Is rayon and polyester thread the same thread or are they different? I'm looking at quilting thread advertised as outdoor thread.

They are totally different material. Poyestor thread is suitable. I use Madeira Poly Neon, Mettler polyestor and others with no problem. Rayon is a different story. Do a search here and it will probably discourage you from using it. Far more problems than it's worth. One thing to be aware of is that sewing threads are often coated with silicon to aid in machine sewing. The use of CP will negate that problem.
If it's a matter of saving pennies versus potentially wrecking a lot of work, I wouldn't risk it with Rayon. Thread is about the cheapest thing you will use on a rod.

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!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2008 10:40PM by Mike Barkley.

I knew rayon was a no no. Forgot about the silicon. Thanks.

CP takes care of the silicon problem but Rayon has a lot of other problems.

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!!

Rayon is a real PITA. I have worked with it and I will never make another rod with it. The colors are magnificiant and I used them on my current tuna rod but it took me multiple tries to get it right. It just happened to be the only thread that I constantly had problems with. Even with 2 coats of CP, the epoxy was getting through to the bare thread and making it half translucent and half CPed. All and all quite the mess.

I will never use rayon on a rod again either. Did one and that is enough for me!!! Not very strong and it does have the tendency even after packing it to death and several coats of CP goes translucent.