What's up group...it's been a minute. I haven't been absent but just lurking.
2025 marks 50 years of rodbuilding for me.

 

I wanted to mention my experience with CTS Crystal Coat.
It's not a 50:50 mix. It's 4:3 (resign:hardner) and its by weight.

At first, I thought measuring it by weight was going to be a hassle but it's really no more of a problem than using the syringes.

 

The one downside is it take considerably longer to setup (vs FlexCoat, ProKote).
I would keep it on the rod dryer for 6 hours or more.

 

Now...One thing that it does have going for that other don't is how clear the hardener stays.

The picture below is some finish I bought at ICRBE in Feb of 2024.

 

 

 

Andy Dear states that clarity of the hardener was one of the goals achieved in the development of Gen 5.  I have not yet tried it, have a lot of Gen 4 left and have no problems with it.  

 

Give us some detail on how handling a 4:3 by weight proportion is as easy as 1:1 by volume with syringes.  I can see a scenario where you make it easy by using the same amount every time, but I don't want to do that. Sometimes I want different amounts.  thanks.

4 hours ago, MickD said:

Give us some detail on how handling a 4:3 by weight proportion is as easy as 1:1 by volume with syringes.

 

I put the mix cup on the scale and weigh it...then I add 4 grams of resin and three grams or hardener.

It's only slightly easier/faster by a few minutes.

Something that isn't mentioned about the finish, unless things have dramatically changed, I looked into the CTS finish when it first was introduced some years ago, the cost made coffee shoot out my nose when I was told what it was. MANY times, more than any other finish at the time.

11 minutes ago, spoonplugger1 said:

Something that isn't mentioned about the finish, unless things have dramatically changed, I looked into the CTS finish when it first was introduced some years ago, the cost made coffee shoot out my nose when I was told what it was. MANY times, more than any other finish at the time.

I was just checking...
On ctsfishing.com you can buy the 2oz for $15 US.
Mudhole sells the same amount of FlexCoat for $12.69 US.

 

I also see that there is a newer formula

NOTE: November 2023 – new mixing ratios

• By WEIGHT: CrystalCoat™ ratio is 3:2 (resin:hardener)
• By VOLUME: CrystalCoat™ ratio is 4:3 (resin:hardener)

 

Not that this really matters, but it's kind of a good to know.

 

UV does not make the finish yellow...oxygen does.

What the UV does do is create what is called a "free radical" from the molecular structure.
Oxygen then bonds with this free radical. When you hear about "UV inhibiters/absorbers" the manufactures are really talking about compounds they add that will bond with free radicals.

Nothing in epoxy will stop UV light from penetrating and dulling what is underneath the finish.

This is pretty much what is happening with epoxies we buy over the counter.

 

Things have indeed changed.

Thanks, Chris, but I'll stick with 1:1 by volume.  Better fits my intellect. If I want more or less than 7 grams of mix, it's easy peasy .  

 "Nothing in epoxy will stop UV light from penetrating and dulling what is underneath the finish."  I'm glad you explicitly made this point, one which many in the building community don't know.  They think UV inhibitors will protect the thread, especially metallics.  But they won't. 

2 hours ago, MickD said:

I'm glad you explicitly made this point, one which many in the building community don't know.  They think UV inhibitors will protect the thread, especially metallics.  But they won't. 

Im always baffled when I see peoples wrapping rooms with big displays of thread...I guess I dont go through it fast enough. Sometimes I will inherit a spool of thread and you can see the difference when you peel of the top layer.

14 hours ago, Chris Catignani said:

 Sometimes I will inherit a spool of thread and you can see the difference when you peel of the top layer.

Yep!

Chris, about how many CC's would that 7 gram mix equal? Take a guess, I'm trying to get a visual. Thx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, Lyman X said:

Chris, about how many CC's would that 7 gram mix equal?

Lynn...first let me make a correction. The measurements I mistakenly called grams were actually 1/10ths of a gram. 

I took a cup that looked like it was already at 5cc (old epoxy mix). I added 4/10g resin and 3/10g hardener...and I swear it still looked like 5cc 🤣. Any way, it was still enough to put a second coat on a rod with seven guides and some trim areas. If I had a rod with a longer decorative wrap I would probably just double it. My initial foray with the finish was for some lures.

For what its worth...I'm one of those guys who typically mixes 1/2cc each of mix.