I will be hosting a workshop on "tools" that you can make or adapt for use in rodbuilding that make life a little easier. I would like to make it more of an interactive workshop and encourage an exchange of ideas, so if you have any tools/tips that you use that make things go smoother for you, how about shooting me an e-mail mbarkley@wowway.com about it, or better yet bring it to High Point to share. If you e-mail me with details, I will try to duplicate it and demo it. I'm sure that most of you have things that you take for granted that the rest of us have never even thought about!! Here's your chance to share your idea's with the rest of us.

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!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2007 01:37AM by Mike Barkley.

Mike,Would a 6 pack be considered a tool??Helps to steady the hands(like a tool rest),gets the creative juices flowing and forces you to walk away at some point(to use the head).

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Mike, the most important tool I have ever found in my time rod building, is a good chair.

If you are not comfortable at the end of 10 hrs work, then your chair is not right.

I go for the ERGONOMICALLY designed office secretary type chair. Up , Down, side ways adjustments. The lot. I get mine from second hand office supply stores. Castors are important too.
You need too wiz round your buildng area as easily as possible.

This might sound weird, but the chair I sit in all day makes a big difference to how I feel at the end of the day and how I work during the day.

Cheers
Paul

I fish therefore I am.
www.hookeduprods.com

It's not one but two. First is the light directly above my work area, which has daylight bulbs, and the second is another set of eyes, magnifiers. The light helps with color selection along with the magnifiers that help me see. The other post about ergonomic chair support is a big plus also.

darby

Darby, makes a good point about lighting.

Apart from the need for good lighting, I use the LIGHT LINE on a blank to line up the guides when I am wrapping a rod.

Paul

I fish therefore I am.
www.hookeduprods.com

Mike,
Check your email. And thanks for all the help you've provided me through the years.
Tight lines,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

Six inch long 3/4 inch schedule 40 pipe nipple with NPT threads both ends. Grind/ Sand/ or Turn Down threads one end and taper.

Guess what this gizmo is used for and you can pick up your prize at the Swampland Booth in High Point! This one will blow you away! Even an "Aggie" from Tejas will appreciate this one!

Swamp Boyz



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2007 03:56PM by Bill Stevens.

Bill,

I can't emagine the exact use. But, knowing you, I would say that it has something to do with turning grips while you're flocking them.

Bill in WV

Bill.....I then adapt the threaded end to my compressor with reducer bushings...the tapered end gets jammed into 3/4" ID hypolon. Under pressure with a sealed tip I'm able to put a new rear grip onto a blank thats 1" in diameter at the butt, from butt to tip......what do I win?????


Best new tool I have........ are my first prescription glasses with progressive lenses, titanuim Armani frames, scratch resistant Polysomething coating, and they tint "Johnny Depp" black when I go outside. Suppose seeing what your doing can be pretty important.

Mike..I'll email you later on


Imus Seahgan

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.

Michael you win a trip to the "Hilltop Steakhouse" in Saugus for converting my gizmo into a dual purpose whammer jammer!

Darned if it didn't work like a charm to install a hypalon sleeve -

Original prize still open -

Yessssssssss!!!! (fist pumping)...red meat!

Thanks Bill

Guess I didn't know you as I thought I did.

Bill in WV



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2007 08:17PM by William Bartlett.

Bill,
Gatta be a hole punch!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

My thumb nail......................When it busts off, my rodbuilding grinds to a halt until it grows back....I just can't seem to pack thread any other way.

Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work

Mike it's funny that you brouhgt this subject up.I have been thinking or hoping that somebody with more know how than me, would put togeather a book on the home made tools of the trade or craft.
Maybe after your wokshop, you might jut do that.
I would think that there are things that builders use to cut time off a build???( short cuts )
Just like that little tool that was made to get a stuck section of rod apart.What an idea that was.How many times have you used it since it was shown in Rodmaker?? What do you think Mike ???

<<< DON >>>

Mr. Barkley,
I cannot send emails due to a puter/host problem, but my favorite tool is my crab fork. A two pronged fork on one end and a spatula/spoon on the other. With a bit of honing on a stone, it is the greatest thing after canned beer.

Mine suggestion is either longer arms or one of those adjustable lighted magnifiers. They make life so much easier. C2

Indentured servant to strip rebuilds - One who works free!

Great! Keep them coming!! I will compile all the tips/tricks that I can accumulate indo a PDF document and make it available via e-mail to all that want it (if I get enough!)

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!!

Bill Stevens........I stripped three rods for rebuilds today....and I work for free if I get to keep the stripped components......you just have to pay for all the shipping.

Got any rods with gold cermet guides you need stripped for rebuilds???

Derek L. McMaster
Rohnert Park, CA

Born to Fish, FORCED to Work