Is there any material that can be used to hand rub and retain the high luster of the finish and still take down any very small blips on the rod. I could do it with fine compound or pumice, but the luster would be lost. Thanks for any help.

You might try pledge or similar furniture polish. Make sure the rod is clean first, using alcohol on a soft rag, allow to dry. Spray down with the polish, then buff with a soft cloth. You will be surprised how well this works for returning luster and hiding small dings in the finish.

Terry

Thanks Terry,
I have used these, and it gives a great shine to the rod. It is getting out the tiny raised "dings" that I want to eliminate. If the polish has a small amount of abrasive in it, that would help along with a good bit of elbow grease.

Try an Auto Polish

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks Bill
Any particular one you had in mind?
Sanford

There are so many out there Mothers comes to mind

But if you are trying to get rid of Dings Which are low spots You may have to sand and refinish ??

I have Mothers Plastic Polish Thought it would work on my headlights

It works better on a rod LOL

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2013 04:13PM by bill boettcher.

Use an emery board like those used to shape fingernails. Use the fine side and use it VERY lightly. This will leaves a dull surface, but will cut quickly through any high spots. Walmart and drug stores sell polishing boards; they will bring the dull surface to a high shine. I believe they come in 240 and 2600 grit. They are in the nail care department .

I just had an issue with a rod I'm building and they worked great. Just don't get down to the thread.

They aren't high spots, but tiny dimples. That's the best way to describe them. They have no diameter, just height

Sanford...how did you get the dimples?

Try rottenstone in light oil. Rottenstone should be available in a real hardware store, but probably not in a big-box store. Rottenstone is used to put a final shine on fine furniture.

Jay,
This is a first for me. The first time they showed up only on the upper 1/4 of the rod, I sanded it down carefully with the finest (600-1000) wet dry sandpaper and it felt smooth as silk. I then used the lite Threadmaster finish that has been fine up to this point and used a new brush to put on the layer of finish as I usually do, and still they showed up again. I will sand it down again and see if this occurs again. It is more annoying to me considering I use the same technique as I have successfully in the past.

Sanford...are you talking about the finish on the rod blank itself or are you talking about the Threadmaster on your guide wraps? Or are you coating the entire blank with Threadmaster?

Sorry for the questions, just trying to fully understand your situation instead of assuming. Thanks.

There is something I use to dull finish for 2nd coat - if needed - but in package are other grits for polishing that I have used very successfully to restore shine.

It is marketed by Santa Fe Jewelers Supply called Micron Paper kit. $15.00
It has grits from 400 to 8,000.

Best of all it is not stiff like wetordry. It is woven into a cloth-like sheet.
great stuff.
Herb
Distrib. CTS Rod Blanks

Birchwood @#$%& Stock Sheen. Ultra fine rubbing compound for wood stock finish. Use an old soft t-shirt, and very light pressure. A little of this will go a long way.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

Birchwood @#$%& Stock Sheen. Ultra fine rubbing compound for wood stock finish. Use an old soft t-shirt, and very light pressure. A little of this will go a long way.

Mike Bradfrod
R.M.B. Fishing Rods
Nampa, Idaho

First, wrap epoxies like Threadmaster are not meant for coating the rod blank! They do not harden like blank coatings like Perma Gloss and Lumi Seal, and they add significant weight. Once scuffed they also will not polish back to the original gloss.

Another possibility is "plastic polish" designed for polishing plastic auto head lamp lens and available at auto shops. It really works well on the lens, taking off the surface "haze" caused by sunlight and leaving a very glossy finish. It has to have slight abrasive characteristics, but very mildly so. Try it on an old rod first.