Ok...
so I need opinions , advice... after wrapping the guides... was planing on doing 3 coats of minwax poly on the wraps, and then using a dip tube filled with it. (pvc tube) 4in. per min.
silk green with black tips on the wraps. water based poly to preserve the color a little...
how do you guys finish, what are the steps.... my 1st bamboo attempt. what finish do you recommend....alot you use spar varnish for some reason? I might like a gloss finish on a blonde bamboo fly rod..?...need your help guys before I tackle the finish aspect of the rod.....
Mike

Mike,

If you have wrapped the rod the following applies:

Three coats of poly on the wraps will do a good job of preserving the color.

The water based poly will coat and protect the rod well. Using a spar version of poly or a spar varnish will provide extra protection for the inevitable exposure to water and UV rays. Poly and varnish are very different and may require somewhat different approaches...at least they do for me.

Dipping the rod with a withdrawal rate of 4 inches per minute will work fine. If you experience runs, slow it down a bit. I use an old reel with a stong click and a pulley; and then crank 4-5 clicks every 10-15 seconds to lift the rod section from the dip tube.

Lately, I have gone to applying the finish with a brush and tend to like that better. I apply the poly full strength. I dilute the varnish 3:1 with mineral spirits. I use multiple coats with light steel wool rubbing between applications. I use a brush cut square on the end and trimmed to about 1/4 inch wide.

You can touch up any "issues" in the final finish coat by using rottenstone and rubbing the imperfections by hand.

If you have not wrapped the rod yet, this is my preferred way:

Finish the blank before doing the wrapping using the techniques described above.

Wrap the guides. Finish the guide wraps using your favorite color preserver and epoxy wrap finish just as you would on a fiberglass or graphite rod.

This tends to be much easier and works great. It also assures the blank beneath the wraps is adequately protected from future damage.

Be happy to discuss it further...email me at joe@blackdogtackle.com

Joe Douglas

There are many This is one I go too.
many fine bamboo builders Check it out And you can Google up many more
[classicflyrodforum.com]

You can Dip - Whip it on - brush it on And dribble
What ever you find is easy for you and gives you a nicer look

Bill - willierods.com

I've refinished/restored probably a hundred bamboo rods over the years.
I'll start by saying that every old school rod manufacturer used something different for CP. some used shellac, lacquer,or nothing. so your use of water based varnish is fine.
I usually use the dip method using spar varnish. I usually use Man of War(just ran out) or Ace Hardware brand spar. my withdraw system uses an old BBQ motor with a shaft sized to pull about 3" per min. I usually thin about 10%.

lately I've been doing alot of the same make of rod that has not needed any guides rewrapped. just new varnish. for these I've used a modified take on the "turkey baster" method. I got some hair color applicator bottles from the beauty supply store. filled them with about 4 oz of thinned varnish. warmed the bottle in some warm water for about 10 min. then with a catch pan below you basically dribble/run the varnish down the rod. I usually apply a few drops between the guides then starting at the top work the varnish down a flaat.turn the rod and do the nest flat until all are covered.. give the rod a little shake up and down to get things moving . let it drain for a min or two then hang to dry. on the next coat I usually reverse direction so if the first coat goes butt to tip the second coat goes tip to butt. Usually 2 coats on tips and sometimes 3 on mid and butts.
HTH

sorry started a new thread by mistake...
but its ok to do wraps with water based poly..and then using spar to dip.... thought the water based poly would save the green wraps color a little...or will the water based spar brushed on the wraps do the same..

I mis typed , too early not enough caffine. water based poly is OK as a CP. I will darken the wraps very slightly but not too bad. when in doubt do a test run on some scrape.