My wife bought me a TurncraftorPro lathe for Christmas, I added the bed extension, a real nice 4" 3 jaw chuck and mounting plate, a drill chuck for the tailstock, and one of Andy's mandrels. I had picked up some Burl cork at Cabela's on sale to practice with before using my Laguna cork from Andy.

I wanted one ring in front and one ring in back of my Fuji 16mm NPS reelseat to compliment the split grip handle. I was able to turn the front ring down to about the same size as the front of the reel seat, the rear ring is slightly larger but tapers down towards the blank for a pleasing look with vinyl check rings on each.

I've calculated each ring has cost me $150 so far! I'll do the butt grip this afternoon to help defray the costs - this is more fun than I anticipated.

I hear you, Tim. At $75 per hour, my winding checks and butt caps are running about $10 to $30 each.

Just another Tim

This is parr for the course. I believe my first rod cost me around 900 smackers. After buying a rod lath, blank , guides. reelseat ,cork grips, wrapping thread, finish and drying mortor. What I told my first wife was I built a 300 dollar rod for less than150. At that time if she new the real cost, my next. hobby would have been building something in wood. Like a coffin LOL
Good Wraps Bob

Tim-

I never thought of it that way. I turned a custom BC style cork for a client (see photo boards) and it should have cost him $14 / inch plus time and labor! LOL!

Wow, did I undercharge!

Domenic

I came home from the Chattahoochee River one day with a couple of stockers for the gril. My wife, CPA and family CFO, commented that she was glad to see Trout down to $450/lb, excluding depreciation on tools and Jeep :)

You're hooked now!!!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Rodbuilding is almost as bad as Tuna Fishing offshore on a 38 Ft Blackfin. Average cost per use day per year =~ $ 4,300 not counting fuel! This is approximately $ 3,000 more than a charter. Most rodbuilders should keep all accounting records completely hidden from CPA and spouse.

Gon Fishn

And budget minded mothers!! LOL!!!

Bill in WV