has anyone had difficulty polying madeira thread or is just me. It looks great with all the different shades for fading but I just cant seem to get to poly smoothly, it wants to soak up in some spots and not in others.So if anyone can help with this dillema I would appreciate it.

I'm not sure what you mean by polying but if you mean putting epoxy finish on heres my guess. The mediera has silicon in it to run thru high speed machines(its not designed for rod making) and that silicon is causing the epoxy problems. Using CP should cure that. You will get better answers I'm sure.

What is "poly"?? Not sure that I understand. Madeira is a polyestor thread that is very popular with builders/. It is a sewing thread and is treated with a silicon? lubricant to be used in sewing machines. You need to use CP over it as the bare thread often repels epoxy

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!!

thanks when i say poly i mean epoxy and i use cp maybe i should use more coats of cp

I use 2 or 3 and if you have a blotching problem after that I believe that is a thread packing issue. Loosely packed threads will cause it.

Use a couple coats of CP and dont use flame or heat on the first coat or it will fish eye regardless of how many coats of CP

Hi Jerry
I also just experienced the same thing I bought 4 brands of color preserves and tried on a test piece and U-40 Color Lock worked the best with 2 coats on the rod I added a third just to be sure and it came out great.

Good luck

Mikes Custom Fly Rods

@ Bill H - are you getting fisheyes when you heat it up on guide wraps, or Dec Wraps? I ALWAYS heat the finish, with a propane torch, and I get it hot - NEVER hada fishee problem on DEc WRaps. BUt I have had the issue on guide wraps, which is why I never use Madeira for guide wraps. I'm just wondering when you experiance teh fisheyes, not doubting you at all.

I just did my first rod with Madeira thread, 1 coat of Chromaseal and TM Lite over it. No problems with the fish eyes and I used heat on the epoxy as well to pop bubbles.

thanks bill, i have the most problems with the guide wraps, usually the butt wraps turn out with a coats of epoxy

Billy Vivona Wrote:
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> @ Bill H - are you getting fisheyes when you heat
> it up on guide wraps, or Dec Wraps? I ALWAYS heat
> the finish, with a propane torch, and I get it hot
> - NEVER hada fishee problem on DEc WRaps. BUt I
> have had the issue on guide wraps, which is why I
> never use Madeira for guide wraps. I'm just
> wondering when you experiance teh fisheyes, not
> doubting you at all. Come to think of it, It is the guide wraps, I havent had the trouble with deco wraps.
I just dont use heat at all anymore when using Madera and take extra care not to get bubbles in the finish while applying it

That is why I only use thread for Rod Building. Don't need any of these things happening.
I like to put finish on with and with out CP and do not need to remember which is which.

Bill - willierods.com