Old - 1970's maybe Eagle claw Sweetheart rod

Started by John in MT, June 23, 2017, 05:41:47 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

John in MT

I have an old Sweetheart rod - 8-1/2'  7 wt.    I honestly have no idea how I came across it,  I think it belonged to a friend of mine in high school that I've lost track of.

Anyway, the wraps are falling off.  The original varnish is completely gone and it's just thread, mostly loose thread.  No missing guides, the eagle claw plate that was on the grip is gone, no rod tube or cloth sleeve.

Pondering cleaning it up and using it infrequently.  Everything I've wrapped in the last 10-15 years I've used flex-cote or pro-cote epoxy, but I'm wondering if I should use a varnish on this old rod?  I'm not very good at getting nice clean level epoxy, just serviceable.

Just musing here - I realize it doesn't really matter.  

If I ever find my old friend I'd give it back to him, it'd be nice if it was close to original.

oc1

A modern polyurethane varnish will give you the '70's look with less yellowing and better abrasion resistance than the original rod varnish.  I'm not sure you can still find the exact same varnish used back then because the formulations change over time and the manufacturers are secretive about exactly what's in it.  I've never liked the thick epoxy look.  It hides the thread craft underneath... be it good thread craft or poor thread craft.
-steve

thorhammer


John in MT

#3
Thank you.  I think the varnish sounds like a nice touch - even with my poor threadcraft :)


I don't know what voodoo CP is - do you have a link?  (google turned up nothing specific)

Nevermind - found it.

thorhammer

Voodoo Rods site (you found). It used to be Bullard's. Jon Vadney turned me onto it.