This question has to do with rod finishes for an absolute beginner. I am interested in building my own rods, and since I live in Asheville I plan on coming to the Expo to buy the supplies that I need to get started. It seems from reading the posts here and my own experience building a few rods many years ago that the most difficult part to get right and the easiest way to ruin a perfectly good rod is applying the finish. Would it be easier to get a good finish using Permagloss instead of Epoxy? It seems like not having to mix, and going on in very thin coats would be easier to control. The downside would be having to build up multiple coats. Are there any challenges using Permagloss besides hardening in the bottle? I will be building Bass rods and am mainly interested in light weight and functionality, but of course even if I use simple wraps I want them to look good.

Thanks I look forward to seeing everything and spending some money at the show.

epoxy

The finished look of Permaglos is different from that of Epoxy. With Permaglos you will have a much thinner finish unless you put on a lot of coats but it's tougher than the Epoxy. If you like the look then I would say it's easier and faster. If you don't like the look you can always put the Epoxy over it.

There is a seminar at 11am on Sunday by Ralph O'Quinn on epoxies and finishes. Plan on attending and make your life MUCH better.

Mike, I like and use two-part finishes and PermaGloss. I you are only building a rod or a few rods, pick one and stick with it. If you think you'll build more and often, try out several.

Expoxy. Sevferal brands: LS (by Trondak), Flex Coat, and what I should have listed first, ThreadMaster. Each one has a different look when dry and cured, and the look will change a bit when you apply a second coat as well.

Try them. Seriously, get a set of small bottles of each and try them, one at a time. Follow the directions (I know that sounds like something I shouldn't have said, but I don't mean it in a less than respectful way, it's just that a lot of folks think they know stuff and then complain when the finish doesn't work because you skipped something in the directions).

Uncle Russ
Calcio Creek Rods

I think Permagloss is not appropriate for a beginner. I do like one coat of Permagloss over CP then epoxy. IMO one needs to learn how to work with Permagloss before use it as a "finish only"

Ed Smith

"...Permagloss is not appropriate for a beginner...".

I'm curious why? This makes me wonder if there's something I might have missed - a problem just waiting to happen maybe? I started with epoxy and later switched to PG. I sometimes think I woulda been better off if I never messed with epoxy. The PG certainly goes on thinner which I happen to like, and requires a bit of special packaging/handling, but is there something else "the beginner" should be aware of?

Thanks for the replies, I will definitely make the finish seminar. I had kind of forgotten about the seminars since I found out that I had a tournament on Saturday, but the basic building and finish seminar should be 2 hours well spent.

No offense about the reminder to follow the directions, that is a pet peeve of mine too. I am an engineer and in the past have had to write instructions for things that I designed. Later it is frustrating when people call up with problems that are spelled out in excruciating detail in the instructions.

I look forward to the show, I can’t think of a better way to get started.