The new issue of RodMaker is printing now. Out of the many articles within, there are 4 that I think will be of particular interest to most rod builders.

First is the SBSS seat which we provide full instructions on making. This is a creation of JP Timberlake and offers the custom rod builder something that his or her customers can't get in a commercially made rod. At first glance it looks difficult to make, but once you see the step by step photos you'll be making your own in an afternoon. This is a real advancement in custom made reel seats and handles and provides for greater comfort and function than nearly any other handle or seat on the market today.

Next is the process for a guaranteed perfect epoxy finish on any rod. Applying epoxy is the easiest task in all of rod building. No rod builder should ever have sags, runs, bubbles, waves, etc., in their finish. It's easy to get a perfect finish and we'll show you how in just a few steps. You can get a perfect epoxy finish on your rod in 3 minutes, tops.

Every rod builder needs scrap graphite or glass tubing in their shop at some point. Making extensions, inserts, sleeves, plugs, etc., is possible in your own shop. The process is simple and with the guidelines provided for selecting the right material, sizing for wall thickness, etc., you'll never again have to go looking through garage sales for scrap rod blanks. Whatever you need you can make in a matter of minutes.

With the advent of companies such as North Fork Composites, Echo Rod Company and others utilizing the Common Cents System, there is less need for custom rod builders to run the numbers - they'll be provided for you in the catalogs now. But I've always regretted that I published the entire CCS article which Dr. Hanneman wrote several years ago. The background information confused and intimidated many builders and thus I've decided to publish just the "how-to" of the system. It's all you need to know to take the measurements and make sense of them. The text only runs about 2 pages and with 4 photos anybody can use this system to great benefit. Dr. Hanneman did a great job in knocking this thing down to the bare nuts and bolts - just what a builder needs to know in order to use it and nothing more.

There are several more articles, stuff on getting more out of your lathe, some wrapping tricks, and the usual columns on rod building history, tools, news, Q&A, color photo gallery, etc. but the above 4 articles will be particularly useful for a great number of rod builders.

The new issue will mail on August 2nd. If you want it, please renew or subscribe prior to that date. Otherwise the 12-5 issue in October will be the next available issue.

[www.rodmakermagazine.com]

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Looking forward to the condensed version of the CCS

Tom,
I hope the article will have a “Cents to ERN Conversion” chart that will encompass all rods. Unless I’ve missed another published list, the “Rosetta Stone” only goes to 173 Cents and URRL article (Table 2) only goes to 303.5 (and is not linear---I.E. converts ERN to Cents).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2009 12:41PM by jim spooner.

The cents to ERN figure will never be completely linear.

Dr. Hanneman will be at North Fork Composites this fall helping them with some things. The URRS could easily be expanded a bit more if needed. It will largely depend on what the manufacturers feel they need.

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Tom
This SBSS seat you mention, does it have anything to do with the Fuji SBS seat?

No.

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Tom,
your description of the simplified CCS sounded intriguing enough that i just subscribed. I look forward to it.!

The CCS was already simple (the original "how-to" was only something like 4 paragraphs long). But it contained all the background research which put a lot of people off. So the updated article won't have any of that. You can get through it in just a few minutes.

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I am sure looking forward to the article on finishing. Since I began this hobby last winter I could write a book on sags, bags, ripples, bubbles, nubs and waves.

Steve

I can write a book about what I DON'T know about this craft!! However, going to High Point in 2009 & subscribing to RodMaker, studying Tom's book & CDs and this forum the book will be considerably shorter. I am looking forward to High Point in '10.

Amen and AMEN Bill!!!!!

Bill in WV