I've done several ice rods with rustoleum 2x ultra cover color and gloss clear - they don't chip or crack

For prep I sand the blank, clean with anhydrous alcohol and lint free rag, spray a light coat of base color, allow it to dry for 2-3hrs depending on the temperature then follow up with 2 more heavier coats. The next day I shoot 2 even coats of clear. Allow it to cure for at least 5 days to a week before wrapping thread. If you do not let the paint fully cure it will squeeze through the thread wraps!

Here is a painted ice rod with simple diamond wrap and top coat of ProKote finish
[farm6.staticflickr.com]

Neither the propaste nor prokote reacted with the paint/clear

So you used Rustoleum, and Rustoleum Gloss clear in a Paint spray can? And there was no problems with it cracking off under flexing of the rod?

0 problems and these rods have been used (abused) all the way down to -15*F for hours on end. They also flex much more than an open water blank

but did you use a clear coat from a spray can?

From the videos I have watched on how companies like G-Loomis and others paint their rods, they don't spray they dip them. Has anyone tried that? I was thinking of building a dipping tank out of 1 1/2" PVC pipe (sealed at the bottom of course). Then dip the rod sections open end to the bottom. Same process with the final coat of clear.

Any thoughts?

I don't know if that would be economical. And it would be difficult to dip a log rod. You'd have to have a very high ceiling and a way to get the rod out of the pipe. Plus you'd have to use a ton of paint to fill up the PVC and would be very expensive unless you did a bunch of rods at once.

I've also seen a method similar, but where the seal is a rubber cover with a hole poked in it. So it creates a diaphragm that squeegies as you push it through. But don't know how you'd hold it once complete. I guess you could just grab where a grip is going so it doesn't matter. Just use a gloved hand.

Then you have to come up with a location and method to dry, likely vertically.

Let us know if you come up with any great ideas!

I believe there was a gentleman who posted on this forum that had some sort of rod stand and using some sore of rubber glove with a puncture in it, put the glove at the base of the rod filled it up like a cup and just pushed the glove straight up, the slit in the glove worked like some sort of squeegy.

Yeah but you'd have to put it in tip first. Which means putting it through upside down. Then you have to figure out the drying piece. You'd have to turn it back over to get it on the stand. And when its loadedup with wet paint, it could prove difficult.

Yeah but you'd have to put it in tip first. Which means putting it through upside down. Then you have to figure out the drying piece. You'd have to turn it back over to get it on the stand. And when its loadedup with wet paint, it could prove difficult.

Yeah but you'd have to put it in tip first. Which means putting it through upside down. Then you have to figure out the drying piece. You'd have to turn it back over to get it on the stand. And when its loadedup with wet paint, it could prove difficult.

I don't believe you would have to go in tip first, you would simply pinch the glove tighter as you went up the rod.