Is flexcoat high build supposed to get rock hard when cured? I finished two rods probably a month ago and got around to fishing them both for the first time and if I press hard enough with my fingernail I can leave a small dent in the finish. Strangely enough, this dent goes away after a few hours. Both rods were finished on separate days with new mixes of finish and I am absolutely positive equal measurements were used (I triple check and mix thoroughly, sometimes even longer than needed) 3cc each of resin and hardener (6cc total) and poured out onto foil.
The finish is not tacky at all and it does take some force to dent it. The reason I ask is that I have other rods (factory built and built by myself) that don’t do this. On the other rods I have built I did not use flexcoat so I’m unfamiliar with their epoxy.

Perhaps the answer is in the name of the product ..... flex ..... coat. From what I understand, wrap epoxy is supposed to stay flexible. I just tried to see if I could dent a wrap done with Flex Coat high build with Ultra V, and while I didn't push extremely hard. I pushed hard enough that I would think I would have saw some evidence on the wrap. I didn't notice anything. I tried the same thing on a wrap done with Gen 4 high build, with the same results.

Just wonder what made you try and dent it like that? You said it wasn't tacky, did it feel soft to the touch?

David Baylor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Perhaps the answer is in the name of the product
> ..... flex ..... coat. From what I understand,
> wrap epoxy is supposed to stay flexible. I just
> tried to see if I could dent a wrap done with Flex
> Coat high build with Ultra V, and while I didn't
> push extremely hard. I pushed hard enough that I
> would think I would have saw some evidence on the
> wrap. I didn't notice anything. I tried the same
> thing on a wrap done with Gen 4 high build, with
> the same results.
>
> Just wonder what made you try and dent it like
> that? You said it wasn't tacky, did it feel soft
> to the touch?

I bought an expensive factory built rod one time that was built poorly. I’m also very detailed oriented and notice small errors and what not. It drives me crazy but pretty much a lot of the aspects of my poorly built factory rod I owned made me paranoid about every future rod I owned and so I would check any new rod for flaws and now I put the rods I build under intense scrutiny lol

I used Flex Coat for many years, never noticed if it could be dented or not. But it did function just fine, I don't remember ever having a problem other than one rod which would get hazy looking after being left in a boat overnight in the rain. Recoated the guide wrap and fixed it indicating I had not done it right the first time. I don't think any of the wrap "epoxies" are "rock" hard, and probably all can be "dented" if one really tries. The important thing is performance, and Flex Coat performs very well as a guide wrap, which is what it is designed for.

Expensive factory rod, built poorly. NRX?

I've looked at more than a few of those in the tackle shops, and more than a couple have what I would consider very poor build quality. My first couple of builds were better in fit and finish, than they were. And those are $700 rods ....... Megabass has the best fit and finish of any factory rod I've ever looked at.

They build a beautiful rod.

Just to update, I called flexcoat and they said it’s entirely normal.

"Rock hard".......try U-40 DuraGloss....crystal clear, rock hard.