Does anyone use wax or other surface protectant to protect newly built rods - blanks/wraps? If so, what do you recommend?

yes, I wax all my painted rod builds before i deliver them. I use Maguires Hot Rod wax. I do not wax the clear unpainted carbon fiber rods. I also clean and wax all my own personal rods after using them for the season, again only the painted one. OOps I clean them all!

I use RENAISSANCE wax. Excellent product, a little goes a long way. Google it.

I fish a lot and I make it a point once a month to remove the reel inspect the line and replace it if necessary and I clean the rod with mild detergent and follow up with a coat of RENAISSANCE wax.

When the grips (cork) get soiled and hard to clean I lightly sand and seal them with U-40 cork seal.

Probably an over kill but it gives me peace of mind.

RENAISSANCE WAX is the best, to wax the finished rod with , as stated it is a paste , little goes a long long way's ,
small jar will last you for years

William Sidney
AK

No need to sand your cork grips any more, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with a little water. It pull the dirt out of the cork just like using a pencil eraser. I too use to sand the grips to clean them but, since I was shown how the Magic Eraser cleaned cork I now do all my repair rods that have cork grips as a freebee just to have the rod go out looking good. Its really amazing how clean it comes out.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

I loves me some Collinite wax! I use this on my boat as well.

You don't put it on and wait for it to dry like other waxes, you rub it in until its gone and it just makes your rods sparkle, shine and repel everything.

[www.amazon.com]

Tony Boschi
Banana River Rods
Merritt Island, Florida
321~525~1063

* Rapid Prototyping Services
* Custom Beach Rods
* Custom Inshore Rods

[bananariverrods.com]

Some waxes contain pumice or some other very fine abrasive to scour oxidation or stains off the surface being waxed. They won't noticeably damage the appearance of a rod blank because the wax fills in such tiny scratches and even bigger ones, which is why people wax hard surfaces in the first place.

If you do a wax job on your RODS an keep it up you will find out that the ROD will last longer as you are keeping all the water an crap out of the cracks,
that we all get on our rods from use . how long not sure but it still looks good after a few years of use ,

William Sidney
AK