I dont do bamboo, just glass or graphite rods. I am asking what is your favorite brand of varnish (not epoxy). I am just looking to see what folks like to use and why, thats all. I want to see what else is out there other than Helmsman Spar Varnish. Thanks Jesse
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Hello all, I am looking to try some different varnishes on my fly rod projects. What is your favorite varnish and where is it available? Thanks kindly, Jesse Shipe
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I have used Scotchbrite wet, used it like sand paper while turning the rod with my electric drill. You would be amazed at how smooth you can get it. I have done this twice with good results. Keep it wet. Keep it moving. Apply even pressure, dont over heat any area. Wipe it off and check your progress often. Good luck.
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Dribbling the finish. Yep, I tried this on wrappings, worked pretty nice. It just ran off of my blank, so I wiped it on. Looks good, curing now. Wont touch it again until sometime next week. Thanks for all the replies, you guys are very helpful. Jesse
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I just tried the dopes on a piece of scrap, it ate the finish on the part coated with spar varnish... wrinkled and curled it. Looks like I wont be using that stuff! :)
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Hello all, I just checked out the blank. I am very pleased with the finish. I am going to give it a week or so to cure, then I will decide if I want to re-sand it gently with 1500 wet sand paper and put on another coat. I took it outside to look at it in the daylight, its not perfect, but really very nice. Sometimes when I have a project going like this, I find it best to put it away for
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Years ago an older rod builder showed me his prized color preserver. It clearly had the smell of model airplane paint, or dope. I have not seen any other reference to this material in this use. Just got to thinking... I build and fly rc planes too, among other things. I have the paint...
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Well, last night I really thinned out some spar varnish. I tried to dribble it onto the blank, that didnt work. So, I put a very, very thin coat on the blank with a coffee filter. I havent looked at it yet this morning, sometime today I will be back at the bench to check it out. Its gettin busy here now.... Thanks for the replies. Jesse
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Thanks for the reply Tom. I am just now reading about how some builders use a turkey baster or similar cooking tool with thinned spar varnish, they dribble it onto the rod, then rotate it until smooth. They recommended using a coffee filter to wick away excess, not wipe. I have tried wiping this finish on with a coffee filter but was unhappy with the results. Im sure you are correct,
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I have never heard of Spray Max, but I see it is available on @#$%&. Does this finish remain flexible? I worry about cracking in the finish. Im not concerned about this rod as a collector item, only as a suitable fishing tool. This is a very deep flexing, slow action rod blank. So, was this a popular rod blank back in the day? Im thinking about building this the old school way with a simp
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Hey, can anyone tell me if nitrate dope paint has been successfully used as a color preserver? Its used in the aircraft industry, both model airplanes and full size. Its been around for years, there are two types. One is nitrate, the other is butyrate. You can put the butyrate over nitrate, but not nitrate over butyrate. Just wondered....
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Hello all, I have an old Lamiglass S Glass 8'/SFL966, its an 8' 6wt. blank. This thing is vintage, for sure. Its got a very visible weave in the blank, I bought it a few years back. It was poorly built as a rod, so I stripped it down to rebuild it. Some of the finish is a little flat, some is ok. I polished it with a drill, rag, and plastic polish. It needs to be re-coated with fin
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Still trying things... I have just tried a silver ink for use with a nib style pen (dip pen). It layed out ok on the blank, I left it dry, then coated it with spar varnish. Shocking. NO RUNS. This was a test piece. So... now I need to prove it on a blank. Jesse Shipe Hey all, Merry Christmas to all, thank you for your replies.
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Ok, here is the latest on this problem... I need to get hair spray to try this. I have samples of painted rods ready for the process. I have tried to use a spray sealer, its made for sealing paints and fabrics (acrylic base). That failed... So, I will be getting hairspray and try this method. If this fails, can I just epoxy the lettering with rod finish and then put spar varnish ove
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So, do you think that hairspray will be ok over the metallic ink? After hair spray, can I coat it with spar varnish, or should I leave it alone? I have been very pleased with the smooth, glossy look of the spar varnish... sure would like to put that over the lettering. Thanks Jess
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Thanks for the info. Last night I bought a metallic silver pen, I coated a scrap rod blank for a test. I will try the spar varnish over that and see what happens. I have been using caligraphy pens with the silver paint, now I have scratches to worry about. (several tries to get script nice) Im thinking maybe I will have to use a coat of varnish first, then the ink work, then varnish over
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Hello, I just finished wrapping and coating my latest rod, a Christmas gift for my son. I painstakingly put a very nice script on the rod only to have my spar varnish run the paint. I was using Testors silver model paint. I want to stay with the spar varnish. What paint is compatible, I dont want it to run again. Thanks Jess
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I think that my mixing quantities are fine. I used a pop-sickle stick to mix and have been told that is a no-no. The wood holds moisture. So, next time I will mix with a plastic spatula and I will mix it for a longer period of time. Maybe this is the answer. It has to be something I am doing, it has happened with 2 different brands of epoxy. What seems odd to me is that I have been us
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Thank you to all. I am going to do this again and follow your instructions very closely. Thanks. Jesse
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Im thinking about making a warm spot for the rod, give it a few more days and then decide. Thanks guys.
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I have a rod where my epoxy thread finish didnt cure completely and remains tacky. I carefully and painstakingly applied a second coat. This coat has not cured well either, but after a week it seems better. Do you think that this will cure over time, or, will it always be just so slightly tacky. The finish seems to be just a tiny bit sticky, where you can feel your finger drag a little bit
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Domain is gone and so is phone service to that number. Not looking good...
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Hey all, Can anyone tell me if E. Hille is still in business? (They used to be in Williamsport, Pennsylvania) I cant find them online, I dont now if they are gone or using a new name. I took their rod building class about 12 years ago. They were very nice to deal with.
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Thanks, I have ordered the light coat. I have built several rods in the past using the same methods, never had this probem. You guys provide a wealth of knowledge here, thanks kindly.
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I used the alcohol torch to bust up some bubbles. Would preheating the bottles cause it to cure early? I know you can spread it out on foil and it will delay the cure time so you can keep working.
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Thanks
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I bought this stuff in the store in Hamburg, Pa. last week. I trashed the stuff and ordered new, Im not chancing screwing up the rod for the third time. I have used epoxy for many years, I build rc planes in my other hobby. Old stock didnt matter there, but Im not going to struggle again on this rod. thanks for the feedback though, I appreciate the info from all.
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What ever the problem.... its gone and Im reordering now.
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Hello all, Just a quick note to those who dont really use a lot of epoxy or color preserver. (I guess this is for the ocassional rod builder, like me.) I recently had to rewrap a spinning rod project two times because my chemicals were not fresh and had problems. Epoxy: Brand name, bought last week at Cabelas, but it was obviously on the shelf for some time. It cured way too fast and w
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Bob Jumper Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > +1 on the fly tying scissors. Made a big > difference hiding my tag ends. Thanks, Im due for a new pair, will try that. I checked with CVS drug store, they have the blades too. Jess
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