I am not an experienced rod builder as I have only built 4 rods so far. Any ideas on parts,(or places to get them), tools or techniques would be appreciated.

I have a St. Croix 13' 8wt blank.

For the cork I was looking at the preformed grips fom Anglers Workshop. I do not have a lathe, but would get one if that was the "way" to go.

I am thinking about a Struble U16B reels seat with their walnut insert. Another type of wood would be great but I do not know where to get one. Is it possible to make my own? I do have access to a wood lathe.

For the guides I was leaning towards single foot? Is this a bad idea? Are the Hopkins and Holloway singhle foot guides with a TiC pewter finish a good choice? Or How about the same finish on the snake guides?

I am planning on using silk thread. What size? Any thing else about silk that I should know?

I am planning on using Flex Coat lite for the epoxy. Any secrets for getting a nice even line where the epoxy ends when applying this?

I have seen pictues of jungle cock and other feathers applied to the blank. Is this just a matter of placing them between layers of epoxy? Should I just leave this for the professionals?

Thanks in advance.
Shawn Smith

ill help you on the lathe and epoxy part if you dont plan on building very many rod's i.e. more than 10 or so a year i find it a bad investment ... you can and will be able to buy all the preformed cork you will evey need cheaper than you can glue up ....
now on the epoxy cut your self some good ol masking tape if you have 1/4 wide it works better but 1/2 or so is fine you will need about 1.5-1.75 in length and just wrap it around your blank where you would like the epoxy to end ..a little before epoxy set's carefuly remove the tape and bingo u will have a clean epoxy line and if you start about 1/16 below the wraps if you need a 2nd coat there is little need to get the epoxy to close but you can always retape it when all is done just clean up with denatured alcohol ......tightwraps......John T Burford aka:
Tightline Rod's

You have a list to the left on this site with something like 30 people who sell and make this stuff. A single click will take you to their sites so you can look at stuff to your heart's content.

I would suggest a good rod building book or video which I think would answer many of your questions and get you off on the right foot.

If you live in a large city look in the yellow pages for places that sell fine woods. Those shops sell fine and exotic woods such as maple, ebony, mahogany and others. If I were you, I would buy the inserts already made from the sites on the left. This inserts are pressure treated and finished already.