Sometimes it just doesn’t come together.

[Bob Riggins]

Finally finished my Rainshadow RX8+, 8wt.  Very nice casting rod, somewhat like a Sage XP, but cosmetically, it didn’t turn out quite like I wanted.  I used Batson gunsmoke guides and reel seat with a blue woven graphite insert.  It was wrapped in royal blue with silver accents.

I have never used color preserver and didn’t plan on it this time, but, at my wifes urging, I did.

[Carter Simcoe]

Well, your wraps and finish are nice as always.

[Zach Matthews]

I dunno, Dunfly, there’s something to be said for a unique, brightly colored rod.

[Bob Riggins]

I had trouble attaching more than one picture, so I had to go back and link the rest of the shots.

[steve howard]

Bob, if you don’t like it you can send it my way.

[Carter Simcoe]

Oh, okay, now that you’ve got more pics up I see you used single foot guides.

[Joel Thompson]

Bob, I think the rod looks great! Now if you want to see uneven epoxy you should see the first rod I built. I used a BIIx 9ft 4wt blank and it turned out pretty ugly. I quickly found out that I was my own worst critic. Most of the people I showed it to liked it and didn’t even notice the flaws. So my guess is that you are just being a little hard on yourself because the rod in those pictures looks pretty darn sweet.

Plus if it casts good and catches fish who cares what it looks like! 😉

Joel

[Gary Grossman]

I agree with Joel that the rod looks great!

[Andrew Barclay]

You know…I’ve never used color preserver because all that I’ve read is less than flattering.

[Rich Kovars]

In my experience it makes the nylon translucent.  As a rule when I am building rods, I break out a dowel and do a couple of wraps when I am not too sure about a technique.  I have one with about 20 different, really crappy, wraps on it. 🙂  

I’ve been using the Flex Coat color preserver and I find it okay.  The technique I use is to thin the preserver 50/50 with distilled water for the first two coats.  This allows the preserver to penetrate the thread better (both nylon and silk).  The last coat I put on full strength.  I haven’t had any trouble getting smooth coats using this technique.  

I think I read about the technique in a paper from Goldenwitch about doing feather inlays.  Seems to work good.

Link to Feather Inlays article
 

[Bob Riggins]

As Rich said, the epoxy makes the nylon thread turn transluscent.

[john switow]

The rod looks great to me Bob.

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