Hi all,

First post to the site so please be gentle!!

I am dealing with replacing broken rings on an orange coloured Tronix beach rod. Frankly they are a PITA - no matter what shade of thread I try it doesnt match the blank, and I have been unable to find a varnish additive to match either.

I am now moving on to trying out various modelling paints to try and get a match as there are some marks on the blank finish that need attention too. From my reckoning the rings on these rods are wrappped with white thread and the coloured laquer used on the blank is used on the wraps to blend in.

Has anyone else come up with a solution to this problem to save me having a breakdown?

Thanks

if your rebuilding the rod to that extent I would just remove all the wrappings and lightly scuff the rod and re paint it in a color that you see fit to use then re wrap finish and your good to go

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Brian,
When I run into a situation like yours, I strip the guides off of the rod and rewrap new guides onto the rod - using a nice contrasting thread - rather than trying to match the color of the blank.

Better to have a nice contrasting color on the thread - rather than trying to use a thread color that is about 3 shades off of true which just clashes with the color of the blank.

Good luck

Thanks - I should have pointed out that I am repairing for a customer. The damaged rings are on the Middle section of a 3 piece rod......

can you post a picture of the section you to work on that would help a lot in getting you set with the best options to complete the repair

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Brian,
Since you can't get a thread match, I would check with the customer and if all right - strip the guides off and rewrap the guides with a nice contrasting thread.

Good luck

I am going to see how I get on with the paints that arrive tomorrow first, and then see what the customer wants from there. At least I can try and strip back again if its no good.

did a search on the rod and found a couple of pics and the color they were looked like a burnt orange on the blank and wrapped with burnt orange threads in I am guessing on the size to be a weight and then finished with out any color preserver giving it the look like a solid sleeve or painted wrap.

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Pleased to say I have cracked it. Got a pretty good match using a Humbrol Enamel paint (no 209).

Firstly I levelled out the work area with a thin coat of Hi-build, before painting on 2 coats of the enamel paint, locking this in (once dry) with another thin coat of Hi-build and allowed to fully cure.

The ring was then whipped on with a mid orange thread and this was thinly coated with Hi-build before receiving 2 further coats of the orange enamel paint. Again this was allowed to dry before coating the whippings with Hi-build in the usual manner.

All things considered I think this has given a finish as good as can be done outside of the factory. My client is collecting in 2 days time so hope he is as impressed as I think he will be !!

It's been a lot of hard work and head scratching to get this cracked but now I feel confident in repairing other rods of this ilk in future, and with what I have learned from the process it will be a far quicker and cleaner process than this has been !!

Thanks for all the input along the way.