The St Croix freshwater rods on there site are set with torzite guides That if trying to duplicate the rod would probable put that a lot higher Unless - ya just use the blank and get more inexpensive parts

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for the info. For a casting rid, how much difference is there in the mid price items and the high dollar things?(blanks, guides, reel seats) is there a noticeable difference when using one compared to the other?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2016 12:58AM by Brennan Clark.

I'm building a casting rod as a graduation gift for a friend's son: Rx-7 ISB842, Airwave casting set, Pac Bay HLS hook keeper, Alps tip, 1 spool of Pro Wrap neon, all from Schneider's during one of their shipping specials. Cost shipped:$74.17. Pac Bay exposed blank reelseat from Get Bit $2.00. I get pre shaped cork from Utmost and cut/shape it as required. I make my own winding checks so they're not as flashy as those that can be bought, but they don't cost $4.50 either and they do look nice. This kid uses a lot of better grade equipment, but I know he's gonna be happy with this when he tries it. Lynn

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> If you do not have any cork from previous years of
> purchasing, and you want to purchase high quality
> nearly perfect cork you can expect to spend $3-$5
> per ring. If you want a full length cork grip
> that is say 10 inches total, you will use 20 1/2
> inch rings. At $4 per ring, you will spend $80
> just for the cork to make the perfect grip.


Wow- I just started rod building again after a 12 year hiatus due to having 2 kids. Right before I stopped I bought a hundred "flor" grade rings from a major Eastern US cork dealer at about 2/$1. Seemed like a lot of money at the time, they cost far more than the normal grade rings. Some are almost completely flawless with few visible holes at all in them- most have just 6-12 holes in then entire ring. I might be able to retire now!