Here is a tutorial on painting your rod blanks for a custom rod build from Saltydawg’s Bill Havens.
Painting Rod Blanks
This is the method I use to paint rod blanks that create a professional looking and super durable finish. The technique is done with spray rattle cans.
Materials
- You will need a can of white lacquer primer; I use the stuff you get at Pep Boys, brandname Dupli Color.
- Next you’ll need a can of paint in whatever color you want the blank to be. In this case I will be painting the blank white so all I will use is the white primer for color.
- You can also get fancy and use gold or silver metallic as a base coat and then go over with your color for a candy apple effect, but for this article I will be painting the blank white.
- You will also need a Scotch red scuff pad.
- And finally, for the topcoat, I use Spray Max 2K gloss clearcoat. I used to use this stuff back in the day for clear coating lacquer paint jobs on cars, but recently discovered it comes in a spray can. It is a 2-part clear that is super durable and has plenty of flex so works very well on fishing rods, the only difference between this and a regular spray can is this one has a plunger on the bottom of the can.
How to Paint Blanks
OK lets get started
First you want to lightly scuff the rod blank, just enough to dull the shine on the finish of the blank.
Next wipe the sanding dust off the blank.
Next I stand the blank upright (I have a foam block with a hole in it that works well)
Next spray the white primer on in several light coats, until the blank is opaque white.
Let the white primer dry about 4 hours, lightly scuff again with the scotch pad, and this time use a tack rag to get all the sanding dust off, then put on your color, or in this case the primer is white so I spray the 2K clear directly over the primer.
The finished product is a professional looking white blank with a high gloss, bulletproof topcoat that will last for years.
Another thought, I try and wait till I have several blanks to paint and do at the same time as the 2K clear only has a 48-hour shelf life after the catalyst is mixed, and it is a little pricey so I save up to do as many as I can in a round of painting.
