In the earley ninities I began inlaying hat pins in the cork and foam grips and covering them with many coats of finish.This led to making wood grips and inlaying the pins in the wood, this was labor intensive so back to the drawing board. Remembering how we cast lure heads in casting resin I wanted to try casting grips and hozels but hated the thought of sanding and buffing the resin. I knew that the sanding marks disapeared from the rod finish with a fresh coat of finish so decided to try using Flexcoat as my casting material. It worked like a charm except for air bubbles which I cured with a static mixer for my Flexcoat Gallon Mixing Machine. Since the mid nineties I have made several thousand of these grips and hozels and have gotten to see some old ones that have come in for repair, they darken some over the years but not enough to be concerned about. All you have to do is wipe them down with Acetone to remove any grease and give them a fresh coat of finish to make them look new again.Jesse

I got one of your rod in trade back in the mid 90s, a short wireline outfit. I guy I built a rod for could not pay after all, so he gave me two complete rod/reel sets one of whose rods you built. It has the encapsulated fish pin foregrip. Like you describe the finish has yellowed somewhat. I don't fish the rod since I cannot stand wirelining, but did use the reel on a striper rod thats on the boat as we speak. Maybe I'll bring it by your shop sometime.

Lou

Jesse: I am looking at one of the first hosels I ever bought from you. it must have been ten years or so ago. The underwrap is green metallic, overwrapped with a black and gold diamond pattern which is bisected with a black/gold single thread. The pin is a flounder. In looking at the hosel sideways, I can see that the FlexCoat has turned amber, but in sunlight it is hardly noticeable. I'll build a rod using it someday. John

Right, epoxy is going to turn a bit. This is why Joe decided to pursue the polyester - it remains crystal clear forever. But it certainly is harder to work with. More muss and fuss. Only the user can decide if the outcome is worth the bother. But if you once see Joe's inserts and rod parts made with it, you'd probably agree that it is. Joe's snakeskin inserts are done in polyester and the whites are bright white even after exposure to the elements.

Of course, everything is relative. For something to appear amber or yellow, you often have to put it up next to something else which is clearer or whiter. Otherwise you may never know it's turned.

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