Hi Guys,

I have seen and heard some people on this board and others having problems with your finishes for one reason or another. I hear of people mixing brand names with the finish and color preservers and I wanted to know why?

So the reason for this post is not to put down any one brand, but to get some insight on what others are using out there.

I myself have been using Flex Coat Preserver straight out of the bottle and their High Build finish. I also just recently started to use U-40 cork sealer for my cork tape grips and it seems to work just fine.

Also why do you cut the color preserver?

Thanks
Bill

I have used nearly all of the various epoxy finishes that have been on the market in the past 25 years. I have gotten similar results with all of them and am not aware of any that have had particular problems.

I use color preserver 99% of the time, usually unthinned.

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I usually use LS Supreme, as I seem to get a little better result from it that others.

That said, I just tried the American Tackle finish and was very pleased with the results. It is very clear, just as advertized. I put mine in a plastic lid for applying, and can peel it out afterwards. Every other finish I have used has had a slight amber tint. The American Tackle was noticeably clearer in this thickness. I used the high build for covering butt wraps and found it much easier than the several coats of LS I usually have to do. I do however wonder about the 1 year shelf life that it has since the other finishes don't seem to be as limited. I don't usually have a problem with the year time frame, but I still wonder.

As for CP, I use it probably about half of the time. I use Gudebrod and I have never had a need to thin it. Two coats usually does it for me.

Dave

It really doesn't have a shelf life, although after some time, you'll find that it will turn amber in the bottles just like all the rest. This won't necessarily affect its ability to mix clear, however.

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i have only completed 2 rods so far but the first i used glasscoat with no c/p and got good results. the second rod got flex coat c/p and flex coat high build finish, also with good results. used perma gloss on a reel seat insert, i think i need more practice with perma gloss.

I have used Flex coat for years and after reading a lot on this board decided to try LS Supreme. Well I will never go back. I have really seen a difference in how well LS Supreme weathers a year of fishing and abuse that a lot of salt water rods get. It really holds up.
The thing that really got me going was to pour some of the leftover finish on a piece of plastic baggie. Flex coat was a little on the brittle side when really flexed but LS is the most flexible stuff I have ever seen when peeled off of the baggie.

I use Flex Coat Lite and color preserver on all rods. I have tried other brands but prefer FC.