I have read posts about using Flex Coat and other finishes for casting plugs. My question is I also make custom writing pens and was wondering about using it as a finish on the pens as well. My concern would be the durability and it getting scratched easily what is your opinions. Any responses will be appreciated.

Where are "marble" Putter or "flames" Barkley??

I don't know the advantage unless the pens had thread wraps (Mike Joyce - Hint, Hint) It would add thickness that standard finishes/polishes wouldn't and I don't think that with constant pressure from oily skin, that it would hold a gloss very long. I think that some of the finishes that I see in catalogs from HUT and others would be much better. Just my opinion

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!!

I think it would work and look great. I have custom made wooden lures, finished with Flex Coat that are over 10 years old. They have held up very well and do not show signs of wear or even yellowing. Plus I would not think pens take the abuse of a good fishing rod. Use it, I think you'll be happy.

Rich

i agree with rich if you can bung a rod onto a sandy beach or the back of a boat neglect it for years then re-abuse it i dont see why the finish shouldnt hold up
there is a post somewhere on here of a keyring(now they rattle round in pokets!!!!!)
try it and see nothing ventured nothing gained

I`ve done pens and cell phones and both hold up well.One pen is over a year old and has been through alot(I`m a line tech at a car dealer)of dirty greasey hands and cleaned with a harsh solvet.I did however cut down the diameter of the pen and do a thread wrap.The phone is just on a roughed up surface.[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

I cast my encapsulated grips and hozels from Flexcoat, I make key chain charms with it. glue grips on with it . it can be used for lots of things. Jesse

If you're making custom pens of wood, antler, acrylics, etc.-there's probably better finishing products out there for that.

That said, I've used rod finish over marbling for cell phones, ink pens (HUNDREDS), fishing reels, light switch covers and other little things. I have one pen in my pocket that I coated a year ago and use in the office all the time (I think I'm on about the 20th refill cartridge in it now) and it looks fine.

Putter
Williston, ND

Putter's marbling work certainly provided a good test for the durability of epoxy rod finishes. I don't see any finish problem on the pen I have carried for more than a year now. I think if the epoxy finish does show abrasion problems most other finishes would also suffer. I'm told that the CA finishes that provide a great glass like finish to pens can have cracking problems if dealt a blow so there seem to be plus and minus characteristic to most finishes used.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

I've made a few pens using CA and Deft spray lacquer as finishes. I've even used rod bond on occassion to glue the tubes in the wood. The biggest problem with using thread finish on pens is that one coat of something like Flex Coat will be much thicker than even 3-4 coats of lacquer, so you would most likely need to turn the pen undersize a bit to allow for the build up. I have used thread finish to fix what I consider a defective pen part from one manufacturer and it worked great, but so did Sally Hansen Hard As Nails.

About 4 months ago, I kind of tossed a big wooden cutting board in the sink while I was reaching for something boiling over on the stove. The corner of the board caught the bottom of the sink just right and punched a really jagged 2" ear in the sink tub! So of course I panicked. $%$%$! My girlfriend wasn't home yet, so I had some time to "fix" it.
First I went for the 91% isopropyl and swabbed the area real good, top and bottom. Then I went for the hair dryer, to get it good and bone dry. Then I went for a fresh new gray scothbrite slice. Then I went for the Flex Coat lite! I coaxed it on, on top and bottom, and totally filled the rip with finish.
4 months later, the finish is yellowed quite a bit but it hasn't leaked a drop or peeled from the edges AT ALL. She did notice eventually though, and I did get an ass chewing...
This is our kitchen sink! Just imagine the daily wear this area takes. Good stuff...

Josh Markvan
www.markvanheirloom.com