I'm experimenting with a few different finishes and wondering what the average builder uses and how many coats of epoxy is applied for that perfect finish?

Also, after applying a full coat of Diamonite over a double wrap it seems the material saturated the thread and will require additional coats. BTW Swifty's online documentation and included paper sheet is barely adequate.

Does color preservative act like a thread sealer? How many coats of CR is typical for both epoxies and the Diamonite?

I varnish boats as part of my job as ships carpenter. I lay on a minumum of 6 coats for a typical finish and up to 10 coats sanded between coats for that wood under glass effect. I hope it won't take as long with a rod. hehe

Thanks in advance.

I can do a rod with a single coat, although I usually use two coats - one to fully saturate and one to build to suit.

Yes, CP is a sealer - that is the only purpose for it. That being said, I only use it when necessary to preserve thread colors - I prefer NCP and Metallics.

Here is a link to a long thread about Diamondite, including a set of instructions ... [www.rodbuilding.org]

One coat on FW rods, two on SW rods. Pretty standard for me with flex coat high build finish.

i use threadmaster and don't generally use CP

I go with two coats for most applications. sometimes with open cross wraps it takes me an additional coat or two to get a nice level finish

permagloss woudl be more like the varnish you use for boats and requires more coats as you would think.

i use U-40 Duragloss LS Supreme and use 2 coats....i think a thin layer looks better than a thicker one but on heavy saltwater rods i use about 3 coats which is nice and thick

on the next rod i build im going to order some threadmaster though because ive heard nothing but good things about it...dont get me wrong the LS supreme is great but im just trying everything i can get my hands on at the moment

Thread master, usually one coat, two over decorative wraps. I use CP 95% of the time. I prefer to maintain thread spool color as much as possible.

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!!

I've used HobbyPoxy for many years (no longer available). This stuff gives me something close to varnish in the appearance, yet has the durability of epoxy. I use four thin coats, same as I do with varnish. I like the look of a well-made varnished wrap. I try to get away from the "football" look that I see alot nowadays, like on Winston rods for example.

No intention to sidetrack the topic, but I feel the way Rob does about the ‘football’ look, and his e–mail is hidden . . . Rob, have you found anything even remotely resembling a suitable sub for HobbyPoxy ?


–smc–

steve clark Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> . . . Rob, have you found
> anything even remotely resembling a suitable sub
> for HobbyPoxy ?
>
>

No I haven't. I still have enough left for a couple more rods. When that's done I may switch back to varnish for freshwater rods and then start looking at other epoxies for saltwater. Whatever I find, I still intend to apply it in multiple thin coats.

I agree about the look and feel of epoxy vs varnish. I have the same sort of opinion about wood under laquer vs wood under varnish. The varnish brings out more of the
"life" of the grain and the old rods finishes seemed so much more classy.

So far the 3 epoxy products I have used are not nearly as forgiving as varnish to apply

From what I found as a boat builder varnishes are not adversly effected by salt water. If it's strength you're after just do a double wrap and I'll bet its as strong as an expoxied rod.