Common Questions & Answers

Question:

What exactly does NCP mean when talking about rod wrapping thread?

Answer:

NCP means that color preserver does not need to be used on this type of thread for the color to remain opaque. Regular nylon rod wrapping thread, if not treated with color preserver will turn translucent, allowing you to see through the thread to whatever is behind it, either the rod blank or the guide foot. This gives you a somewhat stronger bond and a very subdued color effect, which may be what you are looking for. NCP thread on the other hand will basically look the same whether you use color preserver or not, the NCP thread without color preserver will be somewhat darker as the thread soaks up the rod finish. If you are curious as to what a regular nylon wrap would look like without color preserver, just apply water to the wrap, this will give you the color and effect of not using color preserver. If you like the look, allow to dry and then apply your finish without color preserver.

Question:

What happened to the old clear color preservers, I haven't been able to find them for quite some time?

Answer:

The old clear color preservers were in most cases nothing more than a clear lacquer, very similar to the old head cements used in fly tying and also to fingernail polish. They gave a nice finish that looked very similar to an actual varnish finish but were brittle and would crack if left as the finish coat. They still needed to have a flexible varnish type finish applied to protect the thread, but even then they would eventually yellow and crack under the top finish. The water based color preservers used nowadays are much superior to the old lacquer type, they still might yellow somewhat, but they are still superior to the old types. I think that possibly the real downfall of these products are environmental in nature, as nitrocellulose lacquers are considered a hazardous material and have some controls applied to them or are not available at all, but this is just a guess on my part.

Question:

While on a recent long range trip, I noticed that some newly completed rods that I had built especially for this trip appeared to be turning dark under the wraps, as if water or something seemed to be getting underneath the finish. After the trip, when I got home, this darkening appeared to be going away. Will it go away completely, is this common, is it something to worry about, and is there anything I can do about it?

Answer:

Yes it is quite common for this to happen and it is caused by water as you suspected. It is caused by the wraps not being fully sealed to the environment. The most common cause is a trail of water based color preserver that extends out underneath the protective finish. This extension of color preserver can be either onto the blank or even onto the guide itself. What this does is act as a wick that will draw the water right under the finish. These sealers and preservers need to have all the excess material cleaned from the blank and guides before the finish is applied. Of course the best cure is the prevention of this happening, which can be handled by being very careful when applying the color preserver very carefully. The same applies to the application of the rod finish, you must be sure to cover all areas that have had color preserver applied to it. The only sure cure for this problem is to not use any preserver at all, but I prefer to use it for the color retention and the ease of removal of the wraps when needed for repairs or replacement.