Wondering what everyone's using for brushes for finish application. Do you guys get the cheapo one-time use type brushes? Or do you go for the more expensive ox hair type brushes? What are your reasons - pro's/con's, etc.?

Thanks 'n stuuph.

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

Decent, flat and soft ox hair craft type brushes are what I use. Usually just a buck or so at most craft shops. Duro-Art from Chicago is my favorite. They can be cleaned with alcohol and warm soap and water, rinsed with cold water, and will last a good many rods. Do make sure to pull out any loose hairs prior to using them the first time. You may also want to clean them once, even though new, before first using them.

Epoxy manufacturers will tell you that brushes are not the proper application tool for epoxy and they're correct. A spatula is the proper tool but many of us still make do with brushes.

...........

Is there anything out there that shows the proper technique for using a spatula?

I have difficulties from time to time, and I think it's because I learn best by seeing, and I've never seen anyone or even read an explanation on the technique for using a spatula.

Joe Kassuba from His Rod Shop has a video tutorial, on spatula application, on his web site. I don't have a link, but I'm sure you could get there from a Google search. He may even chime in.

Bill in WV

[www.hisrodshop.com]

Thank you very much!!!!!

Aaron... I've been going back and forth between brushes and spatulas. I have a handful of natural fiber brushes, none of which cost more than five dollars. My current "spatula" consists of a spear-point shaped piece of a .73mm thick Tortex guitar pick held in an Xacto knife handle. I dressed the edges with sandpaper and scratch wool. It works great. Regards, Vance

My spatula finish applicator of choice is a Flexcoat brush loaded with finish and held stationary behind a 200 rpm spinning target.

Aaron

I use "golden taklon" brushes. They are relatively cheap (.50 ea ?) and easy to find at the big name arts/crafts stores. They come in 1/4" and 3/8" widths and have a flat profile, and are usually in 3 packs. They are also somewhat stiff and can be used like a spatula - the best of both worlds! The brushes I use to apply CP with I clean out and re-use a few times. I just pitch the ones that I use for finishing after one coat.

Check 'em out!

Rog

I have always used Flex Coat brushes. Then I tried Tom's flat 3/8 wide flat soft brushes for guide wraps,makes a world of difference. Much easier application and neater. I struggled with the round brushes but with enough practice I did a very good job. After trying the flat, ox hair, soft bristle brush, I will never use a round brush again. I have tried a spatula, but I still prefer the flat soft brush to the hard spatula. I use wider flat brushes for large guides and butt wraps. And I also clean them as Tom suggested and I can do a bunch of rods with one brush. I had a bunch of Flex Coat and Craft brushes on hand , so I snipped off the bristle end and use the plastic handle for a mixing stick.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Good thread and good tutorial on the spatula. I use a spatula to apply the finish and a brush to remove the excess. For the most part I'm very pleased. Part of the reason I asked the question is because sometimes when I go back to use my brush again, I find them stiff and ruined, even after what I thought was a good thorough cleaning with brush cleaner. I buy the expensive brushed that Mudhole carries. So when I ruin one, I get a little PO'd. Can you guess when I ruined my last one?

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

I use a cheap nylon brush or a spatula, depending on what is closer. Let the rod pull the finish from the tool, rather than using the tool to apply finish to the rod. Once you get the technique down, you can use just about anything with equally good results.
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Scott
Thanks for the rodshops link on spat. finish application. Got my 1st rod wrapped and trying to work up courage to mix that 1st batch of epoxy. Done some practice but having trouble getting the ends "square". Intended to use regular Flex-Coat but even after thinning/warming just not good w/that thickness of mix. G ot some F/C lite on the way. I think I will do better with 2 thin coats vs. 1 thick.

Chris

Aaron,
I jsut use the el cheapo flex coat brushes that I cut down..... it is what works for me and not to mention the fact it doesn't set me back but pennies an application

Tom Kaufmann
GySgt USMC