Greetings. I have to build three fly rods this weekend as Christmas presents for my God sons and brother. I have always used a long curing
epoxy such as rod bond or kardol for reel seats and cork. But I was recently told by some custom surf rod builders that 5 minute expoxy
works fine. I also see that there are some "intermediate" epoxies out there that cure in 15-30 minutes.

Being somewhat fumble-fingered it takes me a long time to build rods and these have to be ready by Monday.
If I could use a faster curing epoxy than Rod Bond or Kardol, it would save me a bunch of time. However, I don't want to build any shoddy rods
as presents. I also realize that fly rods with their constant flexing might be somewhat different than surf fishing rods with respect to the "pressure"
they excert against a reel seat.

So my questions to the group are:

Is five minute epoxy an adequate epoxy for securing reel seats on a fly rod?

If not, would one of the 15-30 minute epoxies work?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

They would probably work, but you would be better off using Quick Bond. It is a 10 min. version of Rod Bond. Great stuff.

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

Tom,
Scott's suggestion of the quick bond is spot on. I can tell you before I started using it, I had been using the Devcon 5 min. The only limitation with the Devcon will be having all the parts ready to go. You don't have much room for error in the assembly as it sets up QUICK. I had used the 5 min for almost the last 5 years on a couple hundred rods and have yet to have a single failure with it. I only changed because I wanted a bit longer to fiddle with things and the quick bond allows me to do that. If you do go the 5 min route just ensure that you have a proper break free surface and you should be fine.

Tom Kaufmann

Almost any epoxy is strong enough for what we do with fishing rods. The new Quick Bond (faster setting version of Rod Bond) will set in about 15 or so minutes and is set hard enough to handle and work with in an hour or so.

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

I have used 5 minute several times with out fail but it sets quick. I started using quick bond a while back and like it much better. It is still fast but you have more time to work with it. If you don't have time to get some for these projects I would just use what you are familiar with, but look into getting some in the future.

Matt White

Lamar 15 minute Ultimate Gel

I'm the 5min FC or 15min Lamar Gel kinda builder. I love the speed of it and use the 5min 90% of the time. I have my parts READY, everything laid out perfectly, and even clean up soaked towels ready before I even mix the 5min. Doing so, is a must with the faster setting epoxy's.

I have recently heard that the 5 or 15min type products do not have enough flexability to use on SMALLER high stressed items, and I will use Rod bond for those in the future.

DR

I guess that I'm just not in that much of a hurry. I'm a klutz, so for me their just is no upside for using a 5 min epoxy (except for epoxy foregrip ramps). It's not a matter of strength or flexibility, it's just a matter of covering my but!! I only use Rod Bond or Ultimate Gel and am getting ready to try the Quick Bond. I much prefer the stiffness and ability to stay exactly where I put of the Gels.

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!!

I use the lamar 15 minute most of the time

but i've used all varieties of devcon when in a pinch with no issues

My thanks to everyone for their advice. I did order some Lamar 15 epoxy but unfortunately, it did not yet arrive.

To the Rod Bond I go. Tom