For the label area use some light lengthwise brush strokes. That helps even out any slight waves over the label for me.

Bill Falconer has a video showing how to do it.

[www.youtube.com]

There is nothing like catch fish on a rod you make...unless you make your own lures too.

Right!! My first bonefish on a fly I tied and a rod I made was really special. The fly is one my son "invented." With all the bonefish flies already "in the books," one would think it pretty hard to design a new one, but he did, and it has caught my best bones over the last few years. Very special indeed.

Thank you for the great finishing video!

I think those longitudinal strokes look like a good solution to the spiral brush marks; I'll try that next time...

I'm still glad I bought the Variable speed dryer and CRB tracks, but I'm pretty sure the new FlexCoat power wrapper is in my near future. I really like the idea of higher finishing speeds and the slip clutch.

Next up is the Euro Rod I just glued the seat and cork onto. But first, we have to go catch some jerk bait fish with the new rod this morning before the cold front fully settles in....

Sorry for the radio silence on this. Looks like I will have to shelf this project for a bit as I just got laid off. Spending cash on this stuff is not in the cards for a bit!
I appreciate all the great responses!

When I started out, I did only repairs. I would salvage old guides from broken rods and wrap them on. Instead of wrapping with rod thread, I used old braided line. And finished them with JB weld 5 minutes epoxy. Before all that, that, I would use sewing thread and sloppily wrap home made wire guides and secured the wraps with some half hitches. Then used nail polish on the threads. It may not be the best way to do it, but they worked for me and even got some good fish on it.

Now I would use proper thread finish epoxy. I have never brought a blank before since all I have done so far are rod guide upgrades on existing rods. I still have to figure out the motor setup for thread finishing and drying. Still have much more to learn about rodbuilding.

Hello Ryan.

"Still have much more to learn about rodbuilding."

Don';t we all, i've been at it off and on now for 50 years and there are things I never dreamed of out there, I never got into the blank building part for one thing, the dec wraps I never was great at nor the weaving but i have done both(and I do mean more than once) I enjoy making fishing machines and rod done in ways that your average builder would not do but if you ever get to thinking "nobody" has ever done it before I can tell you right now it may not be exactly the same thing but so close that there is no difference.

People have been making fishing rods of sorts for almost as long as there have been people.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.