I was browsing through micheals art store with my wife when I saw this two part finish and it looked like it would work well as a rod finish. Do any of you use it? Here is the description:

EnviroTex Lite® is a reactive polymer compound. It cures to a thick, glossy coating in about 8 hours at 70°F, and reaches full strength and toughness in about 48 hours. This durable, resilient material requires no polishing to produce a high gloss. One coat is all that is usually required for a deep attractive finish, however, two or more coats maybe applied one over the other by simply wiping the surface with a clean cloth and alcohol prior to recoating. Four ounces of Envirotex Lite covers one square foot.

I was going to buy some to try it, but I wanted to check with you guys first.

It's a very popular top coat on custom painted crankbaits. Not sure about using it on a rod though. My gut would say stick with rod finish.

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In years past it was very bad to turn brown. That may have changed, but if not, it will get really brown. It wasn't designed for exterior use.

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This is my first post here, but have been a long time lurker, so take it easy on me with my first post..
I have used most rod finishes out there, and all have worked just fine.
A couple of my friends have been building rods for quite a few years, and when I asked them what they used as a rod finish, they both said they used Enviro Tex Lite.

I was pretty skeptical about the flexibility and long term effects of UV, or even short term for that matter.
I wanted to see the older rods they built using ET, and I was amazed to see rods over 10 years old with ET used as a finish, that still looked new.

I bought a small kit of it and tried it, I was pleased with the results, and have been using it exclusively for the last couple of years.
My rods are used heavily, and get plenty of Florida UV, and all seem to be looking great. I have heard all the stories about how it cracks, peels, turns yellow and all the other stories. Personally, I have not had the first issue with it, and I have gone through a couple gallons of it.

I would like to add that, it was just like Flex Coat, and the fonts on the bottle and even the bottle it self looks like the same bottle.
I'm not saying it is the same product, but if you want to try a cheaper alternative to the rod finishes you have been using, I think you would like it.

I'm not suggesting to anyone to stop using what you are using now, but you may be pleasantly surprised that there is yet another alternative finish out there to use.
Again, this is only my experience over the last couple of years, they may all fall apart next week, who knows.

Envirotex produces numerous formulations. Etex light (EX-88 I believe) is one of them. A similar formulation is EX-74 which is said to have UV inhibitors not in EX-88. I spoke with a representative at Envirotex and explained that I'd like to be able to purchase a smaller quantity than a gallon. She directed me to EasyCast, sold through craft stores like A.C. Moore. The MSDS's for EasyCast and EX-74 are identical, though the rep from Envirotex stopped short of saying they were the same thing.

I applied, sanded and polished EasyCast on a reel seat insert. Very hard once cured, but I wasn't confident the luster would last. One day I'll try it again.

Jeff Shafer

I used envirotex lite (from Michaels) on an outdoor table last year after about two weeks in the sun it had yellowed badly and by end of summer was pretty brown. I wouldn't use it on rods for that reason.

i have used it on a couple of rods and after a year it has not turned yellow yet and i used it on some white wrappings so far so good i used some flex coat and it turned yellow on some white wrapping just sitting on the garage

EnviroTex years ago I used EnviroTex. I needed a quick finish for a customers rod. By the end for the summer I got it back. They may have improved the finish by now. I ould find all the company info. I could youmight call the company about the possible use.

Good Wraps Bob

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I will take some scrap blank, wrap it and through it out in the sun and see what happens. I just didnt want to spend the money if it was unanimous, but it seems like it may work based on some responses. Ill try it out and let you guys know.