I am wrapping a dark gray blank with black thread, using flex coat lite epoxy. I cleaned the wraps with a tacky cloth before beginning the epoxy. I did not use a color preservative, using PacBay "A" thread. My problem began when i brushed the first coat of lite epoxy on the wraps, I got a "gritty" appearance. I know I should have wiped it off and started over; but did not;I let it dry; thinking I could cut out the gritmarks with a razor blade; didn't work; put second coat over it but grit showed thru; wiped off second coat efore it dried. Is there any way to eliminate the gritty appearance without cutting the wraps and starting from scratch? Also, what could have caused it?I took care to use cleanliness. (I'm building in an airconditioned room)-gb-

I don't know. Maybe some grit in your mixing vessel, on your stirrer, on your brush. Retrace your steps. I've never had any problems like this with flex coat lite. Used to use it all the time. You should be able to slice the grit off the hardened finished wraps. Be patient and use a good sharp blade, then put a very thin last coat. Should work great, if you eliminated the source of the grit. Let us know how it goes.

Josh Markvan
www.markvanheirloom.com

can you tell if the "grit" consists of particle matter like dirt? i had some "grittiness" too a few times and i thought they were very small air bubbles. you said you "brushed" it on. so you used a brush? i stopped using a brush and now use the credit card strip method and don't have that problem any longer. it seems a brush can introduce small air bubbles.

either way, try some very fine wet sandpaper, a very small piece to concentrate just on the wrapped portion so you don't introduce scuff marks on the unfinished part. then finish again.

eric
fresno, ca.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/08/2005 04:12PM by eric zamora.

I don't like the idea of cleaning the thread with a tacky cloth.

I think your thread tensioner was set too strong and the thread slightly frayed or the spool of thread may be bad. Do a test piece and back off on the tension. Look at the thread with a magnyfing glass in a bright light. If it appears to be fuzzy that is the problems. If this is the problem there is no fixing it - take the wrap loose and start over. I havehd this happen three or four times and thinking I could apply a coat of finish and trim - eventually redid all of them.

If this is the problem a Class 100 Hepa Filtered Clean Room will not stop it from happening.

Gon

Bill: I did just as you suggested after cutting off the wraps and starting over. Thread problem; there are very minute thread "frayings" for lack of a better word that cause the problem. I am using PacBay thread for the first time, and i have no reason to knock the thread, but I could have my tenioner set too tight, or something is causing the thread to have little minute hairs, invisible to my old eyes, on the thread, brought to light by the epoxy. This happened on the wrappings near the butt section, where the tensioner was set tighter than the tip area. Its still baffling to me, but that seems to be the problem. Thanks for all the response-gb-

Look on the toos pictorial board and check out the simple cheap home made spool tensioners. They will save you a world of trouble with all types of thread.

Bill

Like said, it is better to have tension on the spool and not on the thread itself.
Also be careful of any eyes that the thread is going though. If they have a rough edge it will fray the thread.