I’m building a rod that I’m calling my “vanity project”. I’ve had the blank for well over 15 years.
I never got around to it before because it’s significantly heavier than the type of fishing I normally do.

I decided to really take my time and set about to do the best job my current skill level allows. I’m on a hand wrapper so “really taking my time” is no exaggeration.
I dug into my dwindling precious supply of old gudebrod thread and chose a blue fade color pattern (light, royal, dark).
It starts in the butt wrap and is maintained throughout the guides in a triple wrap, and I added highlights with Royal Blue HT Electra.

When it came time to do the flex coat, I focused on the butt wrap. I checked it after 10 minutes and saw a lot of microbubbles that I hadn’t noticed before.
I tried the heat gun to clear them without success.

I decided to start over, wet a shop rag with alcohol, and wiped down the butt wrap to remove the flex coat.
That’s when I noticed that the alcohol also removed the “blue” from the Royal Blue HT Electra. What was left behind was an unusual gold and black “dotted line” pattern thread.
After a significant amount of cursing, I was just about to resign myself to stripping the blank and starting over, when I realized that the gold highlights actually looked pretty nice.
I wiped down all the wraps with alcohol and the result is now a blue fade with a very subtle gold highlight.

While it wasn't what I originally envisioned, I had to admit that it's truthfully better than the original!
So, my “vanity project” is now called “lucky accident”. :)

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Sounds like it will be a nice build.

Daniel,
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good (and I’m certainly not implying you are not good). I have always said that the sign of a true craftsman is one who can transform a mistake into something better. When it works out to the good, it begins to balance-out all the other times it doesn’t. I’m glad it work-out for you; how about some photos?

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Daniel, very cool !!! I can only imagine the feeling you had when you saw what had happened. It hurts even thinking about it. Glad it worked out for you, and it's maybe something you can count on happening again, if you were to do it purposefully. Of course, when you count on something like that happening, it may not. Which could be disappointing. Or maybe not.

Anyhow, very glad it worked out for you.

Great recovery! Gives meaning to the saying 'when given lemons make lemonade.

Glad it worked out

Regards

I would say something to myself like "that's how God wanted it" and be pleased with the outcome. I am sure it will be the magic stick it was intended to be.