OK, so I'm just getting into this hobby & I would like to know what speed motor I should get to build my drier? What speed is best for applying finish? I have seen tons of motors from 4.8 to 40 rpm. I could use info on what speed is good for what.
Please help...........My Brain Hurts :)


Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

I've got driers from 4rpm to 11rpm I've seen them up to around 20rpm. I like 4 or 6rpm as a rule

Faster is not necessarily better. What you're after is a flawless finish. That's gonna depend on your mixtures, thickness, CP or none, and the environment in your building area - such as, humidity Also, the slower drier motors make great application spinners - put your rod in the supports, start the motor, and apply the finish right around the rod. This speed also works when you're varnishing a rod or grips

- hope that helps.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Welcome Aboard!!! Everybody has their favorites. The most common (I think is 18 rpm). I have motors ranging from 3 to 40 but I have settled on the 3 rpm. Actually, I get the best finish by hand turning for an hour and then turning on the dryer. Some apply at high speed, but I think that most apply while hand turning. If you build a dryer, I think that the most critical thing is to be able to have the rod PERFECTLY level while turning

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!!

Dave,

I am pretty new at this as well, but have a little experience since I have built about 20 rods so far. I have found that the slow RPM motors (mine is 4RPM) works very well for drying. I use a combination of hand turning and then transitioning to the motor for giving me the best results without having to babysit it too long. As far as applying finish is concerned, it is more difficult and time consuming for me with the slow motor and I had a hard time getting nice straight lines out past my wraps with hand turning to apply the finish. I now apply my finish with a 44RPM motor and I can't say enough about how well it has helped me speed up the application process as well as helping me achieve those straight lines. I would say that for ME, I would not go with anything slower the 44RPM motor for applying finish. If anything, maybe a little faster wouId be better. I have even read where some use up to a 200RPM motor for applying finish. The only thing I wish I had, was some sort of slip clutch to stop the rod to do some minute touchups around the guide feet and such. Hope I have been of some help.

TJ

I've tried faster & slower but I think the 18rpm drying motors suit me best. Also, the epoxy mixer described in RodMaker magazine & on this site works very well with 18rpm. I haven't had a bad mix since I built mine. Ralph

mike brought up a good point. make sure the blank is level before starting to apply thread finish.

i use a 6rpm dryer for applying finish, although i start off by hand with the individual guide feet tunnels first. i think the slower turning motors like 3-6rpm are just fine for the actual drying portion but in the application, i have found my 6rpm to be just a bit on the slow side for me. the problem for me (and so far i have been using mostly flex coat lite though occasionally the heavy build) is that by the time i reach the end of my typical 8-9 foot fly rod the finish starts to set just a tad more than i'd like. 6rpm works for me, but i think i would like something faster someday, like 11 or 18rpm.

i think tom's magazine had an article once and brought up the point many beginners take too long to apply finish. i think it should take no more than a minute for each guide foot. 30 seconds even. speed comes with practice though.

eric
fresno, ca.

For applying finish I went to a 5 rpm to a 30 rpm, and might go faster still. For drying, I hand turn. I tried leaving a rod in the 30 rpm turner once, and it came out just fine. I don't use heavy coats, just two light coats, if it matters. I found that one coat finish jobs come out too sloppy for me.

Dave

Myslef I use the 200 rpm motor setup from Flex Coat for applying the finish. Works great and I can get the epoxy applied very quickly. It comes with a slip clutch for the chuck which is one of the rubber diaphram type chucks. I think Mud Hole carries just the chuck if you want it. After applying, my dryer is a 4 rpm motor. The faster speed for applying makes getting nice straight edges to the epoxy a breeze and lets me get the epoxy on quickly.

I don't use any sort of application or dryer motor, but if you want to, the 18 RPM is a good all around speed and seems to work well with any of the current finishes.

............

Mike S. - you got me to thinkin - Uh Oh!

I too apply finish at speed (200 rpm) simply for the speed and getting the perfect trim edges. I use my rod wrapper and the foot pedal to stop and start. I do Forhan and security wraps which causes me to stop and start to dab the end under the of single guides. I use the foot pedal to stop - the wierd thing is my foot control is hard to control (needs constant repair and adjustment) with my foot and I keep it on the work bench and operate it with my off hand and move it along the rod.

Would the Flexcoat slip clutch chuck in my rod wrapper head to allow me let the wrapper it turn at speed and stop the rod with the clutch - or does it have to be linked to the Flexcoat motor to work?

I hand turn for the ~ first 30 minutes to level and dry at slow speed - dryers from 2 to 16 rpm and can not tell the difference in quality of finish surface.

Thanks

Bill,

It fits onto a 1/4" motor shaft for how it comes from Flex Coat. I will look at mine later when I get home to see if it would work putting it into a chuck.

Thanks for all the info guys :)

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

i use my rodwrapper for applying and drying i think its 18rpms