Hi Lou, interesting response on the "Not using heat on epoxy" posting. (tried to send email but got a send failure). When you apply finish sparingly and quickly, is your blank spinning or stationary? Although I've gone to a spatula, I apply finish much like spreading butter on toast - rotate the rod by hand, smear the finish on, warm it up with a lamp, wick off excess at bottom after rotating 180 degrees every so often. If there a better and quicker way I'd sure like to know it. Thanks.

Rodmaker volume 9 number 1. If there is an easier method for applying finish than THAT I'd like to see or read about it. Don't think anybody can simplify it any more though. And you can't argue with the results.

This is odd....I have received emails from others on this board, so I know my email account here was good. So I went and checked my acct and somehow the letter "s" got dropped from my email address, this is why your email was being bounced. Email acct updated! Thanks for discovering this!

I do not warm the finish unless the temp room temp is below 60, then only briefly. Best to keep the finish at room temp to begin with...

The spatula worked well to apply finish, but the only thing I dislike about them is that you cannot "load" the spatula up with finish like you can a brush. Also, with a brush you can "fold" the bristles under the guide frames as needed whereas with a spatula you cannot. I am not saying that one is better than the other, just that I prefer to use a brush. A cheap brush too, cheapies from from an online @#$%& site - brushes aka "acid brushes". I cut the bristles at a 20* angle leaving as long a bristle as I can along one edge of the brush. When I am done with the brush I usually toss it.

I mix in the cup by hand, and apply immediately from the same cup turning the rod by hand while the rod rests on a set of rollers. Like I said in my previous post I am not too worried about neatness at this point (1st coat), striving instead for speed. I want to get the finish on the thread ASAP while it is watery for maximum thread penetration and displacement of air. Usuall I make ONE pass with finish and resist the urged to "touch it up" with a subsequent pass. I let the rod rest guides down initially for 10 min for gravity to help displace air in the tunnels, then turn rod guides up for final curing. about 10-15 min later I check for any drips and wipe off if any. If I see any bubbles I burst them with a touch of the propane torch, but this is rare since the finish is really thin and all you're seeing is wet thread with no surface tension.

Mess around and expiriment with some blank pieces and see how this works for you.

Drop me an email if you wish, the email acct should be working again...

Tight lines,
Lou