Ok, I just got a "gift" from a friend - old rod, I believe the blank is tubular steel - but not positive. The handle is wood, with some nice knurling to it - a very unique looking rod, I'm sure it is a musky rod from way back when (I'm in Wisconsin, old musky rods are common) However, this one is very unique in appearance. I'm looking for suggestions/comments on how to restore this rod - I'd love to hang it on the wall, not fish with it. I need to clean up/refinish the handle and blank, as well as locate 2 missing guides and rewrap the rod. Also, it has a rubber butt cap that will need to be replaced. Maybe I should figure out how to post pics and put a couple up on here...

Thanks in advance!

This depends alot on the look you want to get: anywhere from "Rustic" to "Like New".

It's sentimental value is whatever you decide it has to you.

And it's cash value is never more than what you can snag for it in 10 days of idle advertising, IMO.

Probably some of the other guys can help with where to find line guides for this rod. I have never even seen a steel musky rod, so that's that.

Rich, I will say that if you decide to totally re-surface the wood handle, use a good wood stain product and a good compatible water-proof WOOD finish.

Do NOT use a rod-builder's finish over the wood stain or over the raw wood itself. I once used a touch-up stain instead of a bonafide product over the whole handle, and then covered it with Crystal Coat epoxy thread finish. While the Crystal Coat was great on the raw fiberglass rod blank I was re-surfacing, the CC was NOT adhering properly to the wood & stain. It did not spread perfectly evenly because of the wrong "wetting" or surface tension. Maybe I needed to sand it lightly between the stain and the epoxy (which that much younger man did not do), and that would have helped. BUt my advice, if you re-surface the wood, is to use wood products on wood and not rod products. Like that sophomore ("wise fool") did !!!

Good Luck, RIch.
-Cliff Hall+++, FL-USA

Re: Concept Oops! The Ratio & Loaded Cone Method
Rich Handrick 08-04-05 14:51
"A crappie I caught the other day was wondering about my guide spacing. He actually criticized my butt guide placement, saying “ it was clearly too close to the foregrip”. I ate him. " -Rich Handrick, Wisconsin.

I put mine on lathe and sand and then apply Tru oil till I get it like I want it then buff out. You need to post pictures of the guides so that everyone can look at them

I would do some checking first, to find out if it happens be one of the older rods that are worth some money. Refurbishing it may ruin that value

Rich:

IMO. Don't sand any of the handle-- It is knurled.... Use a stripper and clean out the knurled area with a brass brush . Brush it on as say the directions, use eye protection and a good pair of rubber gloves. Then a good coat of true oil is great .
Also when you are done with it ,don't hang it , FISH IT !!! My real old stuff STILL likes to go fishing too. Well so do I. ( I remember when most of it was state of the art!!!) LOL

TIght Lines
Bill Rice

Thanks for all the help guys - I'll try to get some pics posted. The handle doesn't appear to have any finish on it, but I'll probably hit it with a light stripper just for good measure - then either true oil or pure Tung oil is what I'm thinking. I'm curious as to the best way to refinish the blank, if it is in fact steel - could I just dremel it with a buffing pad to clean it up? Then what to coat it with?

I'd fish it, but I'm not much of a musky guy - I just think it's such a cool looking rod I want to display it somehow...

Thanks!