Can anyone give me a recommendation on an easy to apply clear coat for use on a painted graphite rod blank? As background, I am picking up rod building again after a 40 year hiatus, so am trying to relearn the techniques and modern approaches to the hobby. I am practicing on an unfinished ultralight graphite blank that I purchased at a garage sale. It was unfinished and unsanded, so I have sanded (lightly) and painted it with metallic dupli-color auto paint, which has turned out very nice. Now, I am trying to decide what type of clear-coat to apply to the rod for protection, gloss finish look, and UV protection. In researching the subject online and through this forum, I have seen many different recommendations but no true leading candidate. The options that have had the most recommendations seem to be permagloss, Helmsman Spar Urethane (non-water base, wipe on and spray form), Helmsman Spar Urethane (water base, wipe on and spray form), 2K automotive urethane clear coat (spray form), duplicolor clear coat spray, Krylon fusion clear coat spray. Thanks for the insights.

any of those choices will work but do a test spot where it won't show if it should not work with the finish you choose but if it were me I would use the dupli color clear coat considering that is the paint you used

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Spray-Max. It's a two-part epoxy spray paint that can be applied much more thinly than common brush on epoxies. It won't undermine the paint on your blank. It has to be used within a couple days after you start using it and you should expect to spend a couple sawbucks on it so you may wish to prep, paint and have ready several rod blanks to spray at the same time. Failing that, then any of the choices you mention will work reasonably well, although they will not provide the same level of long-term durability that Spray-Max will.

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You really do not need at top coat, however if you want one, I would stay with the Duplicolor. Permagloss may be to "hot" and effect the paint.

Thanks, Phil. Without the top coat, will the painted surface withstand knicks/scrapes as well as UV light damage? I assume that the Duplicolor has the UV protection capabilities, as well as enough flex agent to handle the bend of the rod?

Thanks, Matthew. How many coats should I use of the Duplicolor?