Howdy all,
Beginner Question - what do you put on the bare rod blank ( for finish ) between the guides?
Thank you
Micky

You mean between the guide feet or along the rod blank? The blank does not need any additional finish and adding such only adds weight - weight that is noticeable and will greatly slow rod speed.

Between the guide feet on double footed guides I prefer not to add finish there either. Not necessary although some do it.

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Hey Tom, What about a rebuild? Guides and handle stripped, epoxy scraped back to the blank. So just sand it easily to 600 or 800 before starting the rebuild?

Sanding can compromise the outer fibers, which are the most important fibers of the blank. I'd scrape it clean and then refinish with PermaGloss or a urethane 2-part spray like SprayMax. These are very tough but thin and light. Epoxy isn't a good choice for this.

Do a search for PermaGloss in the forum archives here. Easy to do. Excellent product for this.

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Sorry, but Yes, I was referring to the bare rod blank between the guide wrappings. Makes sense about the added weight.

The best answer is NOTHING, on a new blank.

If you're talking about an older blank that had faded, you could have it painted

Hey Zachary, yes, it is an old faded blank, painting would be an option. What about a very thin light coat of paste wax? It would have to be after the guides are finished and very dry.

Micky Comley Wrote:
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> Hey Zachary, yes, it is an old faded blank,
> painting would be an option. What about a very
> thin light coat of paste wax? It would have to be
> after the guides are finished and very dry.


If you just want it glossy, then I would do what Tom said with the permagloss or urethane. You could try the paste wax right now and see how it looks, but that finish won't hold up

Keep in mind, that if you wax it, and later decide to coat it with something, you will need to thoroughly remove the wax coating.

I have rebuilt many old rods with severely compromised finishes .

For myself, I use gentle heat and a razor blade - scraping from the butt to the tip of the rod to remove the finish.

Once all of the finish has been removed and is down to the bare glass or graphite, I simply use a buffing wheel and buff the rod blank.

I have never ever found a good reason to put any finish over the bare graphite or fiberglass.


ANY finish is going to add weight. Why do you want extra weight on a rod.

Once the rod has been polished, I spray it down with simple green cleaner to remove any residue from the previous operations and dry the blank and then build the rod.

I like to stay away from any active chemicals that may interact with something in the future.

Best wishes

What exactly is the desired result of covering a rod blank with paint, or epoxy, or shellac, or lacquer, or varnish, or . . . ?

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
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> What exactly is the desired result of covering a
> rod blank with paint, or epoxy, or shellac, or
> lacquer, or varnish, or . . . ?


It gives the blank a sleek, shiny, clean, soulful look.

Thanks, Terry. How many coats of finish are necessary to achieve this lovely appearance?

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
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> Thanks, Terry. How many coats of finish are
> necessary to achieve this lovely appearance?

That is the beauty of it, it is all in the eyes of the beholder and can be from 1 to 1000 coats.

If you build the rod chiefly for fishing no coating of the blank is necessary, useful, or advisable. If you build the rod for appearance then paint, dye, tinsel, wax, anything goes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2022 04:45PM by Phil Ewanicki.