This is a good subject. I just wish someone would do a good tutorial on this subject. I like Mike Barkleys idea and Bill Stevens. I have never done a ramp either but I am interested in them. Good thread here. Tom, how about an article in RM on this?

These 5 minute guys have this down to an art. I can use 5 min, but it wracks my nerves. When this stuff starts to set up you get down to seconds before it is done. Not much room for adjusting. I don't do enough of them to be as proficient as guys like Mike and DR, so I generally use Rod Bond. Gives me all the time I want to do my shaping. The downside is no quick turnaround time, but that's not usually an issue for me.

Bill, great idea using an arbor. Gonna have to play with this idea a bit to see how durable it might be, at least the way I do ramps.

I make epoxy ramps from thread and rod building finish. I use them mainly in transitions between the reel seat and the blank on rods with flocked shrink tubing. I found that if I apply the finish at this junction without first building up the area with thread that the finish will want to sag more or be so thick dimensionally that it'll be hard to get all the bubbles out. So I make a ramp with thread and then add the finish. The results are alot nicer.

Lou