I've used Flex-coat since I started to wrap my own rods back around '82-'83.
When I started to work for a tackle shop, another employee who also used to wrap "shop rods" and I were given 32oz. bottles of a new brand called 'Rod-Kote'(?) as samples for our shop use. They stayed clear for years and had good shelf life and as it took me over a year and a half to use up.
Since then they went out of business, changed their name or got bought out but I don't know by whom.
I've used ProKote with success and have no complaints, but for my Fly Rods and light Saltwater I use U-40, Flex-coat Lite and Flex-coat regular.
Over the years I've learned how many guides (depending on the rods/type length) I can coat before the epoxy starts to set too much to be useful so I don't waste too much and I have an acquaintance in the medical supply industry and I have a couple of bulk boxes of 10cc and 50cc syringes so that I mix exact equal parts of resin and hardener so I never waste a batch.
I bought a Custom Power-Wrap when they were still built down here in Torrance and while I was working at the tackle shop so I have a pretty easy time with the first coat as all I do is apply a light coat just to seal the threads and guide feet (where most of the bubbles come from) just after I'm finished wrapping the guides. I don't even transfer the rod to the dryer until I've applied the first coat.
As for extending the use time, when the epoxy starts to set for the first time, if you're using a plastic cup you can microwave the epoxy for a few seconds to extend the set time and use more of it before it sets. Be careful however...I wouldn't recommend doing it more than once or more than 10 seconds on a medium setting. In my experience doing it twice will accelerate the set time and gives you less time to fix when applied to the rod with additional heat.
As for recommendations, Flex-coat has been a staple for most commercially made rods since forever.
Also to address your quantity concern, they are also the most available in different oz. quantities that aren't from other manufacturers. Finding 2, 4, 8 and 16 oz. bottles are not difficult to find at tackle shops or order online.
I hope my .02 helps some.
FFY
