2 oz Rod Builders Finish Kit, Diamond II Rod Building Finish/Epoxy/Coating

Description

(1) 2oz Rod Finish Kit, Bullards Diamond II Rod Building Finish/Epoxy/C
oating
The rod in photos above was custom painted by Pat Haeckel and built for Bullard International by Randy Search "Randmade Rods". Randy made this a very short rod so that we could travel with it and he also coated the entire rod with Diamond II so that customers can see the full effect of Diamond II's fabulous clarity, as well as giving all that it covers a true vibrancy.
Gene Bullard developed the very
FIRST
commercial thread epoxy offered to rod builders. Developed in 1970, “
DIAMOND I
®
”
became the largest selling such finish ever to hit the market. Because this was the FIRST of its kind ever to be developed, he recognized problems with this first formula. After several years of testing, Gene then introduced his much improved second formula, “
DIAMOND II
®
”
This consequently led the way for others who later developed similar products, some of which still remain on the market.
Tips for getting the most out of Diamond II Epoxy
•  Diamond II works best at room temperature.  We recommend mixing and applying Diamond II at temperatures between 70F and 80F.
•  It is extremely important to mix Diamond II epoxy in equal portions. The cause of epoxy that won’t cure or that remains tacky after a few days is almost always due to inaccurate measuring of the two portions resulting is something other than an exact 1 to 1 mix. In order to provide some margin for error, we highly recommend mixing no less than 3ccs of each portion even if you do not plan to use that much during application.  This is cheap insurance against having to strip and rewrap and/or recoat with more epoxy.
•  In the event that you do wind up with a mix that won’t completely harden after a few days, you may recoat with Diamond II, making very sure to obtain an exact 1 to 1 mix. A second application, properly measured and mixed, will resolve any “tackiness.”
•  The best way to obtain an exact 1 to 1 mix of your epoxy portions, is with the use of syringes. Be careful not to use medical type syringes which may contain silicone lubricant (those with black rubber) - silicone will create “fisheyes” in your Diamond II.  Always source syringes which are known to be silicone free. Most rod building component supply houses stock these.
•  In order to reduce the likelihood of bubbles in Diamond II, mix the two portions very slowly, for about 3 to 4 minutes. As you begin mixing, Diamond II will turn somewhat cloudy. As the mixing continues, you will notice that it clears completely. Never apply Diamond II until the mix has completely cleared.
You will have 25 to 35 minutes to work with this great finish!!
•  At room temperature, Diamond II will set to the touch in a few hours. But a full cure takes longer. Please allow 72 hours before using your finished rod.
•  Diamond II is self leveling. If you experience lumps or sags in your epoxy, the most common cause is applying too much.  It is much better to use 2 light coats than 1 very heavy coat.
•  You may apply a second coat of Diamond II any time after about 10 hours and up to about 72 hours. No special surface preparation is required  provided you recoat within 72 hours. Beyond 72 hours, it is best to lightly scuff the first coat with fine Scotchbrite in order to provide “tooth” for the second coat.
•  All epoxy hardeners, including Diamond II, will tend to turn slightly amber in the bottle over time. This is normal and will not affect the set, cure or performance of the product in any way.
•  We do not recommend thinning Diamond II with any type of solvent, but it does thin nicely with acetone. Acetone is very caustic so please read all safety material when using this product or others like it. If you wish to have a slightly thinner epoxy to work with, without the use of additives, simply set your Diamond II in a warm area for approximately 30 minutes prior to mixing.  Please be aware that over warming any epoxy will result in less pot life. Personally I like to use a heating pad on the low setting.
•  If you do experience bubbles in your Diamond II, you may remove them with a very brief and application of gentle heat, such as that provided by an alcohol lamp. Do not attempt to “torch” or “cook” the epoxy - actually in most cases all that is needed for bubble release is a few seconds of very gentle warmth.
•  Store Diamond II at room temperature, or a bit cooler, in a dark area. It is natural for the resin component of any epoxy to thicken and even crystallize over time or if stored in a rather cold area. This will not harm your epoxy. Before use, simply loosen the cap on the resin (leaving an air crack) and warm it in a microwave oven for about 5 to10 seconds.  If this does not return the resin to like new condition, repeat with another 5 to 10 seconds. Once returned to full liquid state, your epoxy will perform like new. Again, crystallization of the resin is normal and will not harm your epoxy.
For more information on Diamond-II please visit
www.VooDooRods.com
DIAMOND II
®
, often imitated—
but never duplicated—even today.
Upon the release of
DIAMOND
II
®
Gene was quoted as saying,
“I believe this new finish will be the most important thing to happen to the custom fishing rod industry since the introduction of the tubular fiberglass rod blank.”
—and he was right!!