Black pole finish

[Rod Fisher]

Anyone know how to get this nice black finish,

As for the black finish ... I believe that it's actually a Japanese Lacquer ... still available from a variety of sources ... both as brush on and spray ...

A high gloss black enamel paint should work I would think. I believe I used 'Japlac' on my Viking, which gave a finish I was happy with. Test it on something else first.

[Crucian]

Most craft shops sell brushing enamel, Halfords sell satin black paint in spray cans. A couple of light coats of paint, left to harden, and a light rub over with fine wire wool before whipping. The level of gloss finish will be determined by the varnish, satin or gloss. Please show us the finished job.

[Gobio Gobio]

I will show you the finished result but beforehand I need to quilted a complete replacement top section which will take a while.

[Mike Crompton]

In the past I have used a Black Blackboard paint , because a found I had half a tin over from a previous project, with a satin varnish or gloss varnish over. First varnish lightly sanded over before waiting awhile before applying the second coat. I was pleased with the results.

[OldAngler]

Hello Gobio Gobio,
In your first post on this topic you asked about a suitable whipping thread. From the photos I cannot be sure of what the original colour was. Clearly it is a 'twist' thread. Have a look at Sewing Machine Sales, www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk
and go into haberdashery then Madeira Melange thread. They have about ten different twist thread colour combinations, one of which might suit. I have used several of thier twist Madeira Melange and have been happy with the result.

Good luck, Old Angler

[Gobio Gobio]

Hello Gobio Gobio,
In your first post on this topic you asked about a suitable whipping thread. From the photos I cannot be sure of what the original colour was. Clearly it is a 'twist' thread. Have a look at Sewing Machine Sales, www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk
and go into haberdashery then Madeira Melange thread. They have about ten different twist thread colour combinations, one of which might suit. I have used several of thier twist Madeira Melange and have been happy with the result.

Good luck, Old Angler

Im very grateful to you OldAngler, indeed the twist Madeira Melange looks very nice. Im totally on hold as I need to source a replacement cane section for the pole. Im after the second section down from the top before I consider what to do next.

[EricW]

For what it's worth, I have an R Sealey matchwinner which is by far my favourite float rod. When I restored that, I sprayed it as appropriate with an etch primer followed by gloss black using car aerosols from halfords. It looks lovely, but next time I paint a black finished rod, I will flat the paint with a very fine paper, eg 1200 grit or a grey scotchbrite pad before varnishing as the yacht varnish that I used clearly hasn't adhered properly to the painted surface. It's not a great issue but it's not ideal. The white spirit solvent in the varnish didn't 'wake up' the paint enough for the two finishes to stick to each other so the surface really needed keying mechanically by light sanding.

[MoleFisher]

Try 000 wire wool between coats.

[EricW]

Hello Mole fisher. I have since re finished another black painted rod and flatted the last coat of black with 600 grade wet and dry before varnishing. This has worked perfectly but as you say fine steel wool would also be ideal. Although flatting leaves the black paint looking very matt, the varnish adds the gloss.