Which is easier to work with ProKote high build, or regular? drying time? bubble retention? one coat? leveling (forgiveness)? consistent success? I've used both and I find good and bad in both and having difficulty deciding, wondering if there's a consensus.
jack

It's up to the individual builder. I tend to go for the higher builds as they can be applied thinly, or more thick. But I'm not going to say one is better than another. My guess is that across the industry, the high build epoxies outsell the "lite" type formulas.

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Easier to work with? For me it's medium viscosity as I tend to work more deliberately.
Drying (cure) time? High build is cured to the touch quicker, fully cured is a dead heat, and medium viscosity has the longer open time.
One coat? High build; medium is iffy for one coat coverage.
Leveling? Another dead heat; neither can do anything other than level.
Consistent success? Third dead heat. For me it's two coats of the medium viscosity, but others and perhaps many prefer the high build.

Pro Kote is a fine finish, but be aware that it takes the longest to harden to the "dry" state, at least of the ones I've tried. When I use it I don't touch the rod for at least 24 hours. Check for hardness by touching the epoxy in the pan, not the epoxy on the rod.

Since I almost invariably have something to repair on my first coat, I use two thin coats of lite (Flex Coat since it hardens faster).

There is little difference, in the end, between finishes. My guess is, it's all the same chemistry. My go to finish is ThreadMaster Lite. I also like FlexCoat light. I've used ProCoat regular and it's fine too. They all seem to hold up well and I've kind of standardized on one that works well for me and doesn't hold any air bubbles when cured. I only really make fly rods though, so keep that in mind. You may be happier with a heavier build. It is true that ProCoat takes an extra day or two to really harden up.

But any professional finish will work fine for you. Try out several and decide on the one you like the most.