A guy came in with his fathers glass 6'6 fluke rod.
It has these guides on it : [www.mudhole.com]
These are brass and I was thinking they are heaver then most any other guides
He just wanted it rebuilt to clean it up I know I can make it better and lighter If I can talk him into it ?
6'6 with 8 guides. I should be able to get rid of at least one depending on static test.

Am I right ??
Thanks

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2010 11:30AM by bill boettcher.

I wouldn't dream of changing that rod ... it belonged to his father. IMO, the best thing to do is to make it look as close as possible to the original, yet as clean and bright as possible. Be sure to preserve all original labels, etc.

As Jim has posted: Talk to him about it BEFORE you make ANY changes. He may want it exactly as he remembers his father using it.

Thanks Jim

All I was going to do is add a little gold to the seat, butt cap, and gold winding check. Thread is brown , I was thinking of black with several gold trim rings. He likes - shinny - so I was going to urethane the blank.

Ken

I build them as per customer instructions. Showed him pictures of the gold butt cap, seat and check - he loved it No labels on it

Then again for further reference are they heaver?

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2010 01:02PM by bill boettcher.

I would try to explore the options of leaving the rod alone and building an entirely new one, and/or simply restoring it to what it once was.

I have 2 rods I cannot and will not ever change. One is the first I built totally myself. The other is the first which was completed with my father's help and assistance. I still have and use both rods, but to me they are nearing retirement age. It is a sentimental thing.

Bill -
Give me the size(s) of the guides and I will weight them for you - i have them on hand. I also have others (much lighter by American Tackle) that I can also weigh for you

Ken

BBLG are the American tackle guides. Brass. They look like butt 12 but there is so much black paint on them I will have to clean to get a good measurement. With the paint the tips look like 6's Got to be 8's .

Bill - willierods.com

Guides you have:

12 = .51 oz
10 = .34
08 = .17

American Tackle titanium ring lock casting /boat guides (gold inner ring since you're thinking gold trim)

12 = .09 0z
10 = .05
08 = .04

CONSIDERABLE savings in weight !

You ain't kidding Thanks Ken I am going to show this to the son when he comes over.
The gold ring is also on the boat guides. I never showed him cause he has a - Price -
I will show him and see if he wants to spend more.

Thanks for the help and ideas.

hay Ken

His father loves the rod even with the heavy double foot guides.
I make the guides lighter give the rod more flex, better performance ---- Then maybe he don't like it -- Not the same rod any more ????

Like said - make it the same so it performs the same - That He Likes.

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2010 06:22PM by bill boettcher.

Bill -
Those guides (to my mind) are well worth the extra $$. NO issues with rusting or green goo and exceptional inner rings

Bill do not change thing, keep the same guide spacing. Polish up the guides, if they are Brass, simple Steal Wool wrapped around a drill bit put n a drill an turned at high speed well polish them up and get rid of groves. I Would bet these guides were at one time chromed. Where did all the paint come from?

Good Wraps Bob

Bill
Alternate guide choice American Tackle GZBTR. Black frame / gold ring boat rod guide (three legged). Much lighter (less than half) than what's on the rod now and are less expensive than the titanium frames and will be in keeping with the gold schemed butt & guide wraps. Again - need to make sure the customer is ok with any change.

Bob
I think the paint that Bill refs is that the BBLG guides have are black paint over brass frame. I use the black / gold inner ring on trolling rods. They're very, very durable - which the charter captains like cause they can take a customer's neglect

Bill Thanks for the info. I was just wondering when he mentioned paint. I have a few old Brass guides that were tubular that are pre WW11

Good Wraps Bob

His father painted the guide frames and rings with black paint. Not sure what kind ?
Guess he likes black so that is why the new ones will be black. No paint - plated. I think he had this rod for about 30 years.

Bill - willierods.com

I would just replace the guides with new Black ones and leave the rest as original as possible, in remembrance to his Father. A rod that is 40 years old will start to break down if it was fished allot in extreme weather conditions be it hot or cold. He did not mention how the grips were. I bet they need to be redone also

Good Wraps Bob

Yep, grips and seat. This was used a LOT !

Bill - willierods.com