Are there any printed instructions or videos available on the how the use a spatula to apply epoxy finish? I've been practicing, but I'm real messy. Heard that once you have mastered using a spatula, you'll never go back.

Maybe this help you [www.hisrodshop.com]

Joe's a great guy. Haven't heard from him in awhile though. Hope he's doing well.

This is alot of instruction. It's all pretty accurate but could lead you to fuss with the finish more than you need. A couple of simple tips I've found to be helpful using a spatula:
Use a thin flexible spatula. The one's that Joe offers are good. I also use metal artists spatulas.
If you use a spatula that is a little wider than your wraps, the application can be done in one revolution, properly loaded. It helps to use the spatula like a shovel to load it and apply from the bottom of the rod. Hold the spatula steady and rotate the rod toward you. If you have to apply more, just repeat the loading and move over. You can load the spatula and establish your edges in one revolution, unless the blank area is large in diameter. If you have to go back and touch up areas like the guide foot tunnel, you can do so after all the wraps are done, and pick up any other missed spots along the way.

The butt wrap application description in Joe's article is pretty good. apply horizontally instead of rotating around, then wick off the excess as it sags. Good discussion on the techniques to angle the spatula to get it to bead or to allow excess to wick off.

I like the spatula as i feel like I have more control over where finish goes, and establishing edges. The pointed ones are good for touch ups and getting a drop or two extra into the tunnel or touch up spots.

Good luck!

Terry

Also,
Ralph O'Quin had an article in Rodmaker magazine a way back; see if you can find it

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." Mark Twain
John in Wethersfield, CT

I watched Joe demonstrate these techniques at Ralph O'Quinn's U-40 booth at the very first Expo.
He was kind enough to let me try my hand at it while he talked me through every step of the way.
That's one of the reasons I keep going to the Expos as often as I can... the instruction available there is simply amazing.

I purchased one of the pointed spatulas for applying rod finishing epoxy.
The thin grip was less than ideal to me.
So I slipped a length of surgical tubing over the grip area and now it's much more comfortable and easier to manipulate.
I highly recommend that modification.

Watching Joe is what got me to buy/try a spatula. The one I still use is flat on one end and a spade on the other. I mastered it very quickly and find it to be a very fun, consistent & easy part of my builds today. The 'dripping' on of epoxy greatly lessons the potential for bubbles and the edge of the spatula allows for some very even/straight applications. Most of the time I am quite comfortable using just the flat end of the spatula and its corners....but sometimes when I need to be more precise, I carefully use the spade end. I use small brushes for CP application but still drip it on like with the spatula.

A brush can be used as if it were a spatula - try that and you may end up a switch hitter.

Bill Stevens Wrote:
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> A brush can be used as if it were a spatula - try
> that and you may end up a switch hitter.

I agree.

I have also bought a set of artist spatulas from the craft store to use for applying guide finish. C2

Steve, you said that you drip the epoxy finish on. Explain! Others have said thay "apply" the finish. What is meant by "applying" the finish? I have tried to not brush it on or dab it on as if I were painting a wall, but I still have trouble getting a level finish. It seems that I use a lot of finish to get it level. What I have been trying to do is to learn to load the spatula (or brush) and just touch the spatula to t he wrap while rotating the rod.

Julian,
I do the same thing with either a brush or a spatula - i.e drip it onto the rod.
Normally after a few dozen builds, you find that when applying finish your brush or spatula never really touches the rod. Rather, just the epoxy that is running (or dripping) off the end of the spatula or brush is touching the rod.
No need to brush or spread the epoxy of done correctly at the right speed.

Good luck
Roger