So i just finished wrapping my first fly rod. Used 3/0 silk - rod is a 5 wt. also used single foot amtak ring lock guides. when i coated the wraps took extra care to fill the channels along the guide foot with permagloss with each coat - used needle and light burnishing to make sure was worked into the channels, no gaps or bubbles that i could see. However, it seems now that as the rod rotated and dried some of the Permagloss "wicked" out as the coats dried leaving small gaps/channel along the guide foot. I did not use any CP so i can clearly see that there are some open spaces along the guide foot where the finish ran out as it cured.

is this going to present a problem? at this point the channels are fully sealed and there are absolutely no opening for moisture intrusion but over time will that small channel cause me grief?

any insights greatly appreciated with this one.

thanks again, mike

Mike -
Very doubtful that you will experience any problems. Old bamboo rods wrapped with silk and dipped or over coated with varnish are still in use today over 50 years later. Permagloss is a much better product than was used then - and the silk thread is also likely of better overall quality. What many used to do was re-finish (re dip / re coat) the rods every year - which probably caused as much harm as it did good. I'd say "go fishing and inspect at the end of the year"

Mike

The permagloss does not wick out of the guide channel. Permagloss contains a ton of solvent and as the solvent evaporates the volume of finish decreases opening up the area near the guide foot. If you use an undercoat of light epoxy (threadmaster light, flexcoat light, klass kote etc.) and start your finish at the guide foot and let it wick into the tunnel as you work toward the guide ring it will fill the tunnel. Then remove most of the finish with your brush and let the finish cure guides down. After 4-7 days you can top coat with permagloss and the finish will look great. When using silk keep the tension light, don't over pack or over burnish. Some thin the epoxy coat and some don't. experiment!