I've never had a request to paint a blank....until now.
I guess I knew it would come some day. :P
I've been asked to build a purple fly rod with pink wraps for a grandaughter.

Here are the questions I would love your help with.
What are the preferred paints for this task?
How many coats?
What brand of clear coats used over the paint?
How will all of this affect ferrule fit?
Is a matte finish blank preferred for proper paint-to-blank bond?
I use FC lite finish. Is there a preferred finish to use over these paints?
Any other tips, tricks you've got to get this close to perfect the first time?

I just want to get an idea of the process before I price my work.
Thanks everyone.
RB

Do a SEARCH ( all dates ) and you will have enough reading to last all day!!

I have had good results with Krylon but the best way to color a blank is to
tint permagloss.

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I just finished painting my first two blanks. I used Pactra spray paint, found in hobby shops and used to paint the lexan bodies of RC cars. They have two shades of purple. The metallic is real dark (almost looks black except in a good light) and finishes well and the pearl is real light and needs more sanding.

The process was like this:
1 abrade the blank with scotchbrite
2 undercoat white of silver - one coat
3 top coat purple
4 sand lightly with 1500-2000 grit paper
5 second coat purple
6 let dry 5-6 days
7 coat with permagloss. Use one continuos coat tip to butt or the permagloss will lift the paint. I pulled the blank through a foam brush saturated with permagloss.
8 second coat of permagloss

The blanks looks great, but I have not finished the rods yet.

If you do a search, I think the most common method you will find suggested is permagloss tinted with testors pigment. There are lots of posts on this method! Next one I paint I plan to try this method.

I have painted a bunch of blanks, using Pauls technique. With the exception of permagloss, you have to be careful and make sure the paint is absolutely dry and set. Permagloss is really hot and can lift paint right off easily, if it's not completely cured. I use spar urithane for the topcoat. You have to give it plenty of time to set up and completely dry before wrapping ( 4 to 5 days ) or the thread will dig into the finish.

Bill in WV

Painting blanks is quite easy with PermaGloss and it can be tinted using several pigments such as Testors in craft stores or use outomotive pigments. . The advantage it has over the other types of paints is it is very thin .0015 or .002 inches thick. This is important so that ferrule fit is not compromised. The way the rod builders paint blanks is to dip them and let them hang to dry. The finishes they use are also quite volitale. Experiment on a scrap blank section to develop your technique and go for it. What ever you do try it on scrap sections first. As has been suggested check the library, back issues and even do a forum search.
Joe Kassuba
HIS Rod Shop

Thanks all for the input.
I'll have to try this on my own and be ready for the next time a blank color change order comes around.
Rb

You may not be happy with the durability or the smoothness of the finish when painting a blank. I never have been. Try it on scrap first, paint, sand and finish it, give it a week and scrape it with your fingernail- you may be surprised how easy it is to mark up it up.

My first attempt was perfect! the factory couldnt have done a better job. The next three were disasters and I ruined two of the blanks in attempt to fix problem after problem. I now vow to never spray any form of paint on a rod blank again

I've tried about every way there is to paint / finish a rod. Some good, some really bad, but the best method I know is to use automotive paints and automotive painting techniques. It does take a bit more than just spray painting then building and as mentioned above, drying time is all important.

You can't paint and complete a rod in a week, or I've never had any success at it.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

I paint many blanks each year refurbishing thrown out rods. I make necessary repairs
and give them to kids starting to fish. I first strip the blank, then lightly sand the blank to
remove any gloss. I use Krylon Fusion paint, I've used others but like the Fusion best.
After painting the blank, let it dry overnight, then look at it and lightly sand any specks that
need it. Then spray the blank with Krylon Clear and let dry. Some of the rods I've done
are more than five years old and have been subject to a lot of abuse, yet they still look
good and hold their finish. Give it a shot! Because I spray the blank with Krylon Clear,
I've never had a problem with thread digging into the finish.