I have just purchased a 17 year old custom-built G.Loomis GL3 fly rod (F1175-B blank). There were some white deposits on the blank, under most of the guides, presumably from salt water use, since the rod was used on the beach for many years. The white deposts came off with luke warm water and a toothbrush, but at one guide, so did some of the flat black top coat, revealing an area of dark grey bare blank. With my thumb nail, I can chip off more of more of the flat black top coat.
Is there a flat black coating available to touch this up, or perhaps a flat clear coating that I could apply to the the edges of the chipped finish, or even the entire blank, to protect it from further chipping? The G.Loomis company have told me that they do not have anything.
Any help would be most appreciated, as this is a terrific rod in otherwise excellent condition, and I want to use it on the beach.

I would want my dam money back Periot You bought this rod You have problems with it pealing
Return it ???

Was this rod to be Perfict - or did you buy it under the understanding it had flaws ???

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2015 04:19PM by bill boettcher.

If you just have that one bad spot, I'd consider some matte blank enamel paint. Just enough to cover the bad spot plus a tiny margin beyond, up and onto the earliest area of sound paint.

I assume we're taking about a very small area? If so, I wouldn't recommend coating the entire blank. It's not necessary and will only add weight and perhaps even ruin the performance of a rod you seem to like. Equally, if the factory paint is coming off, putting something on top of that won't fix the original bond between the blank and factory paint. But again I'll assume we're only talking about a very small area.

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Bill, I bought this rod from a close friend, as is, at a good price. I won't be returning it, so I'd just like to stop any further peeling. I have to scrape pretty hard with my thumb nail to peel it any more, so maybe it'll be fine.

Yes, Tom, it's a very small area, about half an inch by half an inch, directly underneath the snake guide. Thanks for the suggestion of the enamel paint.

If you like the rod - Then repair the spot
Us the rod and after time if needed redo the rod Maybe just a bad spot - But you did say you had to put pressure for the paint to come off ???
Like Tom said fit it I say then use it Move on

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for your advice, Bill. I'll do the small touch up, and see how it looks over time.

I have done a couple repairs as Tom suggested using Testor's enamel model paint. It worked very well.

I would just do an excellent job in cleaning the blank and then continue to use the rod in its current condition. This is a rod with character and history. The slight removal of parts of the rod finish does not affect the rod at all, but just adds a bit of history to the rod.

James, thanks for the specific paint to use.
Roger, you make a great point. This rod does indeed have history. Another friend built this rod specifically for our local beach fishery, and donated it to Trout Unlimited for their annual fundraiser banquet. My other friend, who I just bought it from, won it at that raffle. He used it for many years as his favourite beach trout rod, until he switched to double handed rods.