Hi all, I am having a terrible time trying to get NFC decals to stick to the blank. I have applied a lot of decals on many different rod blanks, but I have never had this much trouble. After peeling the backing off, I apply the sticker to the blank, and whether I burnish or not the decal will not lift off of the top sticker and stay on the blank. I tried three decals from three blanks I bought from NFC and none of them stuck. I tried cleaning the blank with various chemicals, etc, Now I have three blanks with no decals. Advice?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2023 01:27PM by Mike W. Anderson.

When you peel the backing off, does the bottom feel sticky? If not, it will not stick. To have trouble with 3 of them, sounds like you are not getting the adhesive backing off.

I have done many of them and never had an issue. I always apply a very light coat of epoxy in the label are, and when it has cured so that it will no longer finger print, I apply the decal.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2023 08:14PM by Phil Erickson.

Mike,
It certainly seems odd that you are having difficulty with these 3 decals after so many successful decal installations. I cannot imagine that you would have difficulty receiving replacement decals from NFC.
As with many others, I apply a preliminary base coat of finish epoxy to the area of the blank, allow it to cure for 24 hours (it will be cured enough to touch but not fully cured {2 - 6 days}) BEFORE applying the decal. This provides a contaminate-free, porosity-free surface for the decal to securely stick to.

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

Yeah it's weird, I have never had this happen before, I am starting to think there was some manufacturing issue that introduced some contaminant or something into the blank. I don't like to apply a decal over a coat of epoxy and then epoxy over that as it becomes too thick, but with these decals i may have to.

Mike,
If you are referring to “too thick” = too much weight, consider how low on the blank the extra coat is (<1g) which would be undetectable to 95% of anglers. If “too thick” = like a lens, then I can’t help you. But sometimes, drastic circumstances require drastic measures. Good luck! I always apply a preliminary base coat under my decals and never have an issue (including “too thick”).

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

Is the blank an unsanded blank? If so I think you’ll have to apply epoxy to get suitable surface for the decal

Michael Ward Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is the blank an unsanded blank? If so I think
> you’ll have to apply epoxy to get suitable
> surface for the decal


Yeah it's an NFC 760-2

Yes, if un-sanded such as the LMX fly rod I am now working on, you may want to lay down a layer of epoxy and put the decal on top of that.

Mike,

As mentioned by others, please lay down a coat of finish on the un-sanded section of the blank you are applying the decal to.

Best Regards,
Aleks