Hey guys, just put on my first coat of tm lite last night approx 14hrs ago.this is my first time using tm and only my 5th rod and it is still tacky which I assume from reading other posts about it, is because my garage temp is only ~ 35 degrees. When I just checked it, it left a finger print on the finish. Do I want to wait for it to harden a little more before I go for my 2nd coat or is it good to go? Thanks again

You don't need to wait very long. Basically long enough that the previous coat isn't sagging. Just keep the brush loaded, and only let the epoxy touch, on the new coat so it doesn't "grab" on the previous coat.

35 degrees is pretty cold for epoxy work in general. Anyway to get up to 65 degrees? Move it inside? Drying box?

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Thanks Russell, and yea I could try and heat my garage, but I'm pretty much a cheap @ss and. Feel its a waste. Also its a spey rod so length issues are a big problem. I'm thinking about putting it on the kitchen counter after My 2yr old goes to bed but I have a gut feeling ill wake up to a snapped rod or it'll be stuck to his hands lol. I'll have to look up how others have built a drying box , because the dust bunnies in My garage somehow always find a way to at least I of my wraps.

I like cool temps with my finish
But that is Too Cold --- maybe a space heater ??

And yes watch out for that 2yr old

Bill - willierods.com

Hi Michael,
Another tip is to keep some of your leftover finish in a bottle cap or the foil if you use it and you can poke or prod that as much as you like and you won't ever damage the finish on a rod. 35 degrees is just above freezing so the finish is going to take a long time to go off and lite version of threadmaster takes a lot longer. You definitely need a warmer area to get it done.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

thanks again guys after hearing everyone's opinion it sounds like i need to make a drying box of some sort or just build rods in the summer time lol. also i usually leave my rods rotating till the epoxy has completely cured, if i take them off when there still tacky after 8hrs or so and put them in my closet or something will it affect the finish at all? i dont think it would but i'd rather be safe then sorry.

In that temp even after 8 hrs it is not Tack Free It may Sag

Try a piece of scrap blank Do a thread wrap Clear it after 8 hrs Take it off and stant it up See what happens

I would get that temp up Some kind of heat I thin my finish Apply in cool temps yet in cool temps ( Not That Cool ) after at least 6 - 8 hours it should be good I always get it to be Tack Free Will not stick to your finger ( from the cup ) not the rod

IMHO
you need more heat Just don't burn down the garrage

Bill - willierods.com

For a more immediate solution, can you fabricate a simple frame around your rod and cover it with a couple blankets? You can then stick a couple of light bulbs, or even a hair dryer set on low to get the air temp around the rod up into the high 70s. Once it sets up, turn off the motor to the dryer, there is no need to turn it until fully cured.

Thanks john that seems like a great idea I have plenty of big boxes right now from my recent move, that I could use and a heat lamp.

If you use a heatlamp, don't aim it directly at the rod, it will overheat the finish, just point the lamp down parallel to the blank inside your frame and blankets.