want ask some question,
for rookie rod builder how long do rookie complete his first rod ?
for vetrean rod builder how long do veteran complete 1 rod each ? 1 day or 1 week or 1 month i'm just wonder how long it take to make 1 rod complete
Josh

Rookie and artist - days per rod

Veteran builder for fishing - rods per day

What Bill said.
You can wrap several rods per day and get finsih on them if you have the dryer space and minimal equipment. If you're after the "pretty" stuff such as inlays, weaves and a host of other cosmetic additions, you might want to tac on a few more days to complete one.
I ,personally, prefer to build fishing rods that will see tons of abuse. And like Bill's, my customers aren't looking for pretty just tough and no nonsense.

It takes as long as it takes.

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

Josh,
Whether it is a rookie or a veteran, it is very much dependent on the complexity of the rod.

If you have built rods before and if you have the appropriate set of tools you can build a simple rod in about two hours.

If you are building a complex rod with complex weaves etc. you might end up working on the rod for a month.

It is fairly typical for a good custom rod builder to build two to 4 rods per day if you are working at it full time.

Again, it depends on the amount of work being done on a rod. If you are using prefinished handles - grips etc. then the time is much less than if you are going to be using individual rings to glue up handles, shape and glue to the rod.

If you have to do a complex handle with a complex set of turning, you might end up with 1-3 hours on the handle alone. Of course all of these times do NOT reflect drying time for glues and finishes. These times are only "hands on" time for the rod builder.

But - time is relative.

It will take as long as it will take to complete a rod - whether it is a rookie or a vet ran rod builder.

Good luck and enjoy the task at hand.

Roger

My more intricate, quality components "eye candy rods", where 'fit & finish' and attention to detail are prime ..... usually involve 25 t0 30 hours of ' me with rod' attention. A solid no frill, 'meat rod' build takes about 6 hrs of 'me with rod' attention. They both cast about the same and have approx. the same sensitivity.

It also depends on the rod being built. 6 foot 3wt 2pc with a small western handle or a 15' 3 pc with a 26' handle. All things relitive. If you are building for your self the small amount of time you put into something you will fish for a lifetime is well worth the wait and reward.
Good luck and enjoy the build as well as the fishing!

Eric

Fit and finish and "eye candy" may not determine daily output.

Fit and finish should be prime on all rods and does not require additional time for the skilled.

Eye candy may be provided by the use of Electric Decals.

It is what it is and Do What You Gotta Do!

Hast makes wast. I would worry how good the rod comes out. I myself do not worry about speed, since I guarantee my work. As you build more you will learn how to get faster, it will get easier.

Bill - willierods.com

Well being a rookie and having recently completed my first build, I would say the 'build' time took under 8 hours. But I had really practiced doing wraps on old rods. And I was real careful finding the spline marking everything, etc. But I did a Minima split grip,spiral wrap AFTER taping the guides on and testing and finding the layout for a traditional top mounted guides for a casting rod for a new CB80MH blank where I did not have any guide references to start with.

I spent DAYS reading, looking, reading on line, asking questions etc. before I ever started. It came out real nice and I only have one design/build change I would have made with more experience and that would be to cut down the length of the front reel mount from the factory length.

Can't wait for the EXPO to go to some seminars and to buy some more blanks and components for a couple more rods.

Most builders do not use a front reel mount -- or are you saying a -fore grip.
Unless it is a heavy Salt Water rod where you have to or will grab the rod above the reel seat.

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2010 07:05PM by bill boettcher.

It really depends on how much you want to do with the rod for embellishments. A plain rod with pre-made grips and no thread work [www.rodbuilding.org] will take me 2-3 hours not counting drying time. If you want to get fancy and do some segmented turnings for the grip [www.rodbuilding.org] you can spend three or four hours just cutting and gluing pieces before you turn it (including drying time 25-40 hours). Add a closed wrap at another 6-10 hours. With out counting drying time I can easily stick 15-20 hours into a rod, the thing about this kind of build there are very few customers that are willing to $400 plus parts for me to build them a rod, so you had best do this type of build because you like doing it (lol).

Rookie and procrastinator.. years

Josh,

It depends on your personal skills and available time. My first couple of builds it took me several weeks to complete. And I think I took the guides off twice on each rod.

Now I can do a simple handle and reel seat and guides wrapped on in about 2-3 hours. Not counting any special cross wraps or feather inlays. I've been building for about 6-7 months.

I wrap by hand. I was going to get a power wrapper but am glad I didn't. I am only wrapping fly rods and spinning and casting rods. I'm not doing the larger diameter salt water rods.

Mike