I was given a no name surf rod wilth guide problems so I decided to replace them. When I got the old guides off the rod blank looked like sin so i decided to refinish it before I replaced the guides. I carefully scraped and sanded the blank except for the built up black band at the base of the rod and a similar band covering the female ferrule. Are these two bands decorative and can I remove them or should I leave them and finish up to them? They look like a high buld epoxy coating.The rod blank is now a mottled honey color and I would like to make it a uniform color. What is the material and where do I find it. The finishes in the Mudhole cataloge don't read as if they are what I need. I have built a drying lathe so I can rotate the blank while the finish dries.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Jack Coulter

Give it a nice coat of finish and move on.

Jack,

Those black bands are probably thread wraps : one for decoration and one to reinforce the female ferrule. Take the shine off of em with some fine scotchbrite, and, like Roger said, refinish it. Extend your new finish over those two bands, for a nice continuous coat.

Also, I have used Permagloss, applied with a coffee filter, to refinish rod blanks, as well as thread epoxy, applied very thinly by rubbing it onto the blank with my finger. Wear gloves!

Chris

Thanks Chris, That helps a lot.
Jack