What are the pros and cons of using color preserver on thread wraps? I never use it and some guys say they use it on every build. Doesn't it just do what it says, preserve colors?

Yes, it keeps the colors closer to the actual thread color. If you have not used it, you know the epoxy coat on threads without CP turn darker and semi transparent.

Yes, it keeps the colors closer to the actual thread color. If you have not used it, you know the epoxy coat on threads without CP turn darker and semi transparent.

sorry for the duplicate!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2018 06:23PM by Phil Erickson.

lots of builders use it , [ I as one don't ] it seals the thread, the epoxy don't sink in as well or at all , from that I know about it, seeing that the thread is sealed , the color can't change,

William Sidney
AK

It is interesting that when you view videos of fishing rod factories, you seldom - if ever - see the use of thread preserver on their rods.

I have built many many rods over the years, and I think that I can count on about one hand as to the number of rods that I have used color preserver.

I simply don't like the look of the rod when color preserver is used.

Good luck

Commercially made rods generally skip CP as it saves a step and therefore reduces cost, not because CP causes problems, etc. It's just cheaper not to use it.

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I've made rods with and without color preserver. I am usually making offshore rods with double wrapped guides. When using CP, on the first guide wrap, I only apply CP to the part of the wrap that extends beyond the guide feet. I then apply one layer of epoxy to the first wrap. This allows the epoxy to penetrate the part of the wrap binding the guide feet. I then do my second wrap and CP the whole second wrap. Results are a very strong wrap with essentially no change in thread color after applying epoxy. Results will be beautiful. Epoxy seems easier to apply to threads that have CP.

Sometimes it feels like bringing up color preserver on here is like bringing up politics at Thanksgiving dinner. I've read pages of different opinions on color preserver and colorfast thread with good arguments for and against. For me the biggest benefit is if you're trying to get vibrant colors it will save you a lot of guessing as to what thread color is going to give you the look you're after when its finished.

I don't get hung up with the idea of the epoxy penetrating the threads when building 20lb class and under rods, a good thread wrap is more than strong enough to hold those guides on with no finish at all. If a guy building a tuna stick wants to do anything possible to gain strength I wouldn't argue with him though...

NCP thread will always have a flat, matt look to it, if you want the same vibrant color of the thread you see on the spool, you use CP. Just that simple. One last note, if your just starting out, applying finish can sometimes produce air bubbles out from under the thread wrap, applying enough CP will fill all the voids under the wrap and produce no air bubbles atleast from there.

if i,m using epoxy, with CP i can use only one coat of epoxy as thick or thin as i want, keeping guide weight down..without CP the epoxy is absorbed and a second coat of epoxy is needed..CP is cheaper than epoxy and lighter..

Oh! production rods from one man to one hundred man producers are the reason i got into making my own rods..lol.

one of the reason production rods don't use cp they are using a lot of black thread