What is the best way to remove the old finish and paint from a rod? I am restoring an old St. Croix and want to get it down to the graphite without damaging the graphite.
Forum: rodboard

If you liked the story the Croix rep gave, then you will like the one the kid at the sporting goods store told me. He said they did not put hook keepers on Extremes because it would weaken the blank! I called him out on the spot for that one! I suspect the real reason as you said ,the cost.
Forum: rodboard

If you liked the story the Croix rep gave, then you will like the one the kid at the sporting goods store told me. He said they did not put hook keepers on Extremes because it would weaken the blank! I called him out on the spot for that one! I suspect the real reason as you said ,the cost.
Forum: rodboard

Less angle from one guide to the next when the rod is flexed.More of a smooth parabola. .This is important with concept guides, when they get to 5mm or less. I have a bait caster rod that I put on the right hand side of the rod but that is where I have problems snagging. The factory Loomis that I have had all these years come with the hook keeper on the left side and have not caused me any heart
Forum: rodboard

If you decide to build an SV, call St. Croix and they will give you the specific spacing recommendations for the rod. Then I adjust from there. It is a good starting point and they seem to like to help.
Forum: rodboard

I ordered a 7ft medium extra fast SCV St.Croix blank that I had not got around to building. As per chance would have it I found a 6ft 8" factory extreme rod at a popular Birmingham sporting's good store for $260.00 I could not turn it down for that as it was a manufactures sample. It had three Fuji tangle free stripper guides and dropped off to 5mm. tangle free concepts. Since I am a user
Forum: rodboard

What is the best way to remove all of the finish down to the bare graphite. after I buff it down, could I not come back with automotive spray paint and make it look new? Main thing is good function at the end of the day, but also want it to look decent. I am just doing this as much as to expand my rod building horizons and bring and old friend back to life!
Forum: rodboard

I built a St. Croix recently with a Fuji split seat. I started were I wanted the seat components and did all the measuring of the metal winding checks with a digital caliper on the rod to size the checks and seat and used the dimensions to order everything. Marked with a China marker where each seat component went along with winding checks. I like the butt of the rod to come just short of my e
Forum: rodboard

I have an old St. Croix bait caster medium heavy dark green 6ft. 8" or so. A friend made it for me over 20 years ago and all the eyes are lose and spaced like they did back in the day, I am not a stranger to building new rods as I have built about 20 including an SCV spinning bass rod that I just finished and love. I remember how sensitive this rod was for jigs and pigs and have time on m
Forum: rodboard

I have an old St. Croix bait caster medium heavy dark green 6ft. 8" or so. A friend made it for me over 20 years ago and all the eyes are lose and spaced like they did back in the day, I am not a stranger to building new rods as I have built about 20 including an SCV spinning bass rod that I just finished and love. I remember how sensitive this rod was for jigs and pigs and have time on m
Forum: rodboard

Why does a spiral wrap have any real advantages to start with?
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for all the tips. I have been using the Dermal but sounds like I have not been doing the proper finishing work with the crocus clothe or alum oxide fine grit. I will try that.
Forum: rodboard

In rod building the devil is in the details. I have a question as I try to hit the next level. I file the top of the guide leg, the bottom and the sides with my hand grinder. Of course the purpose is to have the thread progress smoothly up the guide. I think that I am making my guide points to sharp as it seems to cut the thread. Could some of you more experienced builders share with me how you
Forum: rodboard

I had a 7ft 3 inch high mod mhx that I just broke four inches off swinging a bass over. {dumb thing to do} Put a tip on it and since it was a very fast action rod it had no more action. Only thing it would be good for now is playing pool with it. Unless that rod has sentimental value I would use it for making a rod reamer! yes I know I might have got it covered under warranty but I will not do if
Forum: rodboard

I had a 7ft 3 inch high mod mhx that I just broke four inches off swinging a bass over. {dumb thing to do} Put a tip on it and since it was a very fast action rod it had no more action. Only thing it would be good for now is playing pool with it. Unless that rod has sentimental value I would use it for making a rod reamer! yes I know I might have got it covered under warranty but I will not do if
Forum: rodboard

As far as the performance of this MHX high mod rod as is, I use a K Chronarch with this rod and as you know it is low profile. As far as casting difference this rod will outdistance my 6 ft 8Loomis Mossy Back with the same 1/2 ounce lure, reel and 12 lb fluorocarbon line. It just seems that there is a lot of line movement between the reel and the butt guide. One correction, this rod is a seven
Forum: rodboard

This brings up a question. I placed a butt guide over 30 inches from the level wind on a 7ft. 2 bass rod. No doubt it is a mistake as there is a lot of line play when you cast from the reel to the butt guide. Can you correct it by following up with another butt guide closer to 20 inches from the level wind? I used a 10 mm for the butt guide as I progressed down to five mm Fuji concepts. If I
Forum: rodboard

I only use a variable speed drill and ream at the lowest speed that will let me get the job done as to many RPM will wear out the sand paper and risk the grit coming off.
Forum: rodboard

I like to have time to fish and do not like the redo.
Forum: rodboard

Seems like the best control would be to get it down by hand?
Forum: rodboard

I have looked back at some of my rods and wish I had taken the time to do that. Rod building teaches you patience for sure. One thing in the process done wrong ruins the whole deal. Everything can be forgiven until the thread epoxy is applied. After that it gets more difficult.
Forum: rodboard

My man cave is a basement and can get in the fifties in the winter as it is not heated or cooled. I bought a small desk size ceramic heater at Tractor Supply. I let the epoxy bottles sit in front of it for at least 5 min before mixing. When it gets the right consistency, I mix it with the ceramic heater blowing on the mixing rotator. When I apply the epoxy I have the heater blowing toward the w
Forum: rodboard

That is a definite plus. I do ream with a drill. It will be interesting to see how the epoxy holds up as I have already used it. I will do the next size up with the contact and see which one holds up the best!
Forum: rodboard

I am new to this forum so this is the first I have heard of that. As I live on the lake and 15 miles from the closest store I always work with what I have on hand. By just mixing a small amount of epoxy and brushing it on the back of the sandpaper strip it was really not much trouble and the whole process with the legal clamps I had on hand took less than ten min. However I went into town to wa
Forum: rodboard

I just want to share a tip. I have a great set of cork reamers I got through mud hole. The sand paper has worn out on them and I did not want to pay for new ones. I heated up the end of the old sand paper with my alcohol burner. The I peeled it off and cleaned up the reamer. I used the old strip as a pattern and cut anew strip off of 80 grit sheet of sandpaper. It actually took two strips to ru
Forum: rodboard

I appreciate all the insight. I am interested in performance usually way above looks as I truly like to fish on Lake Guntersville. I like specialty rods built for a purpose! I always start out by thinking how will I use this rod? With that in mind I did compromise a bit with my decision. I have already put black and gold winding checks and a black and gold locking hood on my Fuji split grip. I
Forum: rodboard

I appreciate all the insight. I am interested in performance usually way above looks as I truly like to fish on Lake Guntersville. I like specialty rods built for a purpose! I always start out by thinking how will I use this rod? With that in mind I did compromise a bit with my decision. I have already put black and gold winding checks and a black and gold locking hood on my Fuji split grip. I
Forum: rodboard

I have built about twenty rods and know just enough to be dangerous. There are so many variables when it comes to guides. Do you use low profile or high profile reels? Do you use braid? Do you want this rod to be a single purpose such as jigs with braid or do you want to be able to use it for many purposes, types of line and baits? What do I want to do with the rod is where I start..
Forum: rodboard

I was just describing the way I would utilize the rod. I am sold on Power Pro as I fish a lot of grass. As a relatively new rod builder less than 20 rods, I am intrigued by the spiral but like you feel that the shortest distance is a straight line. I will build one in the future but with a less expensive blank until I determine how to do it and if it has any benefits. I do not want to go smaller
Forum: rodboard

I am in the process of building a 7'2'' medium action mh St. Croix SC-5 bait casting rod. I will use this rod for bass on Lake Guntersville. I think with the medium action and braid it will be great for square bills and rattle trap type baits. For the braid I will progress to no. 5 mm diameter concept type rings. I am trying to decide to go with the Kegan system or the Fuji KR system. I will us
Forum: rodboard