Rod Varnish

[peanuts]

Why oh why do the rod --126-3- makers use high gloss epoxy varnish on their rods
and what's the best to change it to matt.
Scared the living bejebers out of the bones with rod flash on my new rod the other day

[Homebuilt]

If you want a matte finish, then lightlyt buffing the rod with 00 steel wool or garnet paper should do the trick. It won't do much for your resale value, but it'll do the job. Obviously, don't sand so much that you hurt the thread wraps or structurally weaken the blank. To see if you're sanding too much wipe the blank with a damp paper towel...if you see black dust, then you're taking graphite off the blank--that's a bad thing.

[C. GIll]

Exactly--just lightly buff with the finest steel wool you can find. It won't take much effort at all to knock the shine off.
Good luck

[peanuts]

Thanks for the advice lads. Still can't understand why the manufactors vanish them with a gloss finish.

[RogerStg]

Thanks for the advice lads. Still can't understand why the manufactors vanish them with a gloss finish.

Some manufacturers do offer rods in matt black. TFO does and Loomis used to and still might. FWIW, if you don't keep your rods too clean, they obtain their own dull finish. ;)

[dadietze]

Sales man, Sales

Every new guy wants a shiny tool...

Same with reels...

Gold? Silver? Chrome, WT??

[peanuts]

Ya Man but if I want a shiney tool I get the girlfriend to give a rub