Best Epoxy By Far

[Stuart]

I thought I would give my thoughts/opinions on a new epoxy I have started to use. Now I have tried many brands over the years and even dabbled in my own mix and while some where fairly good there wasn’t one that stood out. The last brand I used was Aftcote which was pretty good but it didn’t set up quite hard enough. It to like most succumbs to yellowing over time. The yellowing isn’t a product on the coating breaking down but actually a chemical additive to stop UV light penetrating to the threads and fading. In fact the less inhibitor added the clearer the coating is, wether they have done this or not I don’t know. I went down to Gary Howard’s some time ago to grab thread and he showed me Pro Kote epoxy. I had heard about his brand and seen some of the pics they put up but hadn’t yet tried it. I don’t plug much in the way of products but I do state the truth wether good or bad. Like any coating it takes a bit of time to get use to as does any brand. Yes they are all epoxy but that’s about where it stops. Most have there own additives and thickening agents applied during the manufacturing process and because of this I try to find the best coating system and stick with it. After a few rods coating with this product I was pleasantly surprised how this epoxy coating performs.

It flowed beautifully, it levelled very well and its clarity was superb. Its final test was wether it set up just hard enough which it did so that ticked all the boxes for me. I would go as far to say that it would be one of the best I have used in many years. Like many good epoxies over the years, they have started with a good product then they go and change it for no good resone, I just hope that they don’t dick around with this formula at all. Take this as you will, I do this for a living and I see many different brands of epoxy claiming all sorts of crap but this one is the real deal. I don’t think there would be too many around as fastidious as I am when it comes to epoxy. If I can pass something on that I think is top notch and that you guys will certainly benefit from then this is one of those products. The other great side to this is that it’s not expensive at all. I tried a small pack first to suck it and see and now I have a 5 litre pack. No this is not cash for comment or a product indorsement with benefits it is what it is.

Stu

[Willo]

Yeh Stu.. Have heard a few good reports about it
By chance have you used Bullards D11 to compare ..?? be interested in your thoughts On Bullards D11
Use to use Threadmaster...now Bullards ......But will try Pro Kote and see how it goes
Willo

[Stuart]

I havent tried Bullards. I emailed them many times and not once did they get back to me, so I gave them up as a bad joke. Most brands of epoxies these days are just rebadged, no big surprise there. I had a pretty spot on epoxy myself years ago, I worked in with a chemist in QLD but after a while they changed there minds and I had to buy it in 44 gallon drums, bugger that. Im very happy with Pro Kote and I will stick with that untill somthing better comes along. I build stacks of rods every month so changing from brand X to brand Z isnt all that easy. As I said before it takes me around 4 or 6 rods to work out what and how it will react to my techniques. Thats just the thing, if a coating wont do what I want then in the bin it goes. I have tried threadmaster and most all of the name brands and I didnt really like any of them. Most epoxy will do a good job on lighter rods but I mainly build game rods and heavy offshore rods so the epoxy will show up any flaw. I have plenty of brand new un opened Aftcote if anyone is interested in buying it.

[Willo]

Yeh Stu
Its unusually for Bullards not to respond I have found them helpfull
But Silva (the owner) has got Cancer issues.... so things shut down ther for awhile
Willo

[Clonoid]

What about flex Stuart ? obviously it needs to be strong, but if it doesn't flex enough it'll crack won't it ?

[Stuart]

Sure will mate. Wilson rods use the classic rod coat which is a B&D Enterprises product. Now that stuff sets friggen hard and will crack. There is a fine line when it comes to epoxy, the resin needs to flex just enough which in turn needs to set up just hard enough. You will know if the epoxy sets up to hard because the small etch marks you get at the base of the guide foot will actually crack through rather than leave a small mark. The issue with the epoxy cracking through rather than marking is the guide is no longer sealed from the enviroment and then rust will begine. Rusty guides isnt just caused by this lack of care which at times is the main reason but guides in general are crap. Every guide should be at least 316 stainless and then titanium and then gold and then platnium and then dimond and god I have lost the plot.

[sid_fishes]

and god I have lost the plot.

Now Stuart, tell us all something we dont know mate!!!
hehehehe

[grave41]

Give me gold cermets any day Hey Stu.
Graham

[pedro473]

Okay then Stu after reading your report on this epoxy I am keen to give it a go so where can I get my hands on it, I have been using D2 for a while now but as you mentioned I am having trouble getting onto Silvia ATM so I need to look elsewhere.

Cheers
Pedro

PS totally agree with the guids cracking and the use of 316, I have been using ALPS for a while now and all customers are happy

[sid_fishes]

pedro- its funny that you mentioned that its hard contacting silva, as ive only just recieved a couple of emails from her [ confirming a stuff up on my last order to which will be recitified on my next order]... but i think she is at a show in texas atm[ i could be wrong but]

[Daintreeboy]

Good news Stuart. I was getting some with my order from Mudhole to get me started in this rod building stuff properly. Had no idea how good it is. I just needed to order other stuff from them so added some pro kote in. Not that I even have a lathe yet!!