New Epoxy - Generation 5

When word started to spread that ThreadMaster was no longer going to be available it was one of those moments that anyone who make things rolls their eyes, sighs an expletive and starts wondering where the next staple will come from.

ThreadMaster was a  crucial part of the rod finishing process, and after using it for  several years  I’d become accustomed to its properties and quirks and now that accumulated knowledge was about to evaporate, and the process of trial, error and learning was going to have to start again. Not something to look forward to …

Then word started to circulate that Andy Dear the originator of ThreadMaster was in the process of developing and releasing and new alternative....
A sigh of relief and an ear to the ground to try to get wind of any developments, as the last stock slowly drained down the news was good Generation 5 was out and it was as good if not better than ThreadMaster.  ( A pretty high bar)

At the BFFI  Jason from Fortitude said that he had some Generation 5 with him so it was time to dip a toe…
A few initial differences, different colours and smell,  dilute with Isopropanol rather than Acetone, and a few concerns about temperature sensitivity…

One way to find out…
I always dilute the first coat of epoxy to seal the whipping a lot ( a 50% lot…) and it was an unknown just how well the epoxy would respond to that, turns out it’s fine, a little worrying when it goes milky white but as it mixes it goes water clear.

Second concern was how well would it cure in a cold workshop, cures fine, a little longer to cure but definitely fully cures at less than 22c.  ( I will add that while curing temperature might not be critical mixing temp probably is. I always make sure that any epoxy is properly mixed at around 25c this make sure it has chance to fully crosslink, once that  has happened the stuff will cure pretty well no matter what…)
The third one  was how well will varnish work with it, again absolutely fine.
So all of the initial concern were removed

Thankfully Generation 5 is at least as good if not better than the original Thread Master. Anyone looking for a replacement I would certainly recommend it.
I got mine in the UK from Fortitude rod co, which is a great place to get any of your rod making materials and some pretty interest rods as well.

Hope your season is going well, or at least getting underway.