Just got to setting up one of the extreme camo blanks for my son last night. I installed the camo EVA butt, reel seat and then the foregrip in the usual fashion. When I started cleaning up excess epoxy with isopropyl alchol, I discovered that the camo finish on the blank was coming off onto the paper towel. Do yourselves a favor and coat the blank with rod varnish or PG before getting started. (Try it under the reel seat first!!)

Good idea about protecting it just incase.The PG might remove the camo covering even better than the alcohol did its pretty mean that stuff.

Try white vinegar for cleanup ... it isn't nearly as strong as DNA or Isopropyl and cleans epoxy just fine. I use it on St Croix blanks.

Maybe some kind of clear spray. Ya can put on a few dust coats at first then after sealed a decent coat.

Makes me wonder if the camo finish would chip or wear off with moderate or heavy use.

Camo in a rod made off shore may ware off. A few off shore rods have this problem with their regular finishes. Notice I said a few off shore rods have this problem, not all do. How much did you pay for the blank? You can check the finishes by wiping a area that well be covered by a grip with alcohol 90%.
Good Wraps Bob

sounds like a job for maxseal

The Max Seal is great stuff and no doubt would work! It's a great alt. for PG if you have a painted blank! A member here led me to it and I'm more then happy with the results.

I hate to sound like an idiot but what's max seal and who makes it.

JP,

I was thinking the same thing!! I have one of those blanks to build, and I'll definately cote it first.

Bill in WV

It's a hybrid water based poly that won't yellow. It has very low smell and it remineds me of finish sealer for concrete. Dave your E-mail is hidden!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/2008 02:34PM by John Martines.

Another vote for Max Seal! Ilso a great finish for wood seats/grips!

I have built several of the camo blanks and have used denatured alcohol with no problems yet. Thanks for the warning. No sense taking a chance. BTW, if they are the Mudhole blanks, they are very nice blanks. The finish is finished by hydroprinting (dipping through a film sheet in a water vat)like they do wiyth bows, guns, ATV parts and a lot of other items. Pretty durable but like most things can be abused.

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!!