I just got back from the woods cutting some diamond willow and got a phone call on a friend retiring; party is Friday night. I worked with him for over 8 years and fished with him for quite a few more than that. I know what rod, etc., that I'll build for him, but was wondering on the decals, etc., if anyone had any ideas to make this a bit more special for him? He worked at this same company (Schlumberger, a French-owned oilfield service company-blue and white, so the colors are easy) since 1975; 30 years.

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A marbelized pen with a commemorative decal.

Without saying, there'll be a matching pen to go with the rod! LOL!

I was thinking of running out to their shop today and taking a pic of the truck he ran for years and making a waterslide of it and inlaying it in the foregrip? Any suggestions appreciated; either here or email me directly...

Make a decal combined with the Slumberger logo and his years of service.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Randy, I think your idea with the truck and Doug Moore's idea is good. Put them both together.

I think that this would work well; thanks Doug and Jim-still open to other ideas, too!!

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Get a 1975 (year he started) penny (or other coin) and inset it in the butt. I do that with birthdates to personalize rods.

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With your artistic ability you could put the picture of oil can with the old type metal spout that we used to puncture oil cans a few years ago.

Randy,
How about creating an artisitc "oil slick" look for the blank or part thereof? Shiny black with shimmery tints of pinks, blues and greens, etc. A miniature Ever-Tite coupling would make a great winding check or butt cap if you can find one.

This is really strange-his boss that called me on this rod and the person that I'm building it for- they're both color blind!

I remember this from working with them both, but will still go with the dark blue and white of the logging truck's colors and their company logo.

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Color blindness is rarely complete, usually it's the red and green hues that are affected. Your friend might be able to see the blue. But whatever colors you go with, make sure you have light/dark contrast - take a black and white photo of the threads to check.

Not sure on the boss's, but Bob sees only in shades of gray, black and white; no color at all...

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Randy, if you are going for some humor and fun, maybe a tombstone with the company logo on it and the dates, 1975 - 2005, RIP? Or your Saddam style red circle/band over the top of the logo with years?

If going for elegant, I would go with Doug's idea.

I'll run that by his boss, Mick. I'll let him decide. I'll make both sets of decals up and let him see them - then he can call the shots; that's what a boss does, right??

David got me thinking; their ET's have some pretty neat, downhole-specific stuff and I'll run this by him tomorrow and see if something there might work for a winding check-great idea!

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