Greetings everyone. I am new to rod building and this forum so please understand when I ask rookie questions.

I have made two long cast surf rods so far with good results thanks to a friends advice. We both are using BBQ rotisserie motors for drying. These motors turn painfully slow. I was looking into buying a motor but I have found them from 6 RPM to 40 RPM. What are the pros and cons of a faster motor? Are they used for different epoxy types or rod sizes; or is it personal preference? Your advice is appreciated.

Rotisserie motors make good drying motors with the exception of being noisy. I have about 4 of them that I have scarfed up but never made a drying motor from them. I think they turn 6 rpm. I use a 4 rpm for drying. Most builders use a 4 to 16 rpm with the most common being 4 or 6 rpm I think. If it turns too fast the finish could bunch up in the middle of the wrap and be "football" shaped. I don't think the epoxy/ finish type makes any difference. I would stick with 4 to 6 rpm motors, that is plenty fast for drying.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

My slowest dryer is 11 rpm and it seems to work fine. I have an 18 rpm that is nice for application and doubles as an epoxy mixer. I set it up on an angle for mixing, works great.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

David,
All of my drying motors turn between 6 and 10 rpm.
I use my power wrapper to apply the finish at speeds of 0 - 150 rpm. After the finish is thinned and leveled, I transfer it to the slow turning drying rack for overnight drying.

You might check out one of these nice QUIET 12 volt dc gear motors. for example the one that turns 6-10 rpm at 12 volts.

Then, just pick up an inexpensive 1 amp plug in dc power supply for a couple of $$ and you have a very good long lasting drying motor.

[www.sciplus.com]

Roger

David Mc Coy unhide your Email info for information

Sorry!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2011 05:58PM by Barry Thomas Sr.

My e-mail isn't hidden, I just checked.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Must be the other David.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

This site usually has a good gear motor selection.
I just looked and they don't presently have any applicable AC motors.

[www.mpja.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2011 06:29PM by Daryl Norvell.

My favorite is 2/3 rpm

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!!

Dave, the one thing great about BBQ motors is the torque. I built a 6 rod dryer with one rotesserie by daisy chaining them with pullies. It worked great for many years. I finally sold it about 6-7 years ago and from what I understand it is still going strong. The reason I sold it was lack of space. I have a 4 rod PB dryer now and it turns at 11rpm's. The BBQ motor I had turned about 6-7 rpm's.

Tight lines,

John Hernandez

I guess my drying motor isn't so bad after all. I was trying to lay the brush on the wrap to and wait for the motor to turn to get the edges of the epoxy even. I think I am putting it on to heavy as well. My first rod i used Thread Master high build. That only required one coat however I had more bubble issues. The second I used ProKote. I know I was putting that on too heavy. A drip would form on the wrap and I had to get it off with the brush. I am also trying to cover a wider area that I have a decal on. I have some unevenness and sagging. I am not known for my patience, this hobby is turning out to be a good exercise for that. LOL

Thank you all for your help.

I adjusted my settings to show my e-mail.

David,
It really does work better if you can use a faster motor for applying the finish. As I said earlier, if you happen to have a power wrapper, you can use the wrapper at a higher speed for finish application.

If you don't you can pick up a 50 rpm motor or so, for finish application. Then use a foot pedal to turn the motor on and off as needed, or you can use one of the flex coat clutches or similar to slow and or stop the rod as needed when applying finish.

The faster speed takes care of your issue about getting a straight edge. If the rod is turning quickly, it is very easy to have a nice even edge on the finish.

Take care
Roger

David,
Here is an example of the flexcoat fw200 finish application system.
This unit uses a 200 rpm motor with a slip clutch on the chuck to be able to slow and or stop the rod any time that you are applying finish:

[www.shofftackle.com]

But, as I posted earlier, if you have a power wrapper, you can do exactly the same thing at the same or better speed with no added cost.

Roger

I'm only a beginner rod builder, having built three rods so far.

I use a 5 rpm motor that I salvaged from an old microwave oven (that is the speed that the turntable turns at!)
I wrap by hand, and I use this motor for both applying the epoxy and for drying. I've been extremely happy with the results so far.

I am interested to hear Roger's comment that a faster speed would make it easier to form a straight edge - I think that this would most definately be the case.

I use Tom's method for applying finish Then I give it a fast spin on my power wrapper, then transfer the rod to one of 6 dryer motors I have One Batson, one PacBay and 4 rotisserie. The rotisserie motors all have differnt speeds extra slow and fast. Once the rod is ready for the dryer I don't care what their speed is, as long as they turn. You can get a great finish if you want to hand turn it if you like

Good Wraps Bob

I apply by hand with the rod on a set of stands I made with floor casters epoxied to some scrap wood. When I finsih I remove one of the stands and replace it iwth a motor I got out of my mom's broken microwave (3-4 RPM) with a PVC chuck. I would venture to guess I have less than $7.00 wrapped in the whole set up. I do have a new 13 RPM motor from one of the sponcers to replace this one when it dies. For now it works great. The only thing I am adding is a timer. I finish most the rods at night and spin it all night. If I set the timer for like 6-8 hours then I can avoid getting up to unplug it.

My dryer is set up with a 40 rpm motor. I also have two different pulleys on the motor and chucks. This way I can change the speed and coat fast, then change to slow for drying.

Bill - willierods.com

I see I came to the right place for help. Thank you all very much. I think I'm going to get a faster motor maybe 24 RPM's for application and then switch it to the trusty rusty BBQ motor for a slow turn. Perhaps later I will get pulleys and multiple dryers but for now I'm going to keep it simple. I have allot of rods now and I have an excuse for at least 3 more. After that I'm going to have to learn to fly fish! That ought to be a good excuse to build more.

Thanks again

I have been using a rotisserie motor for over 10 years with good results. I have an eight rod setup on a length of conduit and two 10 inch discs with notches for the rods, works fine. Rods are held on with velcro. Good luck, Gene