I'm building my first fly rod, a Batson Rainshadow IF 903, 2 peiice 3 weight. I've got my reel seat, handle, and epoxy ramp completed. Also got my guides wrapped and have put one coat of CP on the bottom half of my rod including the epoxy ramp that I have wrapped also, (for feather inlay). I have used thread master finish and everything looked good while applying the finish. After the finish dryed I have noticed some dark spots in the finish around the guides but not on the ramp. My thought was, not enough CP, so I double coated the top part of the rod with a second coat of CP, let dry, and again finished with no problems until it began to dry. Again I got some dark spots around the guides with no particular pattern to them. Any ideas where I went wrong? I have used both the CP and the finish before with no problems. My thread was Fishhawk 257 Rust. Thanks for any info in advance.

It would help to have a photo of the problem area. It may a natural result of the area near the foot and tunnel, or it could be something else. Hard to say without seeing it.

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Thanks Mr. Kirkman, I'll try to get some pics tommorrow with good natural light.

Dark areas or streaks are sometimes caused by the wraps not being packed tight enough. Especially apparent with lighter colored threads.

Without pictures, what Phil said would be my first guess as well. Since this occurred on all of the wraps to some extent, i would check your process to ensure the wraps are packed well. If the wrap "density" varies, then you will have dark spots in the thin areas and no dark spots where the thread is well packed and burnished. The dark spots are actually the blank color showing through the thread. Very dark threads do not show this defect (on black or gray blanks) which is why you see black on many production rods.

Another possibility is that you may have transferred some oil to the thread when wrapping but the packing is still most likely. Make sure your hands are very clean when wrapping and try not to touch the thread more than necessary.

You'll be turning out perfect wraps in no time.

Terry

I think both Tom and Phil are right because just like what Tom says this could just be a natural result of the area near the foot and tunnel as I see the color rust doing this a lot with CP or without it and if the guide feet are black you will notice this look even more. Phil is also right when he says that this may be caused by the thread not being packed tight enough as more epoxy will soak through the thread and this gives it a barker look around the guide feet or s sort of s transparent like look.

Glenn McMurrian