I'm about to build my first rid and was wondering if anyone had any ideas about whether I should or shouldn't use a Gator Glass blank.
I'm looking at them because they're inexpensive and I wouldn't worry too much about the financial ramifications if I messed up.
My concern is that they aren't finished and I think the guide feet might not sit right if I wrap them as is.(Peaks and valleys)
I love an matte finish and would like to build it the way it sits but I don't want to make this first rod more difficult than it has to be.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Mark

Mark Gator glass blanks are fine 1st rod to the 100th, the guide feet will sit level on the blank,you do want to make sure your wraps are packed tightly which should be done anyway, another consideration would be some of the glass Batson blanks they are sanded.
John

I think the gator glass rod blanks are awesome...I have built 3 rods on them now and they work great. For the price you can't beat em. with the unfinished and uneven blanks if it becomes a problem you can underwrap your guide feet...just wrap where the guide goes put some color preserver on it to seal the thread and then place the guide and wrap over it and should result in no problems. the only thing is that they have a pretty big OD so you need to buy a 18-20 mm reel seat to fit properly and if you use cork its kind of a chore to ream it out to fit. Also it will take a little more thread to wrap a rod.

But as far as looks are considered they look great unfinished i have had no problems what so ever when people look at one of my rods they are usually distracted by the thread work. Good luck to ya man hopefully it turns out well.

Mark,

Just finished a bumper wrapped casting rod. Did some cross wrapping and did not us an under-wrap on the guides. Rod turned out great. No problems with the guides sitting straight and solid. Wrap it and enjoy.



Danny D. Will
Expatriated Conch

Mark it's really hard to mess up if you take your time, if Gator Glass is the rod you want than go at it. If it's not the rod you'll be using 5 years from now than it's time and money poorly spent in my opinion. I still use my first rod. Lamiglas IM700 MH salmon/steelhead rod. It's not my best work, but it fishes beautfully still. Your never really stuck with a mistake unless you damage the blank, guides can be rewrapped many times til you get it right, and if you use Rod Bond as your adhesive you have hours to realize that you installed something wrong before it sets.