I was careless... is the simple way to start this. I had a shop rag on a table, I was looking the butt section of a rod build maybe 8 hours into an epoxy cure (1st coat). I'd pulled it off the rotary and then set the section down on the table, and about 20 seconds into focusing my attention elsewhere I realized what I'd done. I raced to the rod from another part of my workshop and the only thoughts in my mind at the time were cursing my own name. The still uncured butt section of the blank was rested on the rag, exactly where i'd inscribed my moniker and epoxied over. It was written on the blank directly, and squished between 2 slim trim wraps... something I was truly pleased with... but now, marred with rag fibers and a panicked thumb print.

Just a bad luck moment, brought to you by careless behavior.

That said, i'm sure i'm not the first to have done this, or feel just as disappointed in myself for doing the same or similar... so, here's what i'm hoping I can do.

- Wait for the blank section to complete its cure
- Inspect the damage closely
- take a densely packed fiber microfiber polish cloth and DNA, and RUBBBBBB the heck out of the section to see if any of the fibers will come loose, and hope for the best

Because the moniker is inscribed direct to blank, and I have no thread wraps, I can't simply cut the mistake away and start de nouveau... I wonder, can I go with a wet sand paper polish? IE 1000 grit to 3000 grit to shave it down and polish? Has anyone done this previously?

If the finish is still uncured at this point in time it may be best to wipe it off (with alcohol or acetone) and do the whole inscription over.

It was 8 hours into the cure, and 11pm. I let it set til this morning... but I agree, had it not be cured I would have done that. I tried to rub some of the caught fibers away with a bit of success... I will try again soon to capture the rest with some alcochol now

I think if you use fine sand paper and sand off the fibers and imperfections carefully and reapply a slim coat you may be all right. Best of luck. We are all human, we do dopey things.

Sounds like you are well past the point that any solvent will remove the fibers or epoxy! Sanding will work best after the epoxy has cured fully.