In his book George Maurer recommends allowing 3-6 months for the varnish to cure on a rod before using it. So how much time have you found it necessary to allow your finish to cure before using it? I'd be interested in what specific varnish you use an whether it is a spar or spar urethane varnish or some other concoction.  (Larry Puckett)

The last time this came up, I contacted George about this.  If memory serves, he said it was a typo and the correct time period was 2 to 3 weeks for a full cure.  (Todd Talsma)

Now that makes a lot more sense. I'm not sure I could ever hold my water for 3-6 months while I waited for the varnish to cure! Only thing I could figure is he made his own very slow curing varnish.  (Larry Puckett)

It depends on the varnish.  PU varnishes are probably cured enough in two or three days.  Old spar may take a lot longer, but 3 to 6 months seems like a great deal of overkill to me.  (Ralph Moon)

I will fish the rod as son as my fingers don't stick to it anymore. I use Helmsman spar urethane. It dries in a few hours but there is a big difference in the varnish at six months that is markedly different than after a couple of weeks.  (Timothy Troester)

It all depends on what kind of varnish you use, the temperature, the humidity, the air-circulation, and the UV exposure. That is, we really don't know....

I use Minwax "Fast Dry" poly, and while my drying time is usually one-to-two days, another week is needed for curing. Even so, that's probably not "full" cure (indeed, if we can ever tell when full cure is reached).

If you use a pure, natural-oil varnish, and your drying room is too cool, too humid, has no exposure to natural light, and no circulation, you may need to wait many weeks for significant (initial) hardening. Lord only knows how much longer "full" cure might take under these conditions.

Others will need to chime in with their favorite varnishes and waiting-periods, but I doubt any of us waits for 3-6 months before using a rod. Shit, man! There's fish out there!!!  (Bill Harms)

It all depends on the varnish. But why use spar on a rod use poly it dries a lot quicker. The rod never really gets that wet anyway to warrant using spar on the blank.  (Gary Nicholson)

I use Helmsman, air dry overnight, then put in my oven at 200 F for 24 hours and it’s ready.  Hard as nails.  (Al Baldauski)

Do you do anything to prevent getting any screen or rack marks on the varnished rod while its in the oven?  (Wayne Daley)

I just support the section on two cedar blocks.  No marks to date.  (Al Baldauski)

I use Last and Last Marine Spar Vanish....do you think I could try this oven treatment?   (Wayne Daley)

I don't see why it wouldn't work on any varnish.  Some cure more slowly than others and would be more likely to get support marks, but you could try it on a scrap of some sort first.  (Al Baldauski)

I use MOW and I think that it is a Helmsman product. I hang and air dry by the oil furnace for about a week and then the rest of the curing is done on my favorite trout streams. Have never had a problem.  (Jack Follweiler)

Is there a way to tell, or is there a forgiving amount of time the varnish or poly (Helmsman in this case) is stable but not cured so that a second coat will adhere without having to sand it?  (Henry Mitchell)

The new can says within 2 hours or wait two days. No need to sand after only 2 hours. Need to sand after 2 days. (Timothy Troester)