Hello

I am a newbie here and I need some expert advice. I am a big Shakespeare Wonderod fan and bought one in the 60's and used it until the airlines lost it in1992. It was a 5'8" spincast rod with a one piece shaft and had a medium action. I am still looking for that one.
I did find one close to it that I will use in the meantime. It is in good shape along the whole length. I don't want to do anything but give it a good protective coat the entire length which is clear, high gloss, flexible and scuff resistant. I just plan to clean the rod with I guess soap and water (unless someone has got a better way ) and then apply the protective coat.
What would you guys recommend as I really want to protect this rod and when I find the right one, that one as well. I hear some people use uraethane, spar varnish, Diamondite, etc. .
I need the best one for a white fibreglass rod.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Walter

Trondak U-40 makes 2, that can be purchased at Custom Tackle Supply, you could use for that purpose. 1 - PermaGloss, 2 - Diamond Plate. I'll let someone, who has used them more than I, explain their application. I just thought I'd bring them up for discussion.

Bill in WV

Permagloss for a tough non-yellowing finish.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

You want a thin, hard coating that adheres well. PermaGloss is usuall the ticket. Any good marine grade spar urethane would be good as well, but I seem to recall those rods were white and thus anything that tends to yellow won't look good for you. PermaGloss won't yellow on you one bit.

Check the archives here for more info on the best ways to apply it. I think the online library here also has some information on surface preparation.

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

Try Gudebrod Rod Restorer, I used it on a badly sunburned Ugly Stick , same family as the Wonderod, and it came back to life like it was new. Larry

Gudebrod Rod Varnish, Gudebrod Rod Speed Coat (applied with your finger), PermaGloss, and MinWax spray-on Urethane Spar, in no particular order.

As for cleaning, try the Erasere Pad from Wally World. Mr Clean brand were the first but are also the most expensive. You can buy them at the Dollar Store chain for - you guessed it - $1. Way better than just soap and water.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

THANKS very much guys

for chiming in and letting this newbie know about all these good protective coats. The most often mentioned seems to be PermaGloss, so I will check that out first. I will try Russ Pollack trick with the Erasure Pad for general cleaning.
In the mean time I had an OOPS ! The rod is white and clean, but on the windings and on a spot on the shaft where the fishing rod production number are, there was some yellowing coating. I think at one time something like varnish so was put on there to protect them. I decided to try to test clean the yellowing coat in a small area with a household cleaner and it seemed to come off pretty easy. I then tried it over the numbers and to my horror saw that the printed black numbers were starting to come off. I stopped that pretty quick and the numbers are still legible but not as crisp and black as they were before. Not Good ! I won't do that again. Question - Is there anyway to bring those numbers back - perhaps by carefully restoring them by painting. Is there any type of pen or tool that I can do that with. I certainly don't want to do any more damage.

Walter

Sharpie makes a super fine point pen that would probably do it, if you can find it. Try any local hobby store such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, AC Moore, etc......... Hope you have a steady hand. If not contact Mike Barkley and have him explain to you how to make a cheap steady rest, as used by graphic artists and pin stripers.

Bill in WV

Thanks William

I will go and check out that Sharpie. I think there is a store near me that carries that kind of stuff.
And thanks again to everybody who advised me on the protective coats for my Shakespeare Wonderod and how to clean the rod beforehand.

Much appreciated.

Walter
in Canada