I’d like to paint the section of the blank between the rear grip and the reel seat on a split grip spinning rod. I’d like to apply epoxy over the paint. Are there any paint types or best practices I should be aware of? Thank you!

I am going to color the space between split grips this evening. I use VooDoo dust in rod finish (Gen4) to do this. It durably and reliably does two steps in one. I’d just leave the raw carbon, but I put a hook keeper there and like to have finish between the hooks and the blank.

Epoxy is not a good top coat for a blank finish. Find a urethane type paint that you don't have to over-coat. Spray-Max is a good one but unless you're doing several rods it may be cost prohibitive.

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Understood, Tom, and thank you. This is just the area between the rod butt and the reel seat. 6” of blank that will not be bending.

The trouble with epoxy is that it's not going to resist scratches and will tend to turn amber or yellow as it ages.

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More detail...

This is a spinning rod with a split grip. There is about 6" between the rod butt and the reel seat where the blank is expoxed. I got some epoxy on that section of the blank and made the mistake of trying to sand it off (very lightly). The blank is fine, but the finish is poor. The is the area where I'd normally put the factory sticker. My idea is to paint this small section of the blank, put a coat of epoxy down, then the factory sticker, then a second and possibly third coat of epoxy. I'll probably just shoot some spray can enamel on it and coat with epoxy unless you guys tell me it's a terrible idea. I'm not worried about scratching/yellowing of the epoxy. I'd have epoxy on half of this section regardless just to deal with the factory sticker.

If it is a painted blank originally and the paint has not been removed to the underlying surface, the finish scratches will most likely disappear with a finish over the section.

I have painted the gap between split grips with a spray auto paint, such as DupliColor. After it has dried I clear coated with a coat or two of Permagloss. Did this using a brush while turning. This gives a very thin and durable finish that will not yellow. Have done this on a number of white rods with no yellowing If you use epoxy the amber/yellow color is quite noticeable.
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