Can you shaped EVA by hand w/o lathe or drill set-up? Want to trim down grip for 9-yr son on saltwater rod. Thanks. James
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Walter, Picked up XL recently but have yet to build. Feels very much like a Calstar 700XL in the store. Perhaps, modelled after Calstar's line up? James
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Bob, call Andy @ LAMAR FISHING. I just ordered from Andy two closeout Allstar high-modulus Titanium blanks that match perfectly your requirements. The blank is BAST845S-2 (2-pc, spinning, 7ft, 8-17lb, 1/4-5/8oz). James
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Bruce, I did a shorter 6 ft bass spin with 7 guides (#25 butt guide @18") & tip and I was surprised at how well the rod cast. I would suggest replacing the #8's with #6 instead and looking into a 25-12-8Y transition, particularly, if you will be using lighter line (6-8lb) in order to keep the tip as light as possible. James
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Billy, Try this simple test. Check the static deflection with and without the bumper. You may discover that the bumper guide slightly liftis the line does not allow the first 180 deg. guide to load properly. Like James' (Doc) post, I put my bumper guide near the stripper rather than in the middle in order so the line is always touching the first 180 deg guide from no load to fully defelcte
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Snapped a bumper spiral rod just above the butt guide. The blank is is std graphite small diameter popping blanks with thck walls (10-20 lb rating). Did I apply too much thread tension? Thanks, James
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Rick, Particularly for 4 lb line, why not order some 20Y /10Y/8Y also to see how it works with a lighter, smaller choke guides. Keep the extra guides for your next project. As stated iin a Rodmaker article, rods cast 2-3 times the fishing distance. The smaller choke guides may or may not cast as well as your present set-up; however, you will defintely find the rod is much more responsive d
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Since you use soft braid line and UL mono, you could go even smaller -considering that Fuji's Lowrider surf series (braid/spin) first guide is a 20. Just finished a 5-1/2 UL w/16-10-8-6-6-6 alconites. Cast great.
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Sam, just finished building the exact model in a 2-pc, my 4th rod so far. Your proposed grip lengths are bit long for short UL more appropriate on longer bass rod. It just cuts down usable rod length and adds extra weight to an UL. My grip lengths are 4.25 rear and 1.75 front with a 16 dps fuji seat and rubberized cork butt. Just buy one grip and cut off a front piece using a spining drill a
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