As I get ready to do my first rod I have come across a problem before I get started. How do you get a perfectly smooth finish on the rod when you have rod supports in the middle of your rod. I want to have finishes like whats on Lamiglas or one of the other name brand factory rods. Any help would be helpful, never wraped a rod before.

Catch A Big One



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2006 09:59AM by Tim Hurst.

I am new also but I thought that ONLY the guide wraps were finshed. Am I missing something & TIA?

There are several rod blanks that are "matt" finished.

Tim,
Is your question how and where do you hold or support the blank while putting a coating on the whole blank without the spots where you supported it showing? If that is the question look at the tip of most blanks and you will see that there is no finish. The blanks are usually held by the tip where the area with no finish will be covered with the tip guide.
If your question is just how do you apply epoxy to the wrapping then I do not think that I understand the question. If that is the case try asking again and maybe we will understand.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2006 10:22AM by Emory Harry.

On 99% of my standup and full length trolling rods I finish the entire blank with Flexcoat. I have the butt of the rod in the dryer chuck and support it at the reel seat. Smaller rods you support at a point between guides and don't finish that area untill the rest of the rod is finished, now move your support to a different spot [wrap blank with tape so as not to scar finish with support] and finish that one spot. At this point the purist are having a heart attack but I work to please those that matter, "My Customers" Jesse

On 99% of my standup and full length trolling rods I finish the entire blank with Flexcoat. I have the butt of the rod in the dryer chuck and support it at the reel seat. Smaller rods you support at a point between guides and don't finish that area untill the rest of the rod is finished, now move your support to a different spot [wrap blank with tape so as not to scar finish with support] and finish that one spot. At this point the purist are having a heart attack but I work to please those that matter, "My Customers" Jesse

On 99% of my standup and full length trolling rods I finish the entire blank with Flexcoat. I have the butt of the rod in the dryer chuck and support it at the reel seat. Smaller rods you support at a point between guides and don't finish that area untill the rest of the rod is finished, now move your support to a different spot [wrap blank with tape so as not to scar finish with support] and finish that one spot. At this point the purist are having a heart attack but I work to please those that matter, "My Customers" Jesse

I suspect that Tim is talking about coating a matte blank to make it glossy (ie Permagloss). Emory is correct in that you will hang the blank vertically to dry either from the tip or the butt end. I hope that you are not intending on coating the entire blank with a 2-part epoxy as that will add alot of weight and is not intended for that purpose.

Jay

On 99% of my standup and full length trolling rods I finish the entire blank with Flexcoat. I have the butt of the rod in the dryer chuck and support it at the reel seat. Smaller rods you support at a point between guides and don't finish that area untill the rest of the rod is finished, now move your support to a different spot [wrap blank with tape so as not to scar finish with support] and finish that one spot. Jesse

Jesse, I didn't hear you? Say it again please.

Tim,

What kind of rod are you building? When you buy a blank, it already has the finish on it. Some use a gloss finish, some use glossy. No finish is necessary unless you are trying to do a color change. Since you are just starting, I'm guessing that you are talking about Flex Coat, etc. This is usually only applied on the guide wraps and any wrap areas. Just trying to determine exactly what you are trying to do.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Tim, do a search on " painting a blank " all dates. Much info

personally, i like the matt(e) finishes. going for that stealth look ;-) if this is your first rod and you really want a gloss finish along the entire blank, i would suggest buying a blank which comes with a glossy finish from the factory. it just seems to me it's enough work as a first rod to get the thread wrappings finished well. and those are just small setions compared to a blanks' entire length.

still, if you decide to apply a gloss finish to the entire blank, as mike said make sure you're not using flex coat's thread finish. this would seriously add weight to the entire blank and would surely affect the performance, especialy if it's a light blank.

eric
fresno, ca.

Tim,
Since this your first rod keep it simple and just apply the finish to the guide wraps (and any cosmetic wraps, weave etc.) NOT the entire rod. Unless I'm mistaken it sounds like you intend on applying finish to the entire rod blank which you don't have to do. You didn't state what type of rod your building but unless it's a stout stiff rod like Jesse suggested finishing the areas with no thread wraps isn't necessary. Randy.

A matte finish is a finish. Unless you buy a blank that is simply sanded or has a spiral surface (from wrapping during the curing process), you are buying a blank that has had the finish already applied. I would hesitate to add a second finish unless you plan to really abuse the rod. Under normal use, a second finish will do more to kill the response of the blank than it will to protect it. IMHO you should trust the manufacturer and leave the blank alone.

Jim

nothing under the sun --nothing on God's green earth, including peanut butter can make a WORSE finish on a rod blank than flexcoat or any of the epoxy rod finishes. These thread finishes are not intended to be put on the entire blank and all who do so live to regret their foolish actions. In a few months you can strip the entire mess off with your finger nail. It chips, cracks, and in general makes one of a $$%&@#$ mess. Urethanes are the best choice for a finish if you must use one, but why use one on a new blank is a mystery to me.

Ralph