Writing on Blanks

[Musselwhite]

Trying to avoid using decals. How do you write on your rods? Thinking of using Petti's gel pen with Krylon spray and wipe on poly. http://globalflyfisher.com/rodbuildi...rods/#addendum Anyone tried this?

Musselwhite

[Magoo]

Mark-
I tried and tried to do handwriting on blanks (actually practicing on arrow shafts), but alas my handwriting skills were not up to the task. My elementary school teachers would be ashamed . I've got one, maybe two, of pens I tried with and I think a little case of nibs as well. If you'd like to borrow them to try out just say the word and I'll send 'em to you.
It's been a while so I don't remember everything I tried for ink. I know I tried ink from metallic pens (just blot out a bunch on a piece of plastic), spray paint (same), and testors model paint (let settle and decant the thinner). All of the inks worked fine I think, it was just my hand that wasn't up to the task.
If I remember, roughing up the surface was important/tricky. Too smooth of a surface=runny lettering. Too rough=jumpy pen tip.

[Musselwhite]

Thanks man. No need to send. We can meet for some fishing. The last outing was a little too cold. I'll send you a PM.

Musselwhite

[DavidEdens]

I have been hand lettering custom rods for years. I use gold or silver metallic gel pens. I spray two to three coats of laquer over the lettering before applying the epoxy. I mask the areas I don't want to spray with tape and paper. It works well.

I have used white gel pens with no clear coat with good success.

It takes some practice, but I think the results are worth it.

Capt. Dave
Fly Cast Charters
"Hunting Fish in the Marshes of Glynn"
www.flycastcharters.com

[Musselwhite]

Thanks for the tips, Dave. I am going for the no finish look so I assume I could just leave out the epoxy?

Musselwhite

[DavidEdens]

Originally Posted by Musselwhite

Thanks for the tips, Dave. I am going for the no finish look so I assume I could just leave out the epoxy?

Musselwhite

You have to put the epoxy over ink or decals or else it will rub off. The metallic gel pen ink never dries on a non-porous surface, which is why you have to coat it with laquer.

I don't know of any way to inscribe or label a rod permanently without protecting it with flex coat, or something similar.

[Henry Wolfe]

Dave, do the gel pens come with different size tips - fine, med - etc. If so, which size do you think is best? After you spray the coating on the gel, do you then use epoxy over it like you would a label? Thanks.

[DavidEdens]

Most of the gels come with medium points. At one time, I was able to find a gold gel pen at a drafting shop that came in a fine point. I googled white gel pens a few days ago, and there are a few places where you can order them online. Some of them had different tip sizes. You just have to ask the company. Get the smallest ball you can find.

After writing and sealing the pen ink with laquer, I apply a coat of epoxy over that area of the rod. Be careful and use a soft brush or a light touch with a spatula when applying the epoxy. Sometimes it will bleed through the sealer.

Ask me how I know this!!!!

Capt. Dave
www.flycastcharters.com
"Hunting Fish in the Marshes of Glynn"

[Henry Wolfe]

Thanks, Dave. And, I don't think I need to ask. As a matter of fact, most everything I know was learned the hard way.

[Major Wader]

There are a few gel pens that work better than others. Like Dave, I have experimented with many, with varied results. Pentel makes one that you can use without laquer, as long as you let it dry overnight, or use a hairdryer to coat immediately.

FlexCoat is my epoxy of choice.

I suggest buying a few different gel pens and testing them on a piece of blank BEFORE you test them on a rod. Yes, this is the voice of experience.

You can also wrap a light colored thread and use the Staedler-Mars black lettering pens after the first finish coat. They work OK on matte gray blanks, but can be a bit hard to read.