I have a couple of Pflueger rods and they are painted with a light black matt color and finish and you can also see through to the rod fibers.

I am building a light action rod and want to simulate that same color that you can see through to the rod.

Does anyone know how I can achieve that?

Thank you,

Are you sure they are painted? Your description sounds like a bare charcoal colored carbon fiber rod.

Graphite rod blanks don't need any finish on them.

David,
Normally, if you use standard nylon wrapping thread as opposed to using NCP thread and avoid using any color preserver; you will normally end up with a translucent thread wrap that allows you to see through the warp down to the blank.

take care

What you describe sounds like a clear coat glossy finish over a plain carbon fiber blank. Blanks can be clear coated by body shops (best option) or some people have used Rustoleum 2X clear, etc. spray can clears as a do it yourself low-cost alternative. As Spencer said, graphite blanks don't need finish on them - in fact some people strip the finish off blanks that come coated/painted to reduce weight and remove the dampening effect that paint and coatings have on a blank.

I think the Charcoal Gray might be just the ticket. Thanks everyone.