I have an older Sage fly rod and asked the factory what coating they use on their blanks and they said Flex Coat High Build.

I find it interesting they would not use something more like a Perma Gloss or Lumi Seal. Would high build epoxy be protective enough? I have two sections that are pretty scuffed up and I want to protect them.

One related question - if I do decided to use Perma Gloss or Lumi Seal - is there any issue with painting that over a blank that was coated with epoxy?

Thanks,

Tony

I think they misunderstood you - they have never coated their rods with Flex Coat. They have, however, used Flex Coat on their guide wraps.

You'd have to test the surface with the PG or LS and see for yourself if the paint will take it without blistering.

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

Tony ,
You can certainly coat your wonderful rod blank with high coat epoxy.

You will then have one of the worst performing rod blanks that have ever been made.

Heavy and slow will be the name of that coated rod blank.

Roger

tony, is the blank gloss finish or matte? there are several things you can use. some are more durable than others and some have application learning curves. you might want to get with Ken Preston. he has been working/testing some stuff. if not give me a call i will try to help

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tony ,
> You can certainly coat your wonderful rod blank
> with high coat epoxy.
>
> You will then have one of the worst performing rod
> blanks that have ever been made.
>
> Heavy and slow will be the name of that coated rod
> blank.
>
> Roger

That will only happen if you put it on to thick or to many coats. I have been finishing sea and freshwater rods with high build finish for years, and it has never affected the performance or slowed down the action. Never received any complaints from customers. The secret is to coat the blank butt and tip sections with just one very thin coat. By that i mean straight one to one high build not thinned with any solvents. I'm well aware that thread finish epoxy was designed purely to coat thread wraps, and permagloss is completly different, harder wearing and much better suitable to refinish a blank, but that doesn't mean it can't be used, it will stick perfectly to the rod. I read the article by Ralph O' Quinn and he stated that he had seen hundreds of rods that were refinished with thread epoxy and they all had one thing in common; they were a mess! and if you use thread finish to refinish a rod all you'll get is a mess!..... No, you won't if you get your preperation right and do the job properly which clearly these people didn't. When i get time i will write an article on how i do it.

Jersey, Channel Islands. (U.K.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2012 09:01PM by Steve Mcleod.

Steve,
I suppose that I am making my comment on an ultra light blank that weighs about 1 oz before any finish is applied.

If you put on even a thin coat, the weight will change a bit.

However, the heavier salt water rod would have a less % change due to the coating.

I do agree, that there is no issue to apply a coat of finish to a rod. Also, no issue to apply a very thin coat of finish to any rod.

Be safe
Roger

When I want a high performance rod, especially a fly rod or a UL spinning rod, I will almost always get a blank that has NO finish on it or I will remove it. The paint actually has measurable weight and that detracts from the response of the blank. As Roger says, there will not be any noticable change in an off shore rod so load it up. But I would not even consider the epoxy (full length) on an older Sage blank.

Thanks, all.

I did confirm with Sage that they use rod building epoxy on the entire blank.

Based on how the finish has worn off over the years, I agree it is not the most protective.

Tony

if you like the rod

You will like it Better if you strip it and with No Finish on the blank save the seat and handle -- Bare -- Re Wrap it Coat the threads

It will be more Responsive - Quicker - lighter - and a better performing rod

it may be wise to change the guides Any one putting finish on a rod will have not the best guides on it ????

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/2012 12:52PM by bill boettcher.

JP -

I talked to Ken. He is using a urethane that he discovered years ago. A small company in California.

My only question now is whether I can apply this water based urethane over the sections now coated with (and soon to be sanded level) Perma Gloss.

Cheers!

Tony

i have used that same stuff coat blanks after painting. don't see why it wont go over permagloss though the permagloss is tougher

We will soon find out! ha ha