finish problems

[beckster]

I've had some trouble with the finish on my wraps of my first rod build.I seem to be getting little dimples in the finish,any tips on how to get a smooth finish?

[Silver Stoat]

Could be a couple of things causing the 'dimples', might be bubbles which have burst when the finish was starting to set or grease / silicone contamination on the whippings.

When mixing the finish it's best not to stir it too vigorously - stir slowly but thoroughly - and when it's mixed it will lose bubbles if transfered to a tile or a shallow dish covered with cooking foil.(aluminium)
If you gently blow onto it through a straw the CO2 will encourage bubbles to burst so it's a good idea to do this also when you have applied it to the whippings.

As this is your first attempt, you may have handled the whippings a little more than a more experienced builder might and so transfered grease onto them ?
Is there any way that they may have been contaminated by a product containing silicone ?

You can give them another coat after carefully sanding them and cleaning with meths and lots of tissues but be careful not to sand down to the thread.

It's not a disaster even if you can't re coat them - you can always strip and re-whip - just a pain.

Dave.

[beckster]

Thanks Dave ,i think it might be the bubbles problem so i'll try usig the tinfoil when i'm doing the tip section.

[Silver Stoat]

You might want to try a couple of test whippings using both the blowing through a drinking straw technique and also applying gentle heat to the freshly coated wraps. You can try this on a piece of scrap blank or a plastic ball point pen, almost anything except bare wood.
Waft a ciggy lighter about 3" below or to one side of the finish but hold your other hand above and close to the finish so that you can feel how hot it is. A gentle heat will thin the finish a little and allow trapped bubbles to escape. If you get it too hot it will have the opposite effect and can cause the finish to 'boil' and create more bubbles.

Dave.

[bloke]

Stephen
Try thinning the epoxy down with thinners but do not use more than 25% as the mix wont go off...this will thin out the mixture so that you will have no bubbles at all. Try and mix and apply the epoxy in sunlight it will show any bubbles up better....Silver stoat could well be right about the silicone problem, also, when applying the epoxy dont use a brush which will create more bubbles...try a teaspoon instead
Mick
ps your blank was delivered today but I was out...it will be here tomorrow.

[beckster]

cheers mick ;D