Les, I have built probably 15+ NFC rods (spinning, casting and fly) with the soft touch carbon grips. The issue I had is when I put the paste on the rod and in the grip and reel seat then then push them together it builds up pressure in the grip and seat. If it is not checked and tightened (pushed together) until the grip and seat is set it will separate.
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Thanks for the responses. The guides used were made by me. I use 16 and 18 gauge TEMCo surgical grade titanium wire for the smaller guides and 1/16 inch titanium tig wire for the double foot larger guides. The tip top is 16 gauge titanium wire. All wire is polished to a mirror finish using jeweler’s rouge. If they ever need to be repolished this can be done using a Q-tip on a dremel with the jewe
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I have built 40+ bait casting and 4 spinning rods. I just completed 2 fly rods. One was an 8 foot 3 weight and one a 9 foot 5 weight. Looking at the spacing of the guide for the fly rods it appeared they were to far apart. The 9 foot 5 weight called for 9 guides plus the tip top. After putting the rod in a 90 degree bend the fly line did not have smooth turns as a bait casting rod would have. I a
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Phillip I do not know if this will help or not. I have not built a fly rod yet. I had 2 NFC fly rods (8' 3 wt and 9' 5 wt) arrive. I am out on a job and will not be home to build the rods until the end on Oct. I build my own guides for my bass rods. I use 1/16 titanium tig wire for be larger spinning guides and 16 ga to 22 ga titanium surgical wire for the smaller guides. The wire is polished wit
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Has anyone tried to make their own guides? Thinking of trying to make some out of surgical grade titanium 16 GA and 18 GA. 16 GA is .0508” and 18 GA is .0403”. There is a you-tube vid of a guy using a block used in the vaping industry to make coils to make his own guides. This will be for a casting rod bass fishing. Thanks in advance.
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I did as Norm suggest. Ended up using a ECSM 13.5 on the MB 7109 and ECSM 14 on the MB 7108, MB736 and SJ 736 all X-Ray blanks. Took minimal reaming. It stopped about 9 inched above location. Reamed them out by hand using a reamer. The grip fit against the real seat. As I understand from NFC the arbor is designed to go under the real seat and the grip. I did not install them that way. I used mask
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David, welcome to the forum and soon to be rod building brother. I am not an expert at rod building only have built 14 for myself and family. I am sure other more experienced rod builders will weigh in on your question. My suggestion would be contact some of the sponsors (to the left) and see what they could offer. The Rod Room located in Orange Beach, AL is a sponsor and might be close to you. I
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Last week I built 4 NFC X-Ray rods using the Soft Touch Grips. Tape was used instead of the arbors supplied. To install the grips using the tape the grips were installed from the butt end of the rod. This was due to the taper of the grips. The butt end of the grip has a smaller taper than the reel end has. The middle section has a smaller taper than the reel end, but not as small as the butt end
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Brian welcome to the forum. You are correct there is a wealth of knowledge here. I wish I knew only half of what most of the members on this forum know. I built some rods for the kids and grandkids last Christmas. They were from Mud Hole. SKU – SC84 MH. 7 foot, 0 inches Med Hvy Fast, 8 -17 lb line, 3/8 – ¾ oz. I used it for traps and CB’s. I have only built 14 rods. I started out with a 3/8 inch
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Jeff, just completed building 4 X-ray rods. One thing I found out about the decals is the covering on the letter side (opposite side that goes on the rod) is it does not come off (at least for me) with the masking tape trick. On the second rod I thought the decal was coming off, then I realized it was the plastic tape covering the decal coming up out of the epoxy. I actually believe the first rod
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Would someone be so kind and explain the numbering system on the NFC X-Ray blanks. MB 7108-1 MB 7109-1 SJ 736-1 MB 736-1 DS 721-1 I understand the -1 is a one-piece rod. Just completed building the MB 7108-1. Now to build the MB 709-1, SJ 736-1 and MB 736-1. Using the NFC Soft Touch grips. Cannot wait to get the MB 7108-1 on the water and try it out. The issue building the other 3 rods
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Thanks Jason and Aleks for the reply. Aleks an e-mail was sent. Pat Haley
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Has anyone installed the North Fork Composites Soft Touch split and full carbon fiber grips? I have 4 NFC rods to build and ordered the Soft Touch grips to go on the rods. I have my idea of how to install the grips just thought I would ask the experts. By the way I do not post much but read almost everything posted here on this forum. The people here have a wealth of knowledge and do not mind
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Not to high jack the thread, can I ask what is the difference between the MB and SJ blanks. I have both and will be building in the next 2 to 3 weeks. I have the MB736, SJ736, MB7108, and MB7109 blanks to build.
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Tom, what a great article. With your permission I would like to post this article in is some of the fishing forums I belong to. This would be great information for the average and above average fishing person to know. Not only how a break happens but what is the cause of a break. I do not post here very often but read all the time. It is unbelievable the amount of knowledge everyone on thi
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That looks like it took a long time to put together. You are an exceptional person to put that much work in something and then share it with the forum. I am just getting into rod building and can see the benefit of this spreadsheet. Thank you for all the work you put into this. Pat
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