Howdy,

I've come across several posts about painting blanks and have been drawn to Duplicolor Mirage. Manufacturer's photos look wild. Also saw several posts about Mirage that are from some years back. So I'm wondering..........

Have these paint jobs held up over the years? If not, why? If so, what helped?
Has the Mirage 3 step system been adequate for a rod blank? If not, why?
Is there anything additional that can be done to Mirage to make the project as durable as possible?

Whew!!! Demanding, aren't I? Sorry.....Just that I'd hate to embark on this if there's no chance of it lasting

Thanks

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I've painted blanks and have paid to have them done professionally. The results look great, but there are not as durable as regular rod finish. I normally have 3 coats of clear, but am still looking for something a little more durable.

I have not tried the Mirage, but have used many of the Duplicolor products with success.

I use the mirage alot. I use it to color over carbon grips and to color over blanks. On blanks I use the adhesion promoter primer then go to town with the color. You can use the Duplicolor clear over it, I have not had it crack but it is prone to scratching. The cool thing about the mirage is you can over paint and get different colors. I wish it came in more colors!
Take blue and paint over gold and get a green ect... You can control the darkness and shading with the amount of coats you apply. I have also used it with undercoatings, Your not limited to only the silver undercoat for Mirage you can use any Duplicolor touch up paint under the tint. I use a different clear over my blanks now instead of the Duplicolor clear or Permagloss which is unpredictable I just can't post the name here.

The first thing about paint is the prep! You must have all the old finish (if it's bad) removed, and I sand factory coating and my color coats with 800 grit wet. I'll try to post pictures of some stuff I've done tomorrow so you can see. Nothing will be as strong as the Factory finishes but I have a few boat rods out there that have held up fine!

I use the car colors. I like the metallics. They shine in the sun. Plus it only takes two thin coats to cover a blank and then one quick coat of permagloss. Less weight on the blank. I think they also have Candy Apple paint. A base of say silver, gold, whatever and some of this very transparent, and you can make some nice looking colors.

Bill - willierods.com

The same colours & tints of Duplicolour are available as base colours & tints for 2-pack 2K polyurethane
so you can get the same effects but using a polyurethane which is much more scratch resistant and durable than the matrix of Duplicolour.
The downside & upside is that you need an airbrush to do it.
Downside is the cost of set-up ( not huge )
The upside is finer spray & ability for fading effects & spray control.
Permagloss is a more durable finish coat than clear Duplicolour, and is essentially a pre-promoted 4K polyurethane which moisture hardens .
ie
It hardens in a different way to 2K polyurethane & is not quite as durable as 2K polyurethane.................the problem with using it over the top of duplicolour is that it is not compatible with the thinners in the duplicolour......................the duplicolour has to be completely dry ( and I mean completely dry & dried out ) so that the permagloss will not interact with any thinners remaining in the duplicolour.
2K polyurethane has the same issue with any thinners remaining in duplicolour when used as an overcoat.
The best result is the use of proper polyurethane base colours & tints which use thinners completely compatible with 2K or 4K polyurethane top coats..................no bad reactions with the clear topcoats & penetration of the base coat is optimised for durability.

Been there ...........done all of that............over 30 yrs ago.
Like so much in rodbuilding ..............you can do things which are not technically correct & get away with it if you are carefull and understand the issues that lead to bad results.....................if it works for you................do it.

The sharing here , is of the technically correct systems & their advantages........................& what to look out for if you are going to mix&match coating systems.

Denis, I don't have any experiance with the solvent based polys or tinting them for use on rods. I have looked at products that are available and most are... quite expensive. I for one do not use the Duplicolor clear coating ,I use a special poly that I have found to be just as durable and flexable as Permagloss. It won't give you brain damage in a closed area either. I have tried to tint this product but ... no go! A good tintable, strong, clear and easy to use product for this application in rod building would be great. I have a surf rod that used my method and went this whole past season with no problems so I have faith in my way if done carefully and preped correctly. Until something else comes along...............

This has all been very helpful. Thanks. BTW........I hit Duplicolor's website and saw that there's also a product called Metalcast that has an anodized look. Anyone ever tried it?

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Jonathan,

I've used the Metalcast in Blue and Green. Too me instead of looking Anodized, it looks like more of a bright candy finish. Very attractive though.

Bill in WV