I want to inscribe a fly rod for my grandson. I have a commercial "rod-writing" pen(ball point) and have experimented with light abrasion of the rod finish and writing on Scotch Magic tape, but I don' know how that will work , assuming I will epoxy over it. Neither seems to give an even neat script. Any suggestions?
Dick

Dick,

Use a waterslide decal. Get a hold of Decal Connection, at the left. Or try dry rub letters.

Chris

What I've done with the roller ball-type gel pen, is allow 24 hrs for the writing to set, then spray it with an acrylic clear enamel. Let that set for a day, and coat it normally. It works fine, and once it's coated you can't see anything but coating.

It was advised here not to use a matte label, that it would show under the coating. I can't verify that.

I use a quill tip pen with thinned down acrylic art paint. I think that it gives the rod a professional look when you sign your work with a hand signature
Good Wraps Bob

I've recently used the Pentel Super Gold Paint Pen. It has a 0.5 mm tip, and the ink (paint) dries fast and doesn't need a clear coat fixer before epoxy. It is permanent oil based paint. You do need to get some practice in with it, 'cos it dries pretty fast and you need methylated spirits to get it off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2005 04:54AM by Ted Morgan.

I forgot ot mention. After my writting dries. I put one thin coat of CP over the wrtteing Only do it ot one direction
Good Wraps Bob

I apply a coat of finish. Then I scuff the surface with 3M Polishing paper. I sign with a Staedtler Mars 00 drafting pen and white ink. 30 seconds with a hair dryer. A quick shot of artists spray fix. And its ready for coat #2.

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

If you use a gel pen, get a hair dryer and warm it once or twice. Then put one or two " dust " coats of a spray " lacquer " on it Dust so it does not make it run. The lacquer drys fast.

Thanks to all who responded to my cry for help in finding a way to write an inscrtiption on rods. It is great to have access to so much experience when you are a rookie. For what it is worth, I used the Rose Art pens, from Walmart, and they worked well--easy to use, wipe off during practice, and doesn't run when epoxy is applied. Thanks again to all.