Rookie Question ?? What Went Wrong?

pearl · 12-11-2009, 06:26 AM

I'm rebuilding a Harnell #638 steelhead rod.

Last night I laid down my underwrap for the first guide on the lower half of the rod with Gudbrod Golden Rod "A" NCP. Had a nice tight 2" wrap laid down and I applied a light coat of finish with the intention to come back and tie the guide on with the red thread to give it the original Harnell look.

After drying over night I inspected the wrap this morning and it looks like the finish soaked through the thread to a point you can see the black blank. It takes on the appearance of being wet? Kind of blotchy?

What went wrong?
What can be done to try and avoid this as I progress through the build?

Thanks, Steve

StickFish · 12-11-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pearl

I'm rebuilding a Harnell #638 steelhead rod.

Last night I laid down my underwrap for the first guide on the lower half of the rod with Gudbrod Golden Rod "A" NCP. Had a nice tight 2" wrap laid down and I applied a light coat of finish with the intention to come back and tie the guide on with the red thread to give it the original Harnell look.

After drying over night I inspected the wrap this morning and it looks like the finish soaked through the thread to a point you can see the black blank. It takes on the appearance of being wet? Kind of blotchy?

What went wrong?
What can be done to try and avoid this as I progress through the build?

Thanks, Steve

Yellow is one of the hardest colors to work with harder than white IMO. I have seen the same problem using goldenrod NCP. Mostly it comes down to how tightly packed your wraps are. Only way I could get a good sold yellow was to pack the thread as it was laid down and burnish. It still comes out darker showing the underlying color through. Maybe size D might be better for the underwrap in this case

lurking_out_loud · 12-11-2009, 07:18 AM

I'd try a quick test wrap and hit it with CP to see if you can seal it up and not get a translucent bleed. Even with NCP thread, I've seen some huge differences in color when I just use finish on the raw thread.

Beers?

-mike

DirectDrive · 12-11-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurking_out_loud

I'd try a quick test wrap and hit it with CP to see if you can seal it up and not get a translucent bleed. Even with NCP thread, I've seen some huge differences in color when I just use finish on the raw thread.

Beers?

-mike

I like to experiment on the butt section or on a scrap blank section.
I too, would look at using CP.

Warning, the following could be a PITA:
If CP doesn't do it, why not experiment with laying down some flat white primer (paint) on a blank scrap for a substrate and see if that brightens the yellow wraps.

You would want to sand off the gloss for tooth for the primer and then check your coating compatibility with the primer.
Perhaps someone here knows of a paint product that has tested good for this application.
Seems like I read where Dale Clemens did this to brighten problem colors.

Edit:
I'm thinking a rattle can to keep the primer coat thin and if the primer was color-matched to thread......
Hmmm....automotive paint shops can put any color you want into a standard rattle can these days.
Depends on how much I guy wants to monkey with this, I suppose.

StickFish · 12-11-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirectDrive

I like to experiment on the butt section or on a scrap blank section.
I too, would look at using CP.

Warning, the following could be a PITA:
If CP doesn't do it, why not experiment with laying down some flat white primer (paint) on a blank scrap for a substrate and see if that brightens the yellow wraps.

You would want to sand off the gloss for tooth for the primer and then check your coating compatibility with the primer.
Perhaps someone here knows of a paint product that has tested good for this application.
Seems like I read where Dale Clemens did this to brighten problem colors.

I think most just use Testers paint, but I could be wrong. Underwrapping in White than a bright color also works, or wrapping two layers of the color. Normally on a modern rod I wouldn't do that, but then were talking an old school heavy weight. White paint does work

StickFish · 12-11-2009, 08:39 AM

I posted the paint question on Rodbuilding.org. Most are using testers, but you can also use Auto Touch up paint from an autoparts store.

Ohh ohhhh

Someone said BEEEEEEEr! - Maybe after 6?

DirectDrive · 12-11-2009, 09:06 AM

I had a lightbulb flicker a bit so I added an edit to my previous post.
I had some automotive paint color matched for my boat a while back and was be-dazzled when he put it into a common rattle can.

jcft2007 · 12-11-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi,
On most of the lighter colors I use, such as lemon yellow, white, pink, beige, etc. many times I put 2 coats of CP. I usually use the Flex coat or Classic Coat CP in this case. This method works very well with NEON and transparent colors, the neons don't fade very fast this way.

I try not to spin the rod on the machine but rather stroke the brush length wise with the blank then rotate the rod with power to even out. I don't put alot on at once, just enough so it soaks in. You'll see the CP "bleed" through evenly. then put the second coat on when the first dries.

I know guys that use the paint who are successful. Don't know if they flat or gloss paint though.

Raymond Adams · 12-11-2009, 01:29 PM

Blotchyness is indicitive of poor packing. What you see is areas where the blank shows more. Pack the wrap nice & tight after it is burnished and burnish from the edges inward.

Even with NCP thread I use CP on light colored thread and a dark blank. Paint or foil tape will keep light colors nice & bright. CP can only do so much.

pearl · 12-11-2009, 04:22 PM

Thanks guys...... I suspect I'm a bit guilty of a little of all what has been diagnosed above.
Tension
Paint
Burnishing
etc........

I'll try to make some fixes over the weekend.

Progress not perfection.....Right?

StickFish · 12-11-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pearl

Thanks guys...... I suspect I'm a bit guilty of a little of all what has been diagnosed above.
Tension
Paint
Burnishing
etc........

I'll try to make some fixes over the weekend.

Progress not perfection.....Right?

At least now you get to learn how to take a wrap off -

lurking_out_loud · 12-12-2009, 07:36 AM

And never under estimate the power of beer.

-lol