I have had good luck with Cp but lately it hasn't gone good. Could it be cause the Cp is getting old? I am using color lock. Can I thin it a bit for better Penetration. So frustrating this is the second strip down.

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It's obvious that the ends of the wrap didn't have sufficient CP on them to prevent epoxy from penetrating the thread. The fact that it happened at both ends, but not at all in the middle would seem to indicate, possibly, that the CP itself is fine but you didn't get enough on the edges. This is a hard call from one photo.

Given the low cost of CP, you'd be better off buying a new bottle. You can certainly thin what you have with water, just a tad, but I'd try it on a test wrap to be sure. And, on light colored threads like that light blue, I'd use two wet coats.

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Thanks Tom I will give that a shot. I will say hi at the show driving down again from Toronto. This time more than 2 hours at the show.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate for you, and everyone else. Looks like some nasty stuff early in the week, then just cold and sunny on through the weekend.

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Ralph O'Quinn had a great article about CP in a Rodmaker Issue awhile back. Two takeaways from that:

1. Don't thin it. (although if it's old and has had some evaporation, it's always worth a try)
2. Don't wipe off the excess.

X2 on Tom's suggestions. You really have to make sure that all the edges are sealed and you get CP in the tunnel under the foot. All it takes for one missed spot and the finish will flow under the CP and darken your wrap. 2 coats are a good idea for light thread on a dark blank.

Good luck at the show and have a great time.

Terry

I own CP. It's handy as a glue to hold things together, but I no longer use it to preserve thread color.
Once, in my CP days, I was rushing to finish a rod and had a white cloud appear in a wrap after the finish dried.
I think the problem was moisture trapped inside.
Now , for everything but black, I order color fast thread.
I get the color I bought, and I'm not sitting around waiting and wondering if the CP is dry 100%.

I always find the CP threads interesting. I've been a hobby builder since about 1995 and have over 300 rods under my belt and use CP 95% of the time and have never had a problem with blotching. This is not a brag, just an observation. I go with two coats, waiting for each to dry thoroughly, insuring I get some in the tunnels. For the past couple of years I have switched to Cason's clear CP so there is no chance for a white residue. I guess I've just been lucky or that following instructions produce the desired results.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT