My grandfather passed about 3 years ago and left me an old Daiwa fiberglass rod. It's a 6'6", fast action, probably for 4-8 pound test. It has a sticker on it that says "daiwa custom built" around a gold crest. The letters are in gold as well. By the style it looks (just a guess) as 70's or 80's. It had a broken tip top, broken tip, and a broken guide in which the solder had busted on the wire guides. I replaced the broken guide and tip top. Cleaned the other guides with a cleaner after removing them from the blank. Cut off all remaining thread. Kept the hypalon handle, but cap, and aluminum reel seat in place. Did a butt rap of about 7 inches with a grey, to red, to black thread fade. About 4 inches of it is black and that's where i put "IN LOVING MEMORY: ALEX "POP" GORECKI, CUSTOM BUILT BY HIS GRANDSON". I then put a 4 pattern chevron (turning the rod 4 times per pass) in grey to red to black to grey to red to black to gold. finished on both ends in black to gold. The underwraps on the guides or grey (grey has been gunmetal actually, grey is just shorter to type) with 3 gold bands directly underneath the guide. The guide being held down with black. It came out really nice and i wish i had a way to show you guys. I more wish i could have a way to show my grandpa. I guess I wrote this post to kinda say that you should remember with rodbuilding, with just life in general, that even if you don't spend a fortune on the most expensive components, the legacy you leave is in the heart you put into whatever it is that you do. If you have any info on the "DAIWA CUSTOM BUILT" rods that would be great. Thanks again guys

Aaron, if you can get your hands on a digital camera, you can indeed show us the rod. I would be happy to see your tribute to your grandfather. My grandfather taught me to fish, and to love fishing. I, too, miss him every time I am in the boat with a rod in my hand.

I just saw that you can do that and i posted a picture of the crest with a part of the chevron pattern and another picture of the guide wrap! I left the writing out as that's for me, take care and thanks for the help!

Wow !!!
I feel so identified with all You "young fishermen". I thought I was one-of-a-rare-kind.
I also have had a great GrandFather that not only tought me how to fish and love fishing and Nature, but to build and repair my own rods.
Obviously, my favourite rod now has His name on it, so not to make that missing filling when fishing so strongfully sad.
It is also nice to read about this experience from others, and how we did or want to do the very same thing.