I am struggling with writing on my blanks. I have been using extremely fine tip fountain pens with testors metalizer model paint thinned down. This has been the only ink/pen combination that I have found to work even remotely well. How do some people write in script with perfect lines? This makes no sense, I am having trouble getting the right ink, something that will flow well through the fountain pen without smudging. Any tips from the experts?
Tyler, Windsor and Newton White 974 works well. If you don't want to use ink, a Pentel gel pen coated with Krylong Fixatif works well to. Gives you additional options for colors as well. Mike
I struggle with this as well. Practice does help, so if you have a section you do not care about have at it. I also saw where someone routed a slot in a 2 x 6 so the blank sits almost flush with the top and you have some place to rest your hand. I have a few blanks to build and will be trying this method.
why not get a custom water slide decal, slide it on and varnish/epoxy over it. IMO, this is much better looking that someone trying to scribble on a fly rod and something i'll be getting when i build my Kabuto this winter.
At this point,considering my penmanship and the difficulty of find just the right writing instrument [I`ve for a drawer full of all types],Im looking into making a platen and inking the info/logo directly onto the rod. What do youse think? I have some rather thick plastic that was designed for this..or aluminum foil which would be easy to cut but have a limited life span. Anyway,the idea is to avoid paying $6 per decal or getting pissed trying over and over again to get the inscription just right. My plan is to make a bunch of ultra light switch/speys specifically designed for my river {Truckee].These are going to be the equivalent of 4 wt single handers only looooong for extending the drifts and increased sensitivity to the river floor....but that`s another story..
I make sure I wipe my blank well with alcohol before I start writing to get the oil off the blank that will cause the pen to slide and not stick. The key is to use a silver or gold ball point pen if you want it to look nice and clean. Felt tips are just to bold even the fine point. Make sure when you epoxy over the writing you don't touch the writing with the brush.
Perfect? I just do the best I can. I also make sure the blank is clean. I use fountain pen tip and some silver ink that I got at a rod building supply. Just do the best you can, practice, and don't worry to much about perfection. It's what will give your rods a personal touch.
