EXACTLY the way it is.
This living imperfection will remind you of two things:
- The fish you'll catch won't hold it against you. They'll still jump on your hook.
- That you need to remember to correct that little problem on your next project. Try spinning the rod next time as you apply that finishing touch to the epoxy edge.

[In fairness to the possible "easy for you to say" objection to retaining an imperfection, I think I am practicing what I am preaching. I have a torn molding and a fender dent on the body of my car left there by a lousy woman driver and a maniacal fraternity punk. Both remind me that there is no satisfaction from an act of my retaliation (road rage) that is worth my going to jail for. Ok, the car has seen better days. But when I get a newer one, I'll be more ready for the threat of someone else's recklessness.]

Keith T. - There are dozens of Threads and hundreds of Replies here at RBO on Thread Finish Application Techniques. Below are some recent ones of interest. If you use a rotor when applying your thread epoxy, one of these techniques may be right up your alley. -LOL, Cliff Hall+++

Re: Finishing Guide wraps with epoxy - Mike Barkley - May 30, 2005
[www.rodbuilding.org]
"... I assume that he applies at high speed to get quick coverage and nice edges on the wraps, then turns off the motor and goes over by hand to make sure that all wraps are properly covered. Many builders (myself included) feel that turning by hand gives a much smoother finish." - Mike Barkley.

Smooth epoxy finish - Daniel Seely - July 12, 2005
[www.rodbuilding.org]
"What is the best way to get a smooth epoxy finish on larger covered areas, such as where it is inscribed. I have used Flex Coat and U-40 LS with a sable brush and it is never quite perfect and always has a convoluted surface. Any suggestions?" - Daniel Seely.

Guide epoxy tips and tricks - Rob Hardaway - May 30, 2005
[www.rodbuilding.org]
"Im sure this subject has been broached a few times before but once again, I would like to try and get some pro tips on ways to apply Rod Finish Epoxy, and get that perfect finish." - Rob Hardaway.

Double Post -DELETED- . -CMH+++



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/2005 11:01AM by Cliff Hall.

hey there keith. Hmmmmm. it would be safest to do what the others said and simply fish it, lesson learned, insure it doesn't happen again.

i finished a rod a couple of weeks ago for a friend and the thread wraps turned out well. except for one little glitch. the thread finish (epoxy ;-) only went to the edge of the thread at the hook keeper for two of the three edges (the "fourth" edge extended to the winding check). i noticed it the morning after finishing it, thought about it for that day, and on the next morning, went ahead and mixed 3ccs of flex coat lite and with a toothpick, laid down a line at each point as it turned on the dryer. don't know what i was thinking, should have used a (small narrow) section of a plastic card like the rest of the finish. the edge extends just beyond the thread like all the rest of the guides which i'm happy with but there is a very slight difference between the original finish and where it merges with the last added parts. oh well. <<i>> know it's there, i doubt my buddy would ever notice.

eric
fresno, ca.

Just be happy with your oh so cool rod. This way you HAVE to build more, just to have the chance to make the "perfect" one.

Just take a photo of the best looking guide, post it, and everyone will tell you what a great job you did...not knoing ablut the ridges. Show the rod to all your friends, don't tell them anything is wrong. Tell them what a great job you did finishing, make sure you tell them how smooth and flat & level it is. Encourage them to feel how smooth teh guide epoxy is.

I promise they won't notice. The only people who will notice are those ion teh iunterent where they see the rod magnified 20 times. In real life nobody sees, or cares.