[spilunkr]

Over the years I have built a half dozen or so fly rods. I continue to have a problem with the glue used on the thread windings. It seems like the glue just will not set beyond the tacky on about every other rod. I have used different products - most recently Flex Cost to no avail. I thought it might be age of the product as some times it has been a few of years between rods; but, I bought new Flex Coat in August, built a rod which turned out fine and just put the Flex Coat on a second rod yesterday and it will not set beyond the tacky stage. I am at a loss as to why this keeps happening. The mixing directions are followed and done at an appropriate temperature. Any ideas?

Also, when this has happened in the past I could not figure out how to remedy the problem. The first time it happened (about 20 years ago) the rod ultimately wound up in the dumpster. The second time a few years later, I used acetone and eventually got all of the guides off and the rod re-wrapped but that was a real pain and took an unbelievable amount of time and effort. I think the last time it happened (about four years ago) I used a combination of acetone to soften the glue enough to use a razor blade to cut through it. That was still a pain and there is a significant risk of damaging the blank or my fingers.

Is there something that can be done to get the material to finally harden and if not is there a better way to remove the material so I can try again? On one of the previous rods when this happened, someone suggested using a hair dryer to heat the material but that did not work. In the past I have also just let the rod sit for a month to see if the glue would get beyond the tacky stage and that did not work either.

Guy

 

[spilunkr]

Kevin,

Thanks for the reply. The amount of time spent mixing is an interesting point. I don't think I have ever spent as long as 5 minutes stirring the mix. For the most recent rod I was working in my basement where the temperature was probably 63/64. When it was apparent the finish was not setting, I moved the rod upstairs where we keep it at 70. For previous rods where the problem occurred I was in former houses and the temperature was probably in the 70 to 72 range.

On a previous rod where the glue only got to the tacky stage I tried applying a second coat and it also stayed tacky. That was the rod that wound up in the trash. The application of the Flex Coat yesterday was pretty thin; I may try a second coat as you suggest.

Guy

 

[spilunkr]

Up until two years ago, I lived in Montgomery Co. outside of D. C. where humidity would have been a factor. I now live in Ft. Collins, Colorado where 40% would be a very humid day. A typical day for humidity would be in the 20% to 30% range. We had stretches last summer when it stayed below 15% for days at a time. I had never really considered humidity as a significant factor in the drying process. However, yesterday it rained off and on during the day so the humidity level was probably in the 50% to 60% range.

I don't have a way of heating a particular room to a higher temperature and I don't think my wife would appreciate heating the house to 80. So I may have to relegate rod building to May thru September when we keep the house around 78 to keep the A. C. costs down.

It appears that moving the rod up from the basement to a warmer temperature may solve the problem this time. While the residual material in the mixing cup is still a bit tacky; the windings on the rod appear as though they will harden as they are no longer tacky.

Thanks for your help, you've given me some additional things to think about before starting my next rod. I have one more blank to finish but I will now likely wait until next summer.

Guy