I have been using Helmsman Spar Varnish in clear gloss as a finish on my rod wraps for a couple of years now, and I have found the process works better for me than epoxy. Dave Lewis'
website mentions that he uses heat to help the varnish cure, after discovering that rods left in a hot car while on a fishing trip got much harder.
So, I threw a couple of sections in a rod tube, and left it in my car for a few days. I was surprised by the color changes. The first picture is a ferrule wrapped with black thread and blue and teal accents (both color-preserved thread). The two thin trim bands started out as the same color. The second picture is from the butt section of the rod, that didn't make it into the car since I was working on the signature and logo section. It shows what the colors started out like.
I should also add that the varnish has shrunk. The smooth finish I had before now shows the subtle lines of the thread below.
A few more details: There is a layer of epoxy over the wraps in the second photo to protect the signature, but they have had similar coatings of varnish applied before I put epoxy on top of them. My finishing process is to apply a base coat of epoxy and to wipe off everything that hasn't soaked into the thread. I put 4-5 thin coats of varnish on top of that.
I assume that the varnish yellowed significantly while in the car. So, is this something that I should watch out for with my varnished rods? Should I just expect to wrap with earthy colors, knowing that the varnish will eventually darken and become more amber-tinted? How have others addressed this, other than to accept its inevitability—should we add the yellowing of varnish to death and taxes?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.