I just got a MHX High modulus naked graphite rode, and I don't know if it was my fingers or whatever, but there are like oily spots up and down the rod, the ?, could I lightly sand the rod with like 600 or softer grade sandpaper, and polish it, or just polish it, I tried cleaning with soap and water but they still come back, it is a one of the nicest rod I have gotten, and don't want to ruin the graphite.

Lorenzo,
1. first take common mineral spirits to wipe down the rod. This will absorb any skin oil that might have been on the rod and will wash it away.
2. Then take denatured alcohol and give the rod a good wipe down and the alcohol will remove any residue that might have been left from the mineral spirits or paint thinner.
3. An even better solvent - but very toxic is the use of Xylene or Acetone. Either of these used by themselves will quickly remove the oil spots on the blank, but if you use either of these solvents, be sure to use them outside with a cross wind blowing to avoid inhaling any vapors.

4. No need to sand or polish.


I expect that you will be well pleased with the blank. Wonderful products.

Roger

Common rubbing alcohol will likely be all you'll need to clean the blank before wrapping. It won't hurt the graphite.

After wrapping and finishing, you can polish the rod with something like Old Gold for a nice look.


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

i would of been still pleased, very much with the rod, it is also the staightest rod I have gotten yet! lol! THanks will do that.

Anyone readin gthis please DO NOT USE ACETONE to clean blanks. ITs' been posted so many times by blank manufacturers and blank designers that there is a possibility that Acetone can break down the resin tht holds teh fibers together and can weaken the blank. I would assume that on a non-finished blank like the MHX Hi-Mod that you should be even more careful. As has been posted many times, Isopropyl alcohol and denatured alcohol is all you need to use when cleaning the blanks.

Thanks Billy, I was about to go and pick of some acetone I've seen at the hardware store. Not really!!, But really that is good advice for me cause if i had had it I would of probably used it by now.

An interesting note from Mudhole, the folks who sell the MHX blanks:

[www.mudhole.us]

From page 5, of their building instructions.
Clean up the blank with alcohol or acetone.

Which is correct?

Roger

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> An interesting note from Mudhole, the folks who
> sell the MHX blanks:
>
> [www.mudhole.us]
>
> From page 5, of their building instructions.
> Clean up the blank with alcohol or acetone.
>
> Which is correct?
>
> Roger

I don't know who is correct and frankly I don't much care but I'd certainly use the product that's least hazardous to my health.

Lance

Lance,
Perfect answer.
Roger

Swampland Tackle Lance Dupre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> roger wilson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > An interesting note from Mudhole, the folks who
> > sell the MHX blanks:
> >
> > [www.mudhole.us]
> >
> > From page 5, of their building instructions.
> > Clean up the blank with alcohol or acetone.
> >
> > Which is correct?
> >
> > Roger
>
> I don't know who is correct and frankly I don't
> much care but I'd certainly use the product that's
> least hazardous to my health.


you hit that one right on the head.

Posted by Roger Wilson on February 22, 2010"
"I have not found any other solvent (Acetone) that works as well for this job. This is also indicative of the reason why you normally DON''t want to use acetone on a blank that has finish on it. However, if you are stripping a rod to be left in a polished unfinished look, or for refinish, then the use of acetone in an outside well vented environment works well to remove the balance of factory finish after you have removed the bulk of the finish using other methods."

Here's the full post: [rodbuilding.org]

I used acetone to clean up uncured, improperly mixed epoxy, and it took the finish (paint, I guess) off an expensive blank. I don't use acetone now. I used to use it in auto painting and it would disolve almost anything.

Greg,
Exactly why Acetone can be used to advantage under certain circumstance. Just be aware of any issues that you may have when you use a product and take appropriate actions so that the use of a product results in the final result that you want.

Roger

Lorenzo,
Just got several of the HM- MHX to build with the problem you stated you have. I use 91% alcohol to wipe blanks and presto the fingerprints are gone. Acetone is something I never use because of the harm it can do to blank as well as yourself breathing the vapors.
Fuzz Morgan