I haven't been on the forum for awhile, but still building a few rods. Right now I doing UL spinning rods for the Grandkids for Christmas. As I'm replenishing supplies, I ran across Threadmaster one-coat epoxy finish. I'm skeptical having read a few strings about clouding and moisture, but that got me thinking about the various finishes. Someone should do a comparison review on the choices: Threadmaster, Flexcoat, ProKote, spar varnish, U-40 Permagloss, etc (I'm sure there are others). Thoughts or comments?

Dale Thompson
Small-time fly rod builder

Roger Seiders came up with Flex Coat High Build in 1977 and has added Flex Coat Lite and Flex Coat Ultra-V. In 1977 the world was looking for a 2 part epoxy finish for fishing rods and Flex Coat had it. Flex Coat is the original that all others are compared to. Flex Coat finishes are durable yet flexible with a good working time and acceptable curing time. I personally gravitate toward the Ultra-V formula, it has the workability that I like. If you measure, mix and use Flex Coat finishes using the best practices outlined in our instructions and online videos, the results speak for themselves. People have all kinds of tastes, and that doesn't end with rod building, but I believe that Flex Coat is still the over all best rod finish for any type of rod.

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

I have not used all of the finishes mentioned, only Flexcoat and ProKote. I used Flexcoat during my first rod building period, from 1995 through 2002 or so. It worked just fine, and I never had any complaints. When I got back into rod building in 2020 after a nearly two decade hiatus, I decided to try ProKote mainly because that was what Mudhole sold and it was from them that I bought the blank and other components for my first build. ProKote also works just fine, I have no complaints. I suspect there are differences in curing time, working time, and other variables, but I have never bumped up against any limits with either of these finishes.

D2

Dale Thompson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Someone should do a comparison
> review on the choices: Threadmaster, Flexcoat,
> ProKote, spar varnish, U-40 Permagloss, etc (I'm
> sure there are others). Thoughts or comments?


There are a ton of reviews of these finishes , just do a search.

bump

I hope the finishes under discussion are to coat thread wrappings over guides - and not the whole blank?!