I know this issue has been addressed before, but having never been plagued with one before I'm apparently now joining the crowd. I just finished putting epoxy on a couple of rods, and everything looks great except for a big (1/8") fish eye on one underwrap. This is the second coat of finish on the wrap, so I must have contaminated that spot at some point while doing the overwraps. Only thing I can think of is that I wiped that underwrap off with Simple Green prior to mounting the guide because it looked like something had gotten on it, and I didn't want to wrap over it. Before I start experimenting on alleviating the problem I thought I'd throw this out to the board. I'm inclined to try sanding it out, and coat that spot with CP before reapplying epoxy. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Dave Sytsma

Simple green was the problem, I bet, soaps, silicone, oils are a no-no.

David,
“Smoothie” or Tom Harder’s “System 20 Fisheye Eliminator” as posted on Tom’s topic a few weeks ago. At 1/8in, that’s a crater rather than fish eye. The contamination has permeated the epoxy and will unlikely be removed by acetone, DNA, sanding or scuffing with a Scothbrite. Subsequent coats of epoxy will produce the same results without one of the additives. Any additional coats will also require the additive.

Let your current epoxy application dry for a day or two. Wipe the area with isopropyl alcohol. Scuff very lightly with Scotchbrite and re-apply epoxy.

If it persists, repeat but brush over the area with some CP, let dry and then apply more epoxy.

And stop wiping the wraps with solvents.

.........

Thanks, guys. And Tom, if it's any consolation to you that's the first time I've ever been compelled to wipe off a surface prior to putting on finish. Usually I just lightly tap the areas to be finished with blue painter's tape to remove any stray dust particles. Lesson learned.

And the fish eye is now about 1/2" long by 1/4". I think it's the whole fish, and the finish is at the point where it shouldn't move anymore.


Dave Sytsma

Follow up to the fish eye problem. I followed the instructions Tom provided and it took care of the problem. Thanks again, Tom.