custom painting a catfish pole blank

Question
I an unpainted fiberglass blank and was wanting to put a in detail custom paint job on I've painted custom cars for year's wanting to build myself an awesome pole. Can I use a 2 stage car paint or would it flake. I want to marbleize it black base silver marble and clear coat. If you have any pointers on steps or products to paint this pole it would certainly be appreciated. thank you

Answer
Hi Henry,

Yes, you can paint it.  Custom rod builders, and many rod manufacturers, paint blanks all the time.

I use the term plastic below.  Substitute fiberglass or graphite depending on what your rod blank and components are made from as you read the word plastic.

Very thin coats of paint are all that is required.  Rod factories often use a dip process followed by drawing the blank through a membrane with a small hole in it to squeegee an even, thin coat of paint over the blank. This takes some practice and experience to do.

You can spray the paint on successfully, just maintain a coat thickness that covers well but doesn't build up too much.  You can wet sand between coats if required just like an automobile.  Of course, don't sand into the blank surface.

Automotive paint can be used but you must add the "flex agent" that allows the rod to bend without cracking the paint.  It may also be best to use paint formulated for plastic automotive components...more of a dye if I remember correctly...the flex agent may be plenty for the paint brand you use.

Krylon spray paint for plastic lawn furniture also works quite well on rod blanks.  Also on plastic reel seats, handle materials, rod tubes, etc.  It's pretty good stuff.

I would assume you can use 2-stage paint, but would test it on a scrap blank before you do the complete paint job.   Buy an old rod at a flea market for a test blank.  Don't forget the flex agent.  You may want to check with the paint store or factory rep to find out how mulitple layers of paint with flex agent will interact.  I believe it will work fine but it doesn't hurt to ask.

I recently did silver Krylon covered by clear Krylon on reel seats with no problems...but there's not much flex in those parts.

It should work.  Test it first.

I would also test the epoxy you are going to use to cover the thread wraps on the paint to see if there is any reaction.  I doubt there would be, but you never know until you try.  You sure don't want to get the rod all painted and wrapped and then have a color change or lifting occur due to the epoxy on the threads interacting with the paint.

Thanks,  Joe