Good afternoon all! This is my first post and kinda excited about getting some great information. I started building rods about 10 months ago and started running into a problem with the finish. I let the finish dry with the rod on a dryer for about 2-3 hours. I let sit over night and everything seems to be drying fine with no flaws. Thats when I'm starting to get little bubbles of finish coming to the top like pimples. Everything around it is dry but these little pimples pop out and dont seem to dry. What am I doing wrong? I even switched brands but not sure if thats my problem....thanks everyone and after reading some of your threads you are right...this is such an addiction.

It has nothing to do with the brand - a company couldn't stay in business producing an epoxy that behaved like that for no reason.

If the rod has sat overnight, then the finish should be set well enough that no more bubbles, pits, etc., are going to form at that time. Are you sure this isn't happening in the first few hours?

"Bubbles" are one thing, fish eyes are another. Are you sure of which you have there?

Are you thinning your finish? Do you have any good photos of this condition?

We can probably pinpoint what's wrong but it's tough to do without a little more information.

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Like Tom stated even if you had bubbles. There is no reason that these areas should not have dried also. It sounds like some kind of contamination. You haven't used any kind of sprays near your work area or where you keep your threads. Even scented sprays well raise havoc with a finish. We all know what spray waxes well do. An for sure keep any kind of silicone out of your work area.

Good Wraps Bob

Let's stop short on the contamination thing until we have more information. Far too many problems get blamed on "contamination" when it's actually something else.

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If there are only a few large pimple looking things they could be located in the area that you made thread pull throughs. Air gets trapped in the thread pulled under the wrap and will work its way up the thread and end up looking like a small volcanoe blow out. Some of these things may take an hour or so to completely get the trapped air displaced when the finish soaks into the thread. The best way for anyone to trouble shoot your problem is for you to take a photo showing exactly what you are trying to describe. It is not the finish and there is a correct answer - I hope you are not one of those who sprays with denatured alcohol after applying finish -



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2009 06:02PM by Bill Stevens.

But why are these areas not drying? An the rest of the finish is?

Good Wraps Bob

Thanks everyone for all the response. No I dont spray anything near it. I will try to take some photos next time iy happens. I had to give it one more good coat of finish and that seemed to work. Only on the butt end did this happen. The reason I askedf about the finish was that when delivered the delivery guy left it on our porch......- 18 F. Didnt freeze though...might have found it in time before that happened. I have used this finish without this happening on other blanks. They are not fish eyes as I know what those are. They are just little bubbles of finish that rise to the top just when you think it ready to deliver...wierd I know. Yes Bob thats my question...why when the rest of the rod dries and not that.

Not thinning my finish. I will be finishing another rod shortly and if it occurs again I will try and post a pic. Thanks everyone

Eric

The resin can crystalize in colder temps. Even if it only happens partially, this often leaves tiny particles in the stuff. They can appear as "nubs" or small protrusions in the final finish. This could be what you've experienced.

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If like Tom suggest is true, You might try this, nuke the 2 bottles from about 15 seconds then look if you can see any crystals floating around. If both botthes apear clear you should be read to go with another coat. Before appling a second coat. CALL the manufacture

Good Wraps Bob

I think the original message asked about pimples popping out, which means something rising from the surface. I have never had that unless I was careless about leaving a thread end sticking up. On the other hand, if the problem is a "crater" in the finish, I have had these many times. Maybe that is what some of you call fisheyes?

I have not seen one of those since I started heating my bottles of 2 part finish before measuring by running hot water into the sink and putting the bottles into it (not above the cap!!) for about 3-5 minutes before drawing off the finish and mixing it. After I mix it well, I wait a few minutes, blowing into the cup to help any micro bubbles pop, then I put it onto the rod.

Since doing the heating/blowing/waiting, I have not had a crater.