The only time I used a clear CP I ended up with very blotchy wraps. I complained to the manufacturer, who said he would send a replacement. It never came. Flex Coat works just fine.

Simplify.

Only use color preserver if you want to use it.

There are advantages and there are disadvantages.

For myself, I never use CP on a rod build for myself. When building for a client, I will let them know the difference in appearance of a rod with CP used in the build and the appearance of a rod with no CP in the build.

If you want the very strongest and secure guide wrap set up - then do not use CP. Rather let the epoxy penetrate the threads all of the way to the blank, such that the guide wraps almost become part of the blank build.

Or, use CP, which coats the surface of the thread and prevents the epoxy from penetrating the layers of the thread all of the way to the blank. So you need CP for strength on a typical build - no, not at all.

If you like the brighter look of colors of thread on a build using cp, then use cp.

But, if you like the translucent look of nylon thread not using CP - then of course, do not use CP.

Does CP help with epoxy coatings to minimize bubbles? Of course. Since the Cp seals the thread, there is no air being trapped under the epoxy as happens with non cp built rods. So, when applying epoxy to a non CP coated thread wrap, you need to use a slightly different technique to eliminate bubbles in the final epoxy finishes. Is it hard to do? No, just different. Use the right technique and you will have no micro or macro bubbles in your epoxy finish with no cp being used.

Enjoy all aspects of rod building and use the single or many different multiple techniques that you use in this simple or very complex activity - depending on what you wish to get out of the rod build for YOU, as the builder of a fishing rod.

Enjoy.

There is no wrong way to do anything. But some way's to do something, certainly take a lot more time and can be much more complex than other ways to do the same job. So, depending on your pocket boo, your style, your building abilities, your available tools - build a rod or rods in the way that pleases you as well as it pleases the final user of any thing that you might construct.

Take care