Tough finish for sea rods???

I'm rebuilding a sea rod and I 've tried the conventional varnish
finshes, but they seem very prone to deep scratches and chips when I'm
anywhere near a sea wall. (ok I'm clumsy). Any ideas for a tough
finish?
cheers
DW

On 3 Nov 2005 04:12:09 -0800, "dwdw1" wrote:

I'm rebuilding a sea rod and I 've tried the conventional varnish
finshes, but they seem very prone to deep scratches and chips when I'm
anywhere near a sea wall. (ok I'm clumsy). Any ideas for a tough
finish?

A two part epoxy varnish is about as tough as you can get, but even
that's not impervious to scratches.
It's also a bugger to apply (use fingers, not a brush) and even more
difficult to dry properly. A rod turning rig is just about essential
if you want to avoid blemishes.
Personally I don't bother with a varnish finish, but just use
something like Armorall or other car dasboard renovators after
treating (very carefully) with wet and dry. You can't get a high gloss
finish, but it's acceptable as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers
Ian D

Where rod-rests are a pain or impractical, rod scratching / ring busting
can be a problem, piers / jetties etc. I use a length of that foam water
pipe insulation over me rod at the appropriate place. About 6 to 9 inches
either slid up the rod if you leave it 'whole' or split it up the pre-cut
and hold in place with lazzyband or velcro strap. When not in use - I
slide / store those poly/foam floats in them in me box.
I made a rod-rotator from an old microwave plate turner motor - they
rotate at about 3 times a minute - great !!! a simple wooden stand (heavy
piece of old kitchen worktop and simple pine scrap uprights) and a short
length 2" of 1/4" rubber petrol pipe (found in fuel filter kits)connects
to a 4" length of 1/4" alloy ? rod - with a wine cork; suitably shaped; to
duck tape the rod to. A simple piece of polyfoam (packing) with V notch
to suppert the other end does the trick. Take care - the motors are 240V
mains !! Plug n play.
Two-part whipping poxy is the way to go - use a hair dryer to make it go
watery and spead evenly - apply a very little often to get the best
finish. Ok, at about £9 a throw it's not cheap - but gives a tough and
pro finish to your whippings ... Do not touch for at least 12 hours - it
is sticky stuff - and dont put it in the bag for at least a day after that
.......


On 3 Nov 2005 04:12:09 -0800, dwdw1 wrote:

I'm rebuilding a sea rod and I 've tried the conventional varnish
finshes, but they seem very prone to deep scratches and chips when I'm
anywhere near a sea wall. (ok I'm clumsy). Any ideas for a tough
finish?
cheers
DW




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Thanks very much for advice and suggestions - I'm using an old crodless
drill as a rod turner, and that seems to work ok so far.
cheers
DW

Hi

you can use a good car wax polish (turtle wax polish with polymers is good)
or a car laquer instead of epoxy. If you use epoxy run a lit candle along
the rod as you turn, the extra heat will make the epoxy go off quicker.

regards,
colin
"dwdw1" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks very much for advice and suggestions - I'm using an old crodless
drill as a rod turner, and that seems to work ok so far.
cheers
DW