Getting around to finishing my latest build. Having color preserver issues. Always used U 40 Color lock in the past. Well I have now gotten three bad bottles. First froze in shipping. Next two there is a problem with. U 40 admits the issue, says it is still usable. I am not going to take the risk on a rod with 11 guides and a butt wrap. So need some suggestions. Last time I used a different color preserver was maybe 15 years ago. It was flex coat tried it on a couple rods. Never seemed to get even saturation of the thread and my finish ended up being blotchy. Don't know if it was an application issue or the product. Would like a product similar to the U 40. Don't really want to learn the quirks of a new product on a rod that took a long time for me to wrap. Too much time in for things to end up mediocre come finishing. Thanks for any suggestions.

I believe the U40 Color Lock and Flex Coat CP are essentially the same formulas. Color preserver that has been frozen becomes unusable. Older CP that may have lost some solvent (water) to evaporation can also be damaged. Buy small bottles and keep a fresh supply.

AL's CP is a different animal but many like it. Something else to try.

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I don’t use CP very often, but when I do I use ChromaSeal. It’s the best I have ever used.
Norm

Tom thanks for the info on the two being nearly the same. I will probable go ahead and give the flex coat a try again. The color lock is new bottles. There has been a a problem with some component not staying in solution. I was told to shake vigorously to get things blended back together. This is counter to their instructions not to shake it. Not going to roll the dice.

I went to Al's Color Rite to improve the looks of my silk wraps maybe 15 years ago, I was getting blotches with other CP. Works just as well on other thread. when you look at it on the brush it looks like thinned Flexcoat, but it doesn't act that way.

Michael,
The really simple solution is to use no color preserver.

I am pretty sure that if you use no color preserver, you will not have issues with color preserver.

i almost never use color preserver unless it is specifically requested by the client.

Good luck

I have thought of trying no color preserver on a future rod. I do like the look of certain colors with no CP.Tried it in the past had some bubble issues need to work on my technique. On this particular rod was not willing to try it. Used a three color twist thread, green brown black. Figured it would just become one dark color that would not really standout from the black blank.

Just tried Procoat new cp and I like it . It looks pretty good.

I have been using Flex-Coat C P and Epoxies for 25 years they keep improving there products. Never has and serious issues. I don't fix what's not broken.

Rich Kline Custom Rods

Michael,I am not saying that shaking your bottle of CP is wrong. I have found that using a spade type of drill bit (with the tip ground off) and chucked in a drill is a better way to remix acrylic types of CP. Do what works for you.

I have not had issues with U 40 CP in the past. I always lightly stirred it poured what I needed into a mixing cup. The instructions state not to shake it. The latest batch has a known issue. It is not slight separation like I have seen that is fixed by a bit of stirring. There is something coming out of solution. It is a thick grey slime about three times thicker than normal CP floating around in the remaining liquid which is thinner than normal and looks very watery.U 40 claims it will be ok to use if you shake it vigorously. I am just hesitant to use anything against the instructions and against the way I have always done it. I have flexcoat and chromaseal on order. Will wrap a test stick and see which one goes on and acts as close to the U 40 using my technique.

I went with the chromaseal. Really liked how well it wetted the thread. Actually had to re pack the thread in a couple spots as the thread took on so much cp it expanded and caused some minor gaps to open near the end of my wrap. The excess wicked right off. Leaving the thread looking just wet. No question if it will dry clear or not. Other cp always looked a little white always leaving me wonder if I got enough of the excess off the avoid issues later. Will see how the second coat goes. I expect things to go just as smooth.