Question For Rod Buliders/restorers

[Sugar Creek]

I've recently pulled out a fly rod that hasn't seen daylight in a long time and noticed that the wrappings were fully of tiny bubbles beneath the glue and at the thread. It doesn't hurt anything, but if it can be easily fixed I'd give it a shot. I dont want to sent it off the the mfg over this. Heat of some kind, maybe. Any direction is appreciated.

[Gavin]

Have some pictures? Depending on the rod...a rewrap may be in order. Its pretty easy to do, but you dont want to destroy original wraps on a rod with any collectable value.

[hoglaw]

I'm not sure how bubbles would appear in the finish on a rod all of a sudden. You can certainly get bubbles in the finish if you don't properly mix and heat the epoxy when you're doing the wraps. I'm fairly certain you can't thin cured epoxy with anything, at least not without damaging the wraps. I'm with Gavin. I don't think you can fix it without re-wrapping. If the integrity of the wraps isn't in question, I wouldn't mess with it.

[hoglaw]

You could always go to rodbuilding.org and ask your question there. Very knowledgable folks on that forum.

[am4mu]

Ditto what Hoglaw said. You might also try rodbuildingforum.com. My repair skills are limited but it sounds like you might be into a rewrap. Structurally though this condition should not hurt anything. Might want to leave it alone. Ron Schneider of Schneiders rod shop in Mountain Home could also give you some valuable input as well as Mark at RDP Flyrods. Good luck!

[Sugar Creek]

Thanks all. The "bubbles" look more like oxidation; I just refrained from using that term because it is beneath the surface at the wraps.

It is very possible that it was like that from the get-go and I never noticed. It is an orvis 1 wt, and I hadn't looked at it in years. Not going to re-wrap.