I've been away from building rods for a few years. Now I've just begun two rod projects as well as finally attending to some minor repairs to a couple of other rods. Anyway, I'm at the point where I need to mix up some Rod Bond. So I dug it up. However, being a few years old, the "resin" is too hard to work with. It's hard and waxy. Ironically, the "hardener" is it's expectable gelatinous self and appears to be in fine working condition.

Is this stuff usable? They're each in 4oz containers and there's quite a bit left. I don't want to blindly just throw it out if there's a way to make it usable like simply nuking it, the resin, that is.

Or is it a simple matter of just getting new? I'm sure I'm not alone feeling that I just want good results. A watched pot eventually boils, but bad epoxy work just gives you perpetual sticky fingers.

Anyway, anybody out there have any experience or knowledge that can help me out?

Most appreciated,

Jay Stewart

PS - The rod projects/designs are experimental on cheap blanks. Gotta love 'em cheap blanks..
1. Dude! Surf Rod - RX7 10' 6" 15-25# Casting
2. Pac Bay 9' 10wt 3pc IM6 blank cut 4" from tip for Steelhead Casting

Microwave it as 10 second bursts till it softens up, than it's good as new. Rod Bond has no shelf life I know of.

Which see: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Thank you. I wasn't able to find that thread on my own. Somehow my rod building intuition told me a microwave was involved. Now if I could just get my hands on an autoclave, a mandrel hook up...

Microwave NO. Partially fill a pan with hot water and place the rod bond in for 15 or 20 minutes. Repeat if nessessary. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Microwave YES......but just the resin, not the hardener...water bath runs the risk of getting some in the jar. Repeat a 10 second burst as required, after a quick stir, to ensure no overheat.

Just make sure that mom's watching when you're cooking yer gunk in her nukin' machine. The look on their face is priceless when we do this!! LOL!

It does work great doing this; I've done it twice to my rod bond in the past year and a half.

Putter
Williston, ND

I still disagree with using the micro-wave for this purpose. Take a little bit of care and you'll get no water where it's not wanted. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

I'm sure glad you posted this.....I was just starting to wonder...what the heck is happening to my rod bond? Now I know.....Thanks

Steve Buchanan

Steve's custom Rods

Question for Ralph Jones
Why do you disagree with the usage of a microwave oven for this purpose? Everyone that I know of uses a microwave for this purpose. It is quick, clean, and over with in mere seconds. The hot water method is messy, takes several minutes sometimes longer depending upon the mass being thawed. 10,maybe 20, sometimes 30 seconds in the microwave and the resin is as good as new.
Ralph

Probably goes without saying, but if you microwave it, take the lid off the jar.

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