Just posted some pics of a few rods I recently finished in the handles section. I biult three UL spinning rods,two 9' 5wt fly rods and two 10' 6 wt rods on the Rain Shadow RX 8 blanks. I learned and tried a lot of new things and products on these rods, and the learning curve was great.
I turned my grips and real seats, tried Andy's exotic burl, great to work with and looks great.
modified a few of my real seats to make skelitons.

Tried the surgical tubing for holding guides. Will never do it another way. Works great!!!

Used the treadmaster for the first time. Learned that when you put as much work as I did on these rods, even if you use up $10 worth, it dosn't matter. Don't be a miser, its a small amount of money compared to the rest of the components. ( I use to try and save a buck)
I also tried Tom's method of turning rods by hand for drying, and I loved it.

I made a few of the Ray Jorgensen rod handles. I have to say they where hard to make. But I learned and tried a few new techniques on the lathe. Setting the IPS skelitons was a trick and a half. Thanks Ray for your personal help, and the help and the tutorial you have on your web site.

Feather inlays, what a gas. By the last one I was doing pretty good. The last one came out the best.

All and all I learned more then I can say. I have to say thank you to all on this board for your inputs and techniques I've learned.
Thank you Tom for your Magazine and web site of which I refered to frequently while building these Rods. Lonny Bacon

Just wait 'till you really get into it.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Sounds like he already is :-)