I read somewhere that the final step some builders do after finishing a rod is to apply a good coating of car wax. How long should you let the epoxy cure before applying the wax?

Car wax is sometimes not such a good idea as it can contain things other than wax.

I've had good results using plain old Johnson's Floor Wax. Use sparingly - it only takes a wee bit of wax.

As I'm not under time pressure to ship rods and use ProKote which cures slowly, I wait a minimum 5 days before waxing.

Just make sure it's not a wax/cleaner mix as they have mild abrasives in them , I have found plain carnauba wax to work very well .

For paste wax i apply and let dry to a haze and buff off with a new microfiber towel , i haven't found any waxes even liquid types to contain anything that will harm a rods finish they all produce a brilliant water beading shine.

I spray a little bit of pledge furniture polish on a piece of rag and polish thr rod and guides.
Rog

I also use Carnauba wax, waiting 3 or 4 days before applying. I do not do this on matte finished rods.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2018 03:34PM by Phil Erickson.

Hi All

Just thought I mention a wax I have been using for wood and I tried it on my rod with good results.

If you take some time and look up the qualities of a wax called "RENAISSANCE"

Quote "Refined waxes blended to a formula used by the British Museum and restoration specialists internationally to revive and protect valuable furniture, leather paintings, metals,marble, Ivory and many other surfaces both housed and exposed to weather. Freshens colors, imparts soft sheen"

Sounds like big boasting, but the wax works for me.

If any of you have used it Please pass on your experience.

Thanks

John

For rod repairs I use a liquid cleaner/wax called Royal Blue as early as 24 hours after using the thread epoxy. New rods do not need to be cleaned so a good auto wax like Colonite works well.

Ray Zarychta
Glastonbury, CT

Thanks for all the responses. I have about a half can of Meguiar's Carnauba Premium Paste Wax that I'm going to try.

Robert Hummel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all the responses. I have about a half
> can of Meguiar's Carnauba Premium Paste Wax that
> I'm going to try.



Thats what i have and am currently using , works great .

I have built a lot of rods and have never put any wax on any of them.

I don't believe that any of the production rods ever have wax applied.

I simply see neither the need or reason to wax the rod.

Good luck.

If you do use wax, be sure to get it off before doing any repairs on the rod, especially exterior sleeve broken blank repairs. Otherwise you may find your epoxy not adhering. The warning on Pro Coat should be followed.

Try a product called GLAYZIT.
It works excellent on reels, rods, anything plastic, fiberglass, bakelite, or graphite etc.
It's a spray with petro chemicals, so don't get it ANYWHERE near your rod building areas or materials!

I use a German automotive product from the '70s called "Klasse All-In-One". It includes a non-abrasive cleaner, polish, and acrylic shine and protection. It can be removed with detergent like 'Dawn' in water, so as not to contaminate repairs or mods. It's easy to use. After a fishing vacation, I wash the rods with Dawn and warm water and rinse them. Let them dry thoroughly. Use product according to instructions, like on an auto. Works great.

I recommend not using wax, as it can be almost impossible to remove. Some polymers can also be difficult to remove, as well.

A quality carnauba wax works fantastic . Never had a problem applying or removing .

After the first wax many more will follow as the wax starts to break down it will fade and cleaning will not help. For some reason the sun has a stronger effect on wax treated rods. I've seen it many times on rods that were brought in for repair work, they were faded from tip to butt all the way around and at that point waxing would no longer help. I have never used wax on any of my gear and store them indoors. Hose them down with fresh water and wash with liquid dish detergent. I think the wax embeds itself into the surface of the epoxy and as it deteriorates it leaves a scared finish. A fresh coat of epoxy will sometimes clear it if you can remove the dirt . I would suggest not to wax, just wash and dry with a clean cloth.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Never heard of doing this and wouldn’t want it for anything built for myself. My own brain just can’t process any benefits, only a few negatives. Just me.

Waxes that contain a cleaner even a very mild cleaner will result in what Dennis describes over time that's why I never ever use them.

More food for thought.

I always apply a coat of wax (RENAISSANCE) on my rod after I clean it with soap and water.

The paint, PermaGloss or other coating on a rod is intended to be a permanent finish and should be protected, the wax is a protectant, wax is not a permanent treatment it is sacrificial and is optional.

The wax tends to fill in voids and fine scratches and tries to form an even surface which makes it shinier. The wax also makes the surface “slippery” and somewhat resistant to minor scuffs and rubs, also the wax helps to make the rod easier to clean (fish slime, stains and other contaminants).

Thoroughly cleaning the rod before applying a coat of wax minimizes wax build up so in theory there is rarely more than one or two coats of wax on the rod.

There are many pros and cons for using wax but the plus side this forum is you get a lot of food for thought and made aware of various products available.

Everyone settles in their own nest, do what makes you comfortable.

P.S.

I would wait about a week before cleaning the rod and applying any protectant

Have fun

John



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2023 01:29PM by John DeMartini.

I’ve used S100 carnauba wax on my rods and reels for many years. The wax adds a layer of protection from outdoor contaminants by making the applied surfaces hydrophobic, water rolls off along with whatever dirt or salt that it’s carrying. Waxing aids the cleaning process. I’ve also removed fine scratches with polish with great results. Polish is essentially a super-fine sandpaper that works by smoothing out imperfections by slowly removing material. No matter what material being polished, eventually that polish will wear thru it. I wouldn’t recommend polishing very often but I haven’t personally noticed any negative effects on painted or bare blanks or on epoxy when used in moderation only leaves me with a nice shine. I’d suggest using clean cloths and quality waxes/polishes.