Hi there -

I'm reasonably new to rod building - up to about 6 rods and counting. I have been asked to do a rod that is going to be presented to someone as a gift. As part of this I have been asked to do an inscription (essentially their name). Thankfully the company I buy my blanks from will do the actual writing on the blank (I am terribly at it!) but as I will then build the rod they wont be adding any epoxy to protect it.

So my question is - whats the best way to protect the writing once it's done. I am picking a couple of decrotive wraps either side of the writing and then add finish over the top of the lot? Are there any tips to this??

Cheers!

Damon
New Zealand

Damon,
I do this all of the time. When I do the writing, I use Acrylic ink with a nib and pen. After letting to dry for at least 30 minutes, I simply apply a coat of thread finish over the top.
However, caution - I do not do any brushing of finish over the top of the ink. I flow on a reasonable quantity of finish onto the blank in the area of the insscription and let it self level.

As the story goes in Cinderella - not too much, but not too little. Put on just the right amount so that as the finish levels and thins it will be just right.

As long as the finish does not flow a great deal and it does it pretty quickly - there is no issue with the finish affecting the writing. After that coat dries, along with the rest of the guide wraps, apply a 2nd or more coats if needed. You won't have to worry about any of the following coats - if any - to affect the finish.

p.s.
Some folks when the do an inscription, follow up with a spray - fix it - or sealer which keeps any following coats to affect the inscription. However, since I don't have issues with the method that I use, you will have to get information from someone else on what they might use for a fix it coat on top of the inscription.

p.p.s.
I don't care for my writing either. Fortunately, my wife is an artist and has beautify hand writing so does all of the inscriptions on the rods.

Good luck



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2018 09:34AM by roger wilson.

Finish epoxy over the writing will work. Use a thin coat and make sure it levels well. If you use too heavy a coat you may get a wavy finish. By far the best ink I have ever used for writining on a rod is Dr Ph Martins iridescent calligraphy ink. I use a nib pen and when dry you can overcoat with anything you want, including Permagloss. If needed, you can thin it with a few drops of alcohol to get better flow.
Norm

It's a good idea to find out what the company is using to do the writing, as some inks are more susceptible to bleed then others. In most cases, wrap epoxy will not effect the ink, but you can ask your supplier if they know.
Otherwise the advice above is very good.

In addition to Phil's excellent comments, you might give the blank writer an extra piece of blank, so that before you do the finish work in your finished blank, you could test the process on a test blank to insure that your products, processes and procedures will work well on the final product.

Good luck

Test everything! What seems to work with another builder doesn't seem to work with everyone.

I have found nothing that will go smoothly through a nib AND be free from distortion when another finish is applied over it with a brush. What I do is to use India ink, then fix it with a spray of quick dry gloss or matte clear finish. The use of a spray doesn't distort the writing like a brush does. Then when that is dry, I can apply whatever I want, and it is fine.

Don't trust my solution until you test it.

I agree with Michael on this procedure.

Although I apply finish with a brush, I do NOT put the brush over the inscription. Rather, I put the finish on the opposite side of the blank, and let the appropriate amount of finish flow over the inscription without brushing the finish. For me it works fine, but the idea of using a fixit spray is a good routine to insure excellence in your process.