Russ, I usually build fiberglass fly rods 7 to 7'6", small stream fly rods just because thats what I like working on I guess. And for the graphite rods that I use I just like the earlier less technological wonder graphite blanks. Yes, to the price point. I suppose I could build Sage rods but I would end up sinking a lot of my money into a high end rod before I've sold it. I started building
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Russ, I like the 4/5 weights in the 71/2 foot rods and 5 weights in the 8 and 81/2 ft rods. Outside of the number of sections, are Batson and PacBay the only distributors of the basic fly rod blanks? I used to like the plum colored PacBay traditional blanks but thats gone away. What companies supply blanks just to builders and not as finished rods?
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I've always thought the 3 piece rods tend to have a better casting action, actually I prefer the two piece rods but they don't seem to be a good fit for most people.
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I've had several requests for fly rods lately, I am trying to find a reasonably priced $50-$80 3 piece blank that will make a nice fly rod for these requests. Any ideas? Probably RX6/RX7 type blanks, Batson Forecast are they only 2 piece or 4 piece? I've considered PacBay also but the lower priced blanks are 2 piece rod builds. Any one offering a custom rodbuilder option blank anymore? What hap
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John, Most of the rods I build are fly rods, whats the lowest speed for the drying application on this? I have a PacBay wrapper currently is there anyway this DC motor could be used with the PacBay track that I already have? Thanks. Tim
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Ron Weber, I would also be interested in the fiberglass rod blank options you have? Please let me know? Thanks, Tim
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Is there any reference info available on the guide sizes for the 7'.5" blank, I am trying to get the guides ordered for this rod? Any recommendations for a type of guide to consider, I'd like to purchase a middle of the road guide thats reasonably priced. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks.
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I purchased a MHX blank, L904-2-MHX, with an anodized reelseat. Now onto the guides and the grip. Thanks for all the advice, I'll purchase good guides but won't worry so much about the corrosion.
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Spencer - aren't the glass blanks more durable than graphite? I'll check out the Batson e-glass RX-6. Does it make sense to buy the saltwater safe reelseat and guides? Is this important? Thanks Lance for the feedback!
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Going south to do some saltwater fishing with my wife, want to build her a 7' 2 piece fiberglass saltwater spinning rod. Medium action, 1/2 oz plus lures and bait. Any suggestions for an affordable blank? Ideas for the components, reel seat, guides etc. Want the rod to be well done but still affordable. I am a rodbuilder but I am not familiar with the saltwater tackle. Thanks. Tim
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I use traditional guides on all my fly rods, simply don't see the benefit in doing otherwise? Single foot guides and spinning guides would just make a great rod look like a bass or spinning rod.
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I've ordered from them, they have always been great.
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Only secret source I know of would be a parts rod.
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Noah, do you really believe your the first to try the USA bamboo? Others have considered it and opted to spend time their time with the best cane they could find, the size of the culm and density of the fibers is what keeps the bamboo from being useful. But if your determined, then build a rod and let us know how it works out? Herb, I understand what your saying and thanks for your help.
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I ended up fitting a piece of cork into the butt section and used rod bond with the cork and other sections. Thanks to all for the advice.
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Okay Tom, Thank you, this is the first blank that I've built that didn't include the solid male ferrule end. I didn't realize some manufacturers did that! Tim
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I have a question regarding a graphite blank I am building on. It appears the blank has hollow ferrules, i.e. there is no plug in the blank section ends at the ferrules? Has anyone ever used a blank that had the same? If so, how did you handle this? Thank you, Tim
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I removed all of the wraps on the tip section, underneath the epoxy was stick and soft. Not a job that I will ever do again. I measured and mixed accurately, wrapped rod tip again and this epoxy seems to be drying normally. Lesson learned. Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
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I had wiped the soft finish off with alcohol before applying the additional coat of finish, I didn't just put another coat on over the soft epoxy. However I think I may have missed enough that it ruined the next coat, maybe I should have just started over once I saw the finish wasn't curing to begin with? I'll need to do things differently with the next rod build.
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John, thanks for the advice on your product. An additional question, after I had corrected my error with the first coat - I had thought a well mixed well measured batch would correct the earlier tacky finish. So, I used another coat and I had thought this finish had hardened and actually put the rod back in its tube. Now later, getting ready to ship the rod its tacky? If I hadn't removed all of t
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So I've been working on a lightweight glass rod off and on for awhile now. Awhile back I finished the wraps with flexcoat another builder had given to me, it appears the epoxy was old and wouldn't cure or I didn't mix it correctly? To be sure I threw it away and started using flexcoat I had from another build. Had cleaned the wet wraps with alcohol to remove the uncured epoxy and re-wrapped with
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I haven't built a casting rod for awhile and was surprised to see all the changes made with the original All Star rods? Are the blanks available anymore at all? Or does the company just build retail type tackle? Does anyone have any feedback related to other companies that may offer a similar blank line? Tim
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Okay, I'll checkout some of these options and let you all know what I decide on. Your help is appreciated! Tim
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I need to build my neighbor a flyrod, he's a college kid and strapped for cash but I'd like to build him a nice rod for not much money. Probably looking to spend $60-$70 on a 8'6", 2 piece 6/7 weight blank. He needs a rod that will work for bass & trout, my preference is for a blank similar to the old Lamiglas Perigee, olive gold flake finished blank but a nice looking green/olive blank
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Are the Tiger Eye blanks made in the USA? Tim
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College kid next door needs a fly rod, good kid so I am going to build a rod for him. I am buying so the components need to be reasonably priced, its a gift and I want to make sure its a nice rod for him. I've always heard good things about the Tiger Eye blanks, for 5/6 wieght trout rod - which blank should i consider? Good looking seat, not to pricey? If not the Tiger Eye blank whats a good next
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Thank you all for the answers, I never thought about using a seperate rod for glue up of the rings......this makes perfect sense. Does most everyone use Titebond II? This is the glue I used before. Tim
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I made some mistakes with my first fly grip on a steel mandrel, glued the grip up with wood glue and left it on the mandrel until I could get it on the lathe to turn it. Sat on my bench for over a month, finally turned it on the lathe and it was perfect........when I went to remove it from the mandrel it absolutely wouldn't budge. I tried everything to remove it and it finally came off in pieces.
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Bill, do you mean theres a way to drill through the tailstock? But wouldn't it be difficult to keep the drill bit level and the hole even within the wood? Maybe the drilling dead center keeps the bit positioned accurately enough to complete this, The JML-1014I specs say that lathe live center has a removable pin for boring through stock....do I need anything else to do this? Thanks, Tim
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Mike & Jeff, Yes, I have the basic Jet lathe......in addition to the drill chuck to bore out the wood insert, would I also need a lathe extension? Maybe this is the route to go? Jeff, thanks for the detailed ideas. Tim
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