I'm having a NFC casting rod built, and the builder asked if I wanted the blank coated. It is something I've considered in the past, but have never looked into it.

Can anyone tell me if clear coat (i think he was going to use epoxy or flex coat probably) holds up well over time, and does it offer the blank any extra protection? Also curious if it cuts down on sensitivity...I've heard this, but I have some painted loomis factory rods and I can't notice any sensitivity loss?

If anyone has pictures, or links to pictures of rods that have been clear coated it would be much appreciated.

Also, does anyone know if the old GLX Loomis blanks were coated? Or were they just sanded differently thank NFC blanks? because mine have a slightly different appearance, my glx's have less ceilo marks and a slightly smoother surface... I know the IMX blanks were coated with some kind of slate finish.

Thanks guys,
Sam

A graphite blank does not really need any clear coating
but
if you want to coat it permagloss or lumiSeal or a urethane is the best
A auto two part clears are very good also

epoxy not really

Bill - willierods.com

bill boettcher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A graphite blank does not really need any clear
> coating
> but
> if you want to coat it permagloss or lumiSeal or a
> urethane is the best
> A auto two part clears are very good also
>
> epoxy not really

I probably had it wrong...I think he did mention permagloss. I was just curious what it looks like coated? I probably won't do it, but am just exploring it now that he brought it up. I do like the way some of my factory painted loomis rods shine, but prefer not have color. I'll try to find pictures. If you have any or can point me in the right direction that would be helpful.

Thanks

Perma Gloss will give it a glossy finish, and if done properly, will not add much weight. Two part rod wrapping epoxy would be my last choice, too soft and too much weight.

I have done many raw blanks in Permagloss with great results. I apply it with a coffee filter paper and do two coats with an hours drying time between coats.
If you use epoxy, you will be annoyed with the result and, the blank will become significantly heavier.
Cheers
Chris

I don't know why any rodbuilder would even suggest putting a coating on a high modulus blank like an NFC in the first place.

I'm sure he meant perma gloss...it was me who was confused, as I have never done this. I like the look of raw graphite. but I do have some painted GLX rods, that I can't tell a sensitivity or wt difference on. But they are probably some form of perma gloss or something similar dyed because you can see the ceilo rings through them and it looks nice.

But again I don't want it to appear dyed or painted. I was just trying to get some feedback on perma glossing a blank and what it would look like as all my NFC builds are left unfinished.

Does anyone know if the old GLX MBR blanks were coated with something? Becasue they don't seem as "raw" looking as my NFC blanks. If this is the look it would give I may consider...but they just may be sanded more than the NFC blanks??

sorry for the confusion...my post wasn't clear, and I'm ignorant to this b/c as said before all of my customs have been left unfinished.

NFC left the finish off their blanks for good reason. They didn't want the added weight. I would leave it as the matte grey it comes with and fish the heck out of it.

If you must add finish, permagloss or an auto-spray clear coat would be my only choices.

Terry

Water on the blank will let you see what it will look like with a clear on it

Bill - willierods.com

So if he decides to clear the blank how much performance is he going to lose. None of us know so it's a guessing game. My guess is "not much".

I would akin this to changing to a slightly more restrictive air filter or exhaust on a performance car. A loss of 5hp is inevitable. Performance is certainly affected...detectable on a 1/4 mile run, but not in daily traffic.

Happy Fishing!

bill boettcher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Water on the blank will let you see what it will
> look like with a clear on it

That's a good idea...if true this would be an easy enough test for me to perform.

i would just wax it every so often and call it a day strait carnuba will work fine and shine it up!

Coating adds between 8 and 10 percent to a raw blank. We don't do it because a raw carbon blank will outperform a coated blank.

I've done weight and frequency tests with identical models where one was coated and one wasn't. In both tests, the difference was roughly 10 percent.

Coating helps catch fishermen, it doesn't help catch fish.

Jon

Thanks Jon...guess you can disregard that email I sent you.

I would not have guessed the wt difference would be that much...I can't tell a difference on my painted rods vs. nonpainted.

I will probably leave it unfinished.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2013 10:41PM by Sam Moore.