I thought you wrapped the whole blank with thread and epoxied the whole blank also! Now that I know it's only the ferrules and guides;this seems WAY easier than I thought it was going to be. Makes me feel better about getting it done this weekend(which I'm hoping I can do).

Welcome to the addiction Ryan. Your first revelation is only the first of many to come! You are going to love it. Good luck!

Pesco Ergo Sum

Ryan, I build houses for a living and try to hurry every chance we get. Rod building I do for fun and would never rush any rod. take your timeand enjoy. dont put a time restraint on yourself. Life is rushed enough. enjoy the moment.
Robert Knox

if you must get it done by this weekend, start now, by assembling the reel seat components. if it came assembled already, affix it to the blank taking up the space between the inner bore of the reel seat and the blank with either three strips of fiberglass mesh drywall tape, or the cool new arbors designed for this, offered by flex coat among other companies. an arbor may have come with your kit. and then glue on the grip.

you can start wrapping your simple black thread wraps saturday and apply thread finish saturday afternoon/evening. you can fish it once the first thin coat is applied and dry, say monday, but you should apply a second coat soon. after 48 hours' time, you should lightly rough the first coat of thread finish before applying the second coat. if you do it before 48 hours is up, you can apply it generally without scuffing.

eric
fresno, ca.

As happy as you are that you don't have to wrap the entire blank, just be thankfull it isn't rod building of a different era as bamboo fly rod blanks were once entirely wraped as you feared you had to do this go round. There was a time when that was a common practice