Building Materials

[JayMorr]

FYI...I have been using the shishkabob stix for mixing. You can cut them and use them for mixing up your flexcoats. Also bought a bag of "Skinny Sticks" from walmart 75 count for $1.50 or so. You guys have probably already figured these out.

Bought brushes count of 30 for about the same price.

JayMorr

[Steve Jeffries]

Jay-

Just started my first rod today. I bought the mixing cups & popsicle sticks to mix epoxy. I've only just mounted the reel seat and I already hate the popsicle sticks for mixing, they seem just too big. If your talking about the bamboo "shish kebab" skewers, I'll give them a try but they'll splinter if not cut cleanly. Anyway, what the heck are "Skinny Sticks" and what section in WalMart are they located?

Steve

[JayMorr]

Jay-

Just started my first rod today. I bought the mixing cups & popsicle sticks to mix epoxy. I've only just mounted the reel seat and I already hate the popsicle sticks for mixing, they seem just too big. If your talking about the bamboo "shish kebab" skewers, I'll give them a try but they'll splinter if not cut cleanly. Anyway, what the heck are "Skinny Sticks" and what section in WalMart are they located?

Steve
Skinny sticks are about half the size of popsicle sticks. I found them in the craft section of Walmart. They seem to work better because they are thinner. Yes the shish kebab skewers do splinter but I found if I cut them with a pair of prune snips they seem to work well. Give them both a try.

JayMorr

[Steve Jeffries]

Thanks Jay-

I'll give them a try.

Steve

[Cary]

If you use flex coat, you'll save some headaches with bubbles by using a non-porous mixing stick. Popsicle sticks & all are great for epoxies, but for finish, use a metal spatula ( also great for allpying finish, btw) or plastic sticks.

-Cary

[Jason]

I've really enjoy using plastic lollipop sticks for mixing and applying. You can usually find them at craft stores or sometimes department stores.

BTW, Flex coat that has been sitting around for more than a year sucks. I had to throw away my two 'almost full' bottles.

[JayMorr]

I've really enjoy using plastic lollipop sticks for mixing and applying. You can usually find them at craft stores or sometimes department stores.

BTW, Flex coat that has been sitting around for more than a year sucks. I had to throw away my two 'almost full' bottles.

Jason I have been looking for the lolly pop sticks. Which Craft store did you get them at. I was at Mac's and didnt seem to find them. Maybe I was looking in the wrong section.

Also thanks for the tip Cary. So much to learn!
JayMorr

[Drake]

That’s good to know Jason. I was just going to ask about the shelf life of Flex Coat. My uncle was given a kit that had Flex Coat in it. He doesn’t build so he gave it to me. I think it is a couple years old. He had it for at least a year before he gave it to me.

Though, they are unopened bottles. I wonder if that would make a difference on the life???

[Cary]

I'll take it. Don't throw it away.

[Ouzel]

Flex Coat does have a web site flexcoat.com that will answer almost any question about rod building. They of course sell all their products but I'm sure they can be purchased elsawhere for less.

For mixing I always use the very small 'throw away brushes' and don't throw them away. I too like to apply thin coats but it has been awhile and I forget what they suggest as a thinner.

Flex Coat isn't the only game in town for rod finishes, Gudebrode has been in the game for a long time and there are some 'Old English' products and even home brews that can be use. Try some rod building sites and I'm sure you'll come up with a lot of info.

When you are finished building and need to store bottles try cleaning the bottles rim and inside the cap real well, cut a round piece from a baggie (single layer) that is a little bigger than the bottle mouth and screw the lid on tight. I don't know the shelf life of any of the products but I don't have a bottle of "G" rod finish that is quite old and still quite usable.

[ScottT]

I think acetone and benzene are both used for thinning and removing epoxy, but both are very "nasty" chemicals - especially benzene. I throw the brushes away rather than store/use chemicals such as these

FWIW

ScottT

[lamson]

If you ever go to mee dees they have the best epoxy sticks you can find. they are plastic and work great!! just gab a few when you stop by for your big mac!!!
Jay-

Just started my first rod today. I bought the mixing cups & popsicle sticks to mix epoxy. I've only just mounted the reel seat and I already hate the popsicle sticks for mixing, they seem just too big. If your talking about the bamboo "shish kebab" skewers, I'll give them a try but they'll splinter if not cut cleanly. Anyway, what the heck are "Skinny Sticks" and what section in WalMart are they located?

Steve

[Steve Jeffries]

I checked out the Flex Coat site and they recommended not using wooden stirers, they say use glass or stainless. Anyway, I was shopping at Wally World and found a set of 2 1/2 oz stainless steel sauce cups, cost 94 cents for four cups. I bought a 12" x 1/8" stainless rod at the hardware store and cut it into 3 pieces & polished them up with the Dremel. You can mix up your epoxy and there is very few bubbles in the sauce cup. When finished, just wipe out the stainless cup and the stirring rod with a paper towel and a quick wipe with alcohol. Works much better for me than the plastic & wood.

Steve

[Steve Jeffries]

If you ever go to mee dees they have the best epoxy sticks you can find. they are plastic and work great!! just gab a few when you stop by for your big mac!!!

Lamson- Try the coffee stirrers as a spatula to apply the epoxy to your wraps rather than a brush. Just load some epoxy on the stirrer and hold it under the wrap as you turn the rod. You get very good penetration and I get a much neater and sharper line of epoxy at the edge of the wrap. I picked up this tip @ rodbuilders.org and it's worked pretty good for me.

Steve