I just built a new control box and motor to use when applying finish. The power wrapper uses a 4 inch pulley and this motor has a 1 inch pulley on it, so there is a 4:1 speed reduction. The motor used in this application is a 24 volt 300 rpm motor.
This speed will give a low speed on the rod of 4 rpm and a top rpm of 75 rpm.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Nice and compact. Do you sell these?

No, Roger does not sell these nor any other rod building equipment he's mentioned here.

...........

Roger,

Why do I get the strange feeling you used to be an "Electro-Mechanical Packaging" Engineer at one point in your life?!?!

Your work is always pristine and flawless, and it reminds me of half the things we make for NASA right now!

Nice work and you really should consider starting a company of some sorts!

Tony Boschi
Banana River Rods
Merritt Island, Florida
321~525~1063

* Rapid Prototyping Services
* Custom Beach Rods
* Custom Inshore Rods

[bananariverrods.com]

Tony,
I suppose that is because that is what I did in my working life.

I am not familiar with techniques for wrapping thread or applying finish on rod guides with anything remotely approaching 75 RPM. I apply finish to guide wraps and dry it using an old rotisserie motor hooked to a homemade chuck. A couple of different diameter old line spools and a rubber-band belt allow me to vary blank rotation from 4 - 15 rpm. and I wrap guides with my hands and a homemade adjustable thread tensioner. I'm not in it for the money or looking for speed.

Phil,
One of the big reasons why a lot of folks including myself like to apply finish on a fast rotating rod is that the job can be done very quickly on one batch of thread finish without having to mix another batch. Also, with the fast turning rod blank, one gets razor sharp edges on the edges of their thread wraps.

After all, there is always a different mouse trap to build. I love to build machines and see how it can help or hurt my building.

Take care

Roger

No need for a response. You were proudly showing us your latest project. You described its capabilities and what you intend to use it for. Nowhere did I get the impression that you was trying to convince anyone to change their ways..

I took your post as informative with a display of fine craftsmanship.

As an engineer I share your enthusiasm, people do not understand that an engineer is willing to invest many man hours and many dollars’ worth of surplus scrap material to modify or enhance a free "Harbor Freight" flashlight.

It’s a blessing and a curse. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Have fun

I can appreciate your need for speed, Roger, and I share your enjoyment of constructing and using my rod making devices. My stuff is more in the Rube Goldberg category of automation but I still get a kick out of building and using my own equipment, and tight wraps are tight wraps, no matter how they got there. Many years ago a homemade rod wraps drier did double duty - for painting crests on Port Orford White Cedar arrow shafts.