Soft Touch Clear Coat Finish

Hello Everyone!
I am not a firearm finisher. I don't do hydrographics for a living. What I do build are custom fishing rods. But, I do them quite a bit differently than most builders do. I build my own reel seats. I build them out of exotic burl woods. After machining, the wood is finished with Urethane. Generally 2 coats. The foregrip of the reel seat is made of the finest Portuguese corks that I can buy (and let me tell you at $3 for a 1/2" ring it gets very expensive) directly from a trader in Portugal. I combine them with custom aluminum hardware. I also completely build my own composite graphite rear grips.
Well, I'm thinking about changing my finish, for maybe both front an rear grips to Soft Touch Clear Finish. Maybe the rear should stay gloss? I've read that they are very durable and that it's used on Firearms. That's really a big plus for me to consider. I'm just a little concerned how it can endure the handling and constant assault of sweat, oils, bug spray, fish guts and everything else that goes with it, plus the constant handling, on a daily basis. A lot of my customers fish all...day...long... (most hunt just as hard). And, then what of them shoving them into rod holders when they troll? Can it handle that? They get banged around pretty good! Does it have exceptional abrasion resistance? Does it scar or look scared?
So, before I order it (and I think I'm going to try the Big Brain Soft Touch), I'd like to hear what experienced minds might have to say about it? Any suggestions brand specific would be helpful too.
Oh, I should note, the way I found out about this site is because I bought a new ANI R150 Spray Gun from Jim at K2 Concepts (your fearless leader here - @K2Concepts ). I don't think I've EVER had that high quality of service from anyone. Anyway, I love this gun. I've been shooting both 1 and 2 part Urethane Clears through it. My gun has a .80 tip. I know, measurably smaller than what you guys use but it serves my purposes perfectly.
Anyway, your thoughts on the durability and ease of spraying Soft Touch Clears would be greatly appreciated. I see that there are different suggestions on what to spray on top of. Thoughts on that as well.
Thank you for your input.
Tom
I am not a firearm finisher. I don't do hydrographics for a living. What I do build are custom fishing rods. But, I do them quite a bit differently than most builders do. I build my own reel seats. I build them out of exotic burl woods. After machining, the wood is finished with Urethane. Generally 2 coats. The foregrip of the reel seat is made of the finest Portuguese corks that I can buy (and let me tell you at $3 for a 1/2" ring it gets very expensive) directly from a trader in Portugal. I combine them with custom aluminum hardware. I also completely build my own composite graphite rear grips.
Well, I'm thinking about changing my finish, for maybe both front an rear grips to Soft Touch Clear Finish. Maybe the rear should stay gloss? I've read that they are very durable and that it's used on Firearms. That's really a big plus for me to consider. I'm just a little concerned how it can endure the handling and constant assault of sweat, oils, bug spray, fish guts and everything else that goes with it, plus the constant handling, on a daily basis. A lot of my customers fish all...day...long... (most hunt just as hard). And, then what of them shoving them into rod holders when they troll? Can it handle that? They get banged around pretty good! Does it have exceptional abrasion resistance? Does it scar or look scared?
So, before I order it (and I think I'm going to try the Big Brain Soft Touch), I'd like to hear what experienced minds might have to say about it? Any suggestions brand specific would be helpful too.
Oh, I should note, the way I found out about this site is because I bought a new ANI R150 Spray Gun from Jim at K2 Concepts (your fearless leader here - @K2Concepts ). I don't think I've EVER had that high quality of service from anyone. Anyway, I love this gun. I've been shooting both 1 and 2 part Urethane Clears through it. My gun has a .80 tip. I know, measurably smaller than what you guys use but it serves my purposes perfectly.
Anyway, your thoughts on the durability and ease of spraying Soft Touch Clears would be greatly appreciated. I see that there are different suggestions on what to spray on top of. Thoughts on that as well.
Thank you for your input.
Tom
Post edited by tharder on
Comments
Do NOT use it on a project first. Especially with the high end quality that you’re putting out (and your customers are paying for). Do a sample and run it through the wringer to be sure it’s something that you are confident in. Give it a thorough test, and see for yourself. The feel of the soft touch clear is very nice. Velvety and smooth. Durability is my main concern, but I’m almost certain it was something in our process that wasn’t done properly.
Report back your results and let us know how it goes!
Really great advice @WileECoyote regarding trying multiple product offerings, and not just one. Very good advice. The only problem is, who else offers such a product? I've found only two companies, US Paints and Big Brain, of them, only Big Brain offers a smaller amount (Pint, Quart). US Paint I can only find in gallon amounts, of which, I am unwilling to spend that much for something I feel unclear about. Who knows, the Big Brain product could be made for them by US Paint, then I wouldn't actually have any choices at all then, would I?
Maybe @Dinnetta_gobigbrain could chime in. Dinnetta, I sent to you guys a question on your site. I need to make a decision today on this product. I have a number of new Fishing rod orders to complete and I need to test this stuff before I'll be willing to put it on my rods. Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
What about how it scars? Shoving them in and out of rod holders and all the rest of what they do to them? Can it stand up to the abuse and will it make a white scar as they do it to them?
*Note; this site blew them up bigger than they really are so they appear blurrier than what I see from their smaller size. I still think you'll be able to tell how the Soft Touch would change the "impression" of the burl wood.*
Clear also. Spray that over one of your burls, and that will show you then, you can always let that fully cure, and easily sand/scuff it and go over it again with your urethane gloss to save it. You won’t be able to do that w the soft feel. Once it’s on, i wouldn’t coat over it. But you’ll get the same look and test the pop of the burl, without the soft “feel”. And as far as the durability and scuff/scar resistance, that’s up to you to test. I would clean, sandblast (or scuff well) and paint a few sticks of PVC with Big Brain’s recommended black base paint (since black shows everything) then apply the Soft Touch over that properly. Then test the durability of it in and out of rod holders, etc.
Keep in mind, not ALL flat (or denim) clears can be saved by scuffing and covering with gloss clear. Prime's flat clear can be buffed, and the haze will remain the same.
Do you have a website @tharder? My son was asking to see some more of your work.
Lastly, no @WileECoyote , I don't have a website. Boy, I sure get that question a lot once people see these photos. Unfortunately, I have not put the time into getting one built. To be honest, I'm a little fearful of creating a website. Most of the time they're looking for what I charge to build a fishing rod. If you look at what G.Loomis charges for the top fishing rods...that's pretty much what I charge. Boy, that is extremely generalized given there are so many options to choose from.
The problem is that the vast majority want a custom fishing rod but struggle to pay for this level of custom work. I'm trying to streamline the process to make them less expensive (and offer different levels of custom work) but you guys already know how it goes when you're doing custom work...if you're not careful you'll be working for $3 an hour (or less). I've been building rods for over 40 years and started this business up in my retirement. So...you get the idea.
It is so hard to be fair in pricing and, at the same time, be fair to oneself. You want your work out there to generate more. You have to have it if you're going to see referral business. But, should we price too high then nobody will be out there to share our work. Hence we start the constant struggle to find a balancing point. Furthermore, ALL of us, are looking for ways to distinguish ourselves from the pack and offer something unique and superior to warrant pricing that truly compensates us for all we put into these ventures. I too struggle with that. In part, that's why I've developed these grips...there's nothing like them out there...nothing! But, being a die hard fisherman, all day comfort and superior functionality is my #1 motivation.
I think I'll make you guys a little collage of some of the artwork I've done on rods. Just a few, made much smaller on one page. It's the artwork that draws most people, but, making a grip of exceptional all day comfort has been an obsession of mine. Funny, it will be of little notice once they're out there in numbers. Speaking of which, all of my rod builds are numbered. I should add they are affordable. Something G.Loomis sells for $500, that's what I sell a similar model for, AND, far superior in build quality and much, much better parts. Being custom made, the customer's names are on every rod I build.
Thanks for the help you guys. I'll be back with some photos, results and observations. Now, to figure out how to rewire a brain not to lay down so much material! Clearly, I'll have to practice. (by the way, how does this stuff sand off, is it difficult? Brain Dead's site say within 48 hours it's diamond hard. That's pretty hard!).
Just a suggestion...
As for pricing? Rolex kind of set the standard for watches and you don't see anyone walking into a Rolex store and asking for a 50% off because they will "Tell all their friends?"...
Yea stick to your guns...don't ever let them see you sweat...they can sense fear...