I come across all kinds of deals while building rods for people, and sometimes I get some high-end products in trade for work. This time I've got a T&T HS864-4 from a customer who inherated(sp) the rod from a relative that passed this summer, and he wanted a casting rod in trade. It is a beautifull rod and casts like a dream. I was fishing for Sea Run Cutthroats A few days ago and had a Steelhead slam the Dry Fly I was using. Anyway, the rod snapped about 2" above the ferrule, at the section below the tip. I called T&T and found that the section will cost me $98.00 to replace. It has become my favorite S.R.C. Rod and I intend to repair it. The problem is that T&T will not sell me the thread or tell me what it is, and the same thing goes with the finish they use. Does anyone have any idea what is uesd on this series of rod? The thread looks like a semi-metallic green and a semi-metallic red. The finish appears to be a verry light low-build epoxy, similar to a fly-tying head cement. My only other solution is to strip the guides and re-wrap the rod with a differant thread and finish. Has anyone got the information, not just what is close, it needs to match. Thanks in advance
Bryan

I am not familar with the thread color. You can strip one guide and look at the back side of the thread and get a better idea of the true color.

The finish they use would likely be one of the common epoxies on the market today. The depth of build is more directly related to your application technique and how much you put on, than it is the finish itself. Any of the low-build or "lite" epoxies would be a good place to start.

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Bryan, Try using some of the regular nylon thread without a thread preserver on top. I have one of those rods and if I remember correctly that's what those wraps looked like to me.

Brian,

I am surprised to hear that about T&T! Not that I am partial to them or anything but I have returned a number to them for repair ( even one that was broken when it made contact with the cieling fan in our room in Baja!) and they have never charged me more than return shipping!

Dan

How about building them? Do they come "spined" or some how marked as other brands?
How are they sold? Do they come with tube, sock, plastic bag, and / or Label?
Do they have written Warranty / Card?

Thanks a lot!

Like certain rod manufacturing operations, many of the finishes used by rod companies are considered "proprietary" or "trade secrets" and are generally not divulged. Some rods like Winston would seem to use a fairly thick epoxy to create their trademark "football" shape, while companies like Orvis use several coats of a very thin finish. With the range of 1 and 2 part products currently available to rodbuilders, virtually any factory finish can be closely duplicated without knowing the exact formula used.