In an attempt to enhance my fly rod building skills, I would like to know about the proper procedures and the best finish products for placing a clear coat finish on fiberglass fly rod blanks and for wrapping guides with silk thread?

Is blank finished rubbed on by hand, or is it brushed on or sprayed on while a rod is turning?

Is this finish applied before the guides are wrapped with silk thread or after?

What type of epoxy or finish works best on silk wraps?

Thanks again!

Prepare the blank to a "water-break-free" surface condition (see library article).

You can spray on a clear urethane, or "swipe" on a tough moisture curing urethane product such as PermaGloss or Lumaseal (do a search here to find out more).

Wait on week and wrap on guides.

Finish guide wraps with epoxy or urethane.

..............

Peter,
You can also use spar varnish for the rod and wrap finish, which was the old school way of finishing prior to to the introduction of epoxy and urethane. The prep and application procedure is the same as Tom indicates, although I would give the rod coating 2 weeks to cure before wrapping. The spar will give a slight amber tint to your blank and guide wraps, which will deepen over time. It holds up well, but isn't as hard as Permagloss or Lumiseal.