When Dale Clemens was in the rod building supply business he sold a wrapping finish, Crystal Coat, that was the best I have ever used. It was bubble free, flexible and durable. Does anyone know of another product similar to Crystal Coat? Or is Crystal Coat still being produced by another dealer?

Julian: Yes, Crystal Coat is still made and distributed by HUT Products. You can order it online throught their website.
Steve Kincaid

Steve Kincaid

Great! Thanks for the info Steve.
Julian

No, the Crystal Coat that HUT sells is not the same product at all. It's vastly different.

What you want is called Klass Kote. I think the company is in Tennessee.


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Tom: I've used Crystal Coat as a buffing compound on many of my turnings. What's the difference between the 2 products? Is the other one better?

Steve Kincaid

The Clemens Crystal Coat product was a 2-part epoxy paint sold for use as a thread coating. The HUT item is a one part product, either a wiping varnish or a urethane. Not sure which, but these are not even remotely similar.

Klass Kote is the same 2-part epoxy paint.

The names are the same, but the products are entirely different.

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Tom,
So you are saying the Klass Kote is essentially the same product as Clemen's Crystal Coat?
Understandably,a one part item will be different from a two part epoxy paint. The HUT Crystal Coat certainly doesnt seem useable as a coating for guide wraps,based on their website info.
Chuck

I WAS TOLD ONCE THAT A PRODUCT NAMED "HOBBY POXY" OR SIMILAR NAME WAS THE SAME THING.

Chuck,

Yes, Klass Kote is the same product at the Crystal Coat. It has a few more years evolution at this point so the formulation may be improved over what Clemens sold all those years ago.

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Found Klass Kote on line. Its distributed by Diversified Solutions. Thanks for the information. I going to try the Klass Kote to see if it is as good as Clemens' Crystal Coat.

Julian,
I used Crystal Coat for many years. My process was to mix the two parts in a film canister, apply my first coat right out of the canister, then cap and put into the freezer. The next day I'd hold the film canister in the palm of my hand until the contents flowed freely, and made the next application. It was very unusual for me to mix a second batch. The first batch went in and out of the freezer until the rod was done.

Do a wrap on a test blank section and give it a try.

Jeff