I bought 8-10 old fresh and saltwater rods at diffident flea markets for the sole reason of learning about rod building,rod repair and rod restoration. Some were in very bad shape and some were even missing guides but none were showing any signs of cracks,etc. To test them I bent them about as much as if I was fighting a fish that the specific rod would be designed to handle and none broke. So
Forum: rodboard

I watched a video where a guy cut up a Gaterade bottle and cap.He cut the bottle cap out to form a "seal ring" on it's outer diameter.He cut a circular piece of a surgical glove to fit inside the bottle cap.Put a very small hole in the rubber glove piece using a heated nail. He cut the bottom off of the bottle and screwed the cap on tightly. He made a stand to hold the rod upright wit
Forum: rodboard

WOW,,,Looks like we have a real project on our hands! After reading all of the posts I have to ask what type of shrink wrap is used? Thanks,,,
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the info and tips Spencer. We're still in the process of cutting out and preparing the bark and finding it's a lot more time consuming then we thought it would be. It took us about one month to find some white birch that was being cut and split for firewood. There are enough white birch trees near by but finding dead trees isn't easy to find. It's a fun project to do with my grands
Forum: rodboard

My grandson and I are attempting our first go at making a birch bark handle and don't know which type of adhesive to use. I have about 1 quart of outdoor wood glue on hand but if 2 part/slow cure epoxy is the way to go I will buy more as I only have 5 minute epoxy on hand. Any advise is truly appreciated!
Forum: rodboard

I got it from Don's Tackle and really like it!!!
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Bill,, When I was into lapidary and out collecting agate and jasper I carried a water spray bottle to wet the rocks to see what they would look like when polished! A little water will give a whole different look!
Forum: rodboard

I sprayed the old rod with Hunter Green and don't like the color one bit! I'll let the paint fully cure for 2 weeks so I can at least try the permagloss on it and learn how to use permagloss for a rod finish. The way I see it I have 3 options,,,, Have a the rod painted the color I want at an auto body shop,, Try to find the color I want in auto paint spray cans or,,, Paint it black!
Forum: rodboard

I managed to squeeze in enough time to get a coat of spar urethane on the handles,,,,between changing a bathroom faucet! LOL I did it in my dryer and it came out flawless! I'm VERY happy with the results! I don't remember if I mentioned that I stained the handles with English Walnut stain but between the dark stain and the hgh gloos finish the handles look very professional! I've read here
Forum: rodboard

Thanks everyone for the input and much needed help! I still have to sand and re-coat the handles and let them dry for a few days before I mask them off before painting the fiberglass rod itself. I will re-coat the handles using my dryer that turns at 9RPM's so I don't get the sagging as I did before. I will also try the Rust-Oleum 2X on a scrap fiberglass rod and let that dry for a week or 2
Forum: rodboard

To clarify,, I am doing the whole rod but this post was about the wood handles. However I will take any and all advise I can get about the wood and the fiberglass rod! I have never used Permagloss but bought a bottle of it and intend to use it as a finish over Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint. Although I am retired I still have trouble finding time to "play"!!! Thanks all,,, Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Roger,,, Thanks,,,, I was thinking about that yesterday and will give it a try on my next 2 coats! Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Bill,,, I did let the first coat dry over night but my problem is seeing how much Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane on! The first coat is easy to see but my eyes aint what they used to be so any further coats are next to invisible for me! Ah,,,to be young again! LOL Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

No painting today,,,, I stained and gave the wooden handle and fore grip 2 coats of finish but found a few " sags" in the finish. I sanded them and will get back at it tomorrow. Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Tom,,, I may get to spray it tomorrow! Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

I stripped an old saltwater fiberglass rod with citrus stripper and washed it with mineral spirits. I gently went over it with light gray Scotchbrite and washed it again with mineral spirits. I'm going to spray paint it with Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover paint in Hunter Green. My question is ,,,do I have to prime the rod before the finish coat is applied and if so what should I use to prime i
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Bill,, Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

I've never painted a rod before and am wondering which paint is best to do it? The rod I'm rebuilding is a very old (45 years) 6'-9" fiberglass rod I bought years ago for mainly Bluefishing Bunker (Manhaden) cut bait on a boat. I'm in the process of using a citrus paint/varnish remover (per this forum) and am amazed how easy the citrus remover works,doesn't stink up the whole neighborh
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Eric,,,, It make it much clearer now! Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

I'm going to order some Tru-Oil and give it a try on the same old/used cork handle I have ! Thanks again all,,, Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Thanks all,,, I had a used/broken cork handle and being new to this thought the tung oil might seal it from dirty hands,worms/bait,etc. This morning after my original post I put a little tung oil on the handle and it's now 4:15 and the cork still feels sticky to the touch. I don't think it's a good idea to use tung oil on cork! Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Has anyone tried tung oil on cork handles and is it wise to do this? Thanks,,, Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

I tried the regular hot glue on an old guide yesterday and it worked pretty good. I heated the guide with a lighter and touched the glue stick to the guide and set it on an old rod blank.Let it sit a minute and it was held on pretty good. I put a little too much glue on but I can remedy that next time. Thanks again,,, Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

Robert,,, I'm in the same boat as you are as far as guide placement. I've read so much and watched so many videos that it becomes overwhelming but,,,, The best info I've got and read is right here. You don't buy a car/truck without a test drive,,,same goes with your rod build! Get out there and spin the tires a little! Tom Kuzia
Forum: rodboard

A lot of ideas I never thought of using! It's amazing to me how many different things can be used in an entirely different way then they were designed for! The key is knowing what's out there! Thanks again,,, Tom
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Roger and Tom! I'll try both suggestions! Tom
Forum: rodboard

I bought Billy Vivonas Decorative Wraps book in hope that it might lead me on how to do a fish scale wrap but I don't see anything in his book. Oddly enough Pintrest led me to a step by step on how to do it but I am confused on how to lay out the spacing for it. I layed out the rod at 0 and 180 degrees and started the wrap but am lacking in the pattern as it doesn't completely cover the rod
Forum: rodboard

I'm having a terrible time trying to hold the smaller guides to the rod prior to wrapping them and am wondering if the glue sticks from a common glue gun would work as well as the guide foot glue sticks? Would either types have any affect on the epoxy holding? I've tried 1/4" and 1/8' masking tape to hold the guides but both are too wide and the 1/8" doesn't give much holding surface.
Forum: rodboard

Roger,,, I have a very long way to go to be able to wrap a guide that fast! I'm wrapping by hand and doing all of this solely as a hobby. I've been into a lot of different things during my 10 years of retirement and only dreamed of doing when I was working. It's been a good 10 years but I'll never be able to accomplish everything I want to do! The rod I just finished is an old saltwater Cod
Forum: rodboard

I agree 100%,,,, This forum and Mudhole are the only reason I have been able to get up and going with rod building,,,,and I'm 72 years old so it aint easy to get up and going!! To find a company like Mudhole and the people on this forum who freely give up information that has taken them years to acquire is a true Blessing! Tom
Forum: rodboard