Josh - the use of acetone in this application was in discussion with the epoxy formulator (Andy Dear) - and used in a very specific way.

Nathaniel - I (Back Creek Custom Rods - a sponsor here), custom color anodize titanium guides and offer them to the rod building community - you can check them out on www.customcoloredguides.com - will be adding powder coated guides to the site very soon to have a lower price-point with 316 stainless guides and colors like red that we can't do with anodization

Herb / Mark - I did not prep that specific foot as it did not really need it. The pic with finish is after one coat - with the final guide there is no appreciable "bump", etc. Sometimes I will prep them and then anodize, however it can be hit.miss, I think due to the grinding stone transfering steel from prep of other guides into the titanium and then it not anodizing properly on the feet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2023 03:42PM by Michael Ward.

A pic of one of the guides once fully complete

Whatever you did looks awesome!

thank you...

Michael

A serious word of caution for you from hands on (literally) experience with clear wraps and acetone. Acetone is seriously bad for you - it can find its way through your skin bringing with it whatever chemicals Gen 4 contains. And while you might not react badly to those chemicals today, tomorrow could be different. So, protect yourself with appropriate PPE and work in a well ventilated area. After a lot of years working with epoxy and acetone I finally had an allergic reaction to finish epoxy resin, which reaction can be more than uncomfortable.

<Josh - the use of acetone in this application was in discussion with the epoxy formulator (Andy Dear) - and used in a very specific way.

Doesn't mean he's correct

I only use acetone for clean up

There were fibreglass companies that I worked for that wouldn't supply thinners for repairs, to thin down gelcoats so it will spray nice through a spray touch up gun.
So I was forced to use acetone
Looked good once the swimming pool got loaded onto the truck

But customers would complain because after a while in the sun it would change colour

Other companies would take my advice and get a 20 ltr container of thinners from where they buy the resin and gelcoats from.
They cared & understood the science.

I'm going to do another translucent wrap soon, you can use thread finish of medium viscosity and will work just fine.
If you're concerned about air, this can be easily treated by using a straw and gently blowing on it, your warm breathe takes care of them.

I see you added trim bands, nice touch if you can't see tie offs.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2023 10:27PM by Josh Bryan.

- I trust the advice of the guy that co-formulated ThreadMaster and now Gen4. He does not carte-Blanche recommend it for potentially weakening reasons as stated but he says if your going to cut it with something (that’s generally available to rod builders) to use acetone and suggests it only as a first coat like this. That said a fly rod builder that turns out a fair quantity of rods many with ghost wraps has been exclusively thinning all his coats with great results - short and long term.

- As to using a straw - that unfortunately won’t get bubbles out from under the tunnels which was the issue - if it was in the outer finish it would be a non issue with gen4

- And no, no visible tags as they are all pulled towards the center of the trim band for that specific reason…..

Well, if it's fine in long term, by all means

My experience suggests otherwise


I had no issues just using straight finish.
I mainly use the thinner stuff for light rods, but when i used the thicker stuff It still did the job.


Acetone is a solvent