Hi all,

Does anyone know where I can get a few pieces of white scrap blanks to make some epoxy test wraps with?

I keep reading that Permagloss is good for white blanks because it doesn't yellow, but I'm still confused yet as to the other epoxy finishes that do not yellow also.

30 years ago I never had a problem deciding what to buy because I used Crystal Coat from Clemens Custom Tackle. But now Crystal Coat is no longer available from them, I need to find absolutely the answer to any yellowing concerns again.

Can anyone tell me for sure what else as well as Permagloss does not yellow with age???
And please... don't mention FlexCoat in any way, shape or form, so as not to confuse me any further with anything that they've made. ( I'm aware of the yellowing problems with FlexCoat )
I'm talking about white blanks epoxy coatings for wraps, even with white threads. Thanks all !!!

Randy
Mudhole (and others I assume) have really inexpensive solid glass rod blanks. The plus side of that is that not only can you test the color trueness of various finishes but at the end of the day you have lots of pieces of solid glass to play with for ferrules, experiments stiffening butt sections, installing fighting butts... myriad of uses --- including making some rather nice indestructable trolling rods.
Ken

Randy,
The best of the current epoxies with regards to not yellowing is the U-40 LS Supreme. I've had no problems with yellowing using this finish on white rods. I understand that the new Glass Coat finish is also good , but I haven't tried it yet, so I can't speak from experience on it.
Lynn

Crystal Coat always yellowed on me. I haven't used the LS Supreme so can't really say.

You can use small diameter PVC pipe as a white test bed for sample wraps.

Thanks for the help Lynn, Mike, and Ken, I appreciate it!

Mike are we talking about the same Crystal Coat from Clemens?
I have 30 year old rods I made that aren't yellow at all from using Crystal Coat. Did you use Brilliance as your thread sealer?

OK Lynn, so far, I understand Permagloss, Glass Coat, and LS Supreme seem to be the way to go ... let me know if anything changes. Thanks!

Ken thanks for the info about the solid glass white blanks. Are you aware of any painted finished glass blanks in white? I'm wondering about the painted finish reacting with any of the epoxies over time with age.

Anyone else want to add to the thread please feel free. Thanks all.

Randy Wilinski

Glass Coat and LS Supreme are the clearest and most resistant to yellowing of any epoxies I've yet seen. The old Bullard Diamond II was absolutely the very best, but it's not been around in a while.

Permagloss is absolutely clear and will not yellow or amber at all. But it's not an epoxy, it's a urethane, and you may or may not like how it handles.

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

Randy
Since the 'color' of a white rod blank is actually a permanent white pigment as used in paints - which are most often metallic oxides - any "yellowing" in the finish would be as a result of the transfer or carrying medium (the manufacturer's choice of epoxy or resin impregnation) and as "white" is a primary color (ie: there is no 'translucent white' as there are blues and greens where you can see the 'scrim' or 'fibers' through the over-stain) there should be no evidence of 'yellowing' on a blank made by a QUALITY manufacturer today. As for reactions between the original factory finish and any epoxy that the builder applies my experience is that the older varieties did (and some still do) yellow but not due to a reaction between finishes but due to their inherent chemical composition. Others will have to provide 'field tested' results on different available products because I haven't used many of the newer ones although I have seen high praise reviews of Glass Coat based on less stringent 50/50 mix ratios and 'pot' life of the mix.
American Tackle sells fairly inexpensive white E-glass rod blanks with a white finish as do Lamiglas and Shakespear (personally I don't care for Shakespear due to the 'bumpy' final finish from the manufacturer - but that's a PERSONAL choice and not a comment on the quality of the product.
Ken

So many good comments and feedback about Glass Coat about it's clarity and ease of use here especially on white blanks and better coverage on S/W wraps make it an ideal finish all around.
It covers nicely and self leveling with a one coat application in most instances quite easy to control if following simple mixing and application instructions.

Just to let anyone know we have the product available for rod builders interested in purchasing some. Just email me or drop a line on the phone.

Rich Garbowski
Richard's Rod & Reel
807-486-0514

I know what you mean about Flex Coat yellowing, happened to me! LS is highly recommended. I just did an experiment with LS and Classic Coat from Mud Hole. Compared to LS - the Classic Coat seemed to level a lot better. I tried both of them several different ways - on white. Don't yeal at me LS users!

Bill
Yes, I have two lovely yellow trolling rods now. I don't even think they were out in the sun that long. I made them two or three years ago and put them in the shed (with very good intentions to use them). When I went out to look at them they were yellowed. I have another one done with Classic Rod Coat - as yet no problems but that one is only a year old.
Ken

Thanks guys, you're awwwwsome!!!