I have a friend asking me to build him a rod. He'd like a decorative wrap, but doesn't want the high gloss appearance the epoxy gives. Since he is getting a matt finish blank, he's asking me if its possible to have a matt finish on the epoxy. I though of maybe hitting it with alcohol while its still tacky, but then it will cloud the decorative wrap underneath. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you in advance.

- Ken

Best I can think of is to hit it with a very, very fine sandpaper after ti has cured. Something fine enough that will dull it without leaving scratches that are visible to the naked eye. Probably 2500 grit or higher. Very fine steel wool might work.

..........

If you intend to go the sanding route, be sure the epoxy is well cured! If still a little soft, sanding can be uneven or splotchy.

Ken,
Do an experiment on a test blank.
But, you can mix some flatting agent with the epoxy to give it a matte finish.

One thing that you can try is to use talc powder in the correct proportion to give the flat matte finish.

[www.walmart.com]

There are other agents on the market as well.

Consider poly finish.

You can get that finish in gloss, semi gloss, and flat. You will notice that when you mix the finish - prior to use, the gloss has only finish in the can. The semi gloss has some agent sitting on the bottom of the can that needs to be mixed with the finish. The matte flat finish has more of the same material that needs to be mixed with the finish prior to use.

Same is true for your thread wrapping finish. Mix the appropriate material with the finish and you can achieve any level of matte finish that you desire.

Best of luck

p.s.
Here are a few commercial examples:

[www.amazon.com]

However, note that this material is water based and is compatible with water based finish and not with epoxy.

[www.ehow.com]

Ken

Mudhole offers 2 different "matte" rod finishes, both Seymo products. I have purchased one of each type, but have not coated any wraps with either as of yet, so I can not offer any "product reviews". Possibly a call Mudhole would shed some light!

Rog

I think chalk dust can be added to mix to matte epoxy.

Don't sand with sandpaper - even 2500 grit that I use for other things.
Go to a store that sells beads and buy a package of assorted Micro Mesh Sanding cloths.
They go from 400 grit to 8,000 grit.
They are cloth-like paper that you can buff your wraps like you would buff your shoes with a polishing cloth.
I think MMM makes it