I have been given an old blank to refinishing, this rod was used in salt water all its life and a good bit of the 6ft length is in a beautiful wooden handle. , the blank appears to be fiberglass, it has a yellow color to it, and is translucent to a point where you can see the fibers. My question is can I strip the guide, and use Permaglos to get a finish. Or can you use Permaglos for a fiberglass only blank.

Thanks for all replys
Brad Hetzel

I have used it on old fiberglass fly rods, worked fine. Use a sponge brush and make only one or two passes for a coat, hang the rod up to dry. Some people split the end of the brush and then make their passes with the rod in the split.

I've done the same as Sam said above, with the exception of using Spar Urithane instead of Permagloss. I'm afraid to use Permagloss due to it's tendency to eat paint. If your blank isn't painted I wouldn't be afraid to use Permagloss.

Bill in WV

Brad, sounds like a Magnuflex blank. I have several of these, and recently stripped one down, and re-finished with Permagloss, no problems.

Sean

Sean Endres
North East Rod Builders
New London, CT

After painting a fiberglass blank I tested a small area with Permagloss and it immediately dissolved the paint. So I applied a spray coat of Krylon Crystal Clear to create a solid barrier. The following day I applied a new coat of Permagloss and it went on smoothly without any damage to the paint job.

Did two 20# - 40# boat rods this way. The added weight of the Krylon coat does not present any noticeable decrease in performance. I think it would have minimal effect even on a lightweight rod as the blank surface would be thin. I expect both the KrylonCrystal Clear or Matte would provide similar results with the paint I used. I can't say it will work with all paints but it might be true. Testing in a small area is always a good idea.

Permagloss and paint do not agree with each other. Most (auto. paints use a midiun lacqure for thinning and drying this is determined mostly by the outside temp. and humidity, I believe. (Please correct me if I am wrong) Where Permagloss is hot and dries fast. This interaction well cause your paint to lift. I would also give the rod a good sanding using a gray Scotch Brite pad. So the paint well adhere to the blank. Sanding prep, might be the reason others have had their paint lift. My self painting my own rods was too much trouble. I took mine to a auto paint shop and for 20 bucks had the job done. Some of these rods have been fishing sense the paint job 10 to 15 years and they still are holding up. Also when I had my rods painted they added a flex additive to the paint and clear coat finish. This allowed the paint to flex without creaking. Just my thoughts and a cup of joe
Good Wraps Bob Yes I still miss spell ::))

Brad, I did not paint this blank, was to nice as is to paint.



Sean Endres
North East Rod Builders
New London, CT