I have used quality heat shrink for stand alone surf rod grips for years with nothing underneath and no issues at all . Make sure you clean the blank in that area well before slipping the heat shrink over it and applying heat though. I never experienced any slippage at all but if you choose heat shrink where the diameter is slightly too large compared to the blank you will have issues . Afte
Forum: rodboard

" At one time I believe the Expo was up in the air to whether it was even going to continue or not" OK I didn't mean for you to take my above wording as if it was ever a failure that's not what I meant , what I read and it was obviously on this forum is that it might not continue not that it was ever a failure and you just cleared up as to the reason why, it was based on whethe
Forum: rodboard

Sounds like the Expo was the most impressive and successful yet which is incredible because at one time I believe the Expo was up in the air to whether it was even going to continue or not , could be wrong on that . Anyway mad props to you for your relentless hard work and persistence which is one of the biggest reasons why it was such a success . Wishing you many more .
Forum: rodboard

Agree with Tom and Kendall , I will never add weight of any kind regardless of where the weight is added to balance a rod . Component choices , size , type and where they are placed is a huge part of ending up with a super performing and feeling rod build in the end . Build it as light as humanly possible and don't forget to match the reel correctly.
Forum: rodboard

I previously said I understood that completely I'm just saying that not having the manufacturer who many consider makes the best blanks in the industry at this event is a huge bummer . It's understood why but it's still very disappointing . As I said in my earlier post I personally went in the past for the sole reason of seeing RodGeeks and CTS blanks up close and being able to handle them .
Forum: rodboard

So NFC showed up but no product is what I'm gathering , that's a HUGE negative with NFC owning this board and so many wanting to check out their new carbon Air tech . Feel very bummed for Alek and NFC.
Forum: rodboard

I only went to the EXPO because I knew a certain company was there and it was worth it because I was able to purchase some blanks from this one company at a great discount so it was worth it to me . Of course I browsed for hours but I just left with what I came for . I myself wouldn't say all the current heavy hitters were there if NFC didn't make an appearance but that's just me and I understa
Forum: rodboard

For some odd reason max casting distance seems to be the way so many rods and reels are judged by the masses . Certainly not everybody as many anglers don't consider that important at all especially guys who fish from moving platforms . With Archery it's usually what's the FPS rating first and foremost . What the kinetic energy is behind an arrow or how forgiving and accurate a new bow is seems
Forum: rodboard

I've used the blue color and it looks amazing .
Forum: rodboard

If you're willing to pay the price the ultimate guide train that will provide the best possible distance AND be super lightweight would be a RV 25 , RV 16 to a KW12M or KW10M (Your choice but with braids 30 pound and under the best choice is the KW10M, with braids exceeding 30 pound the best choice is the KW12M ) . Choke guide will be something in the 7 to 8 MM size range with runners in the 7 M
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I see the OP is looking for the ability to cast as far as possible, then I see his choice for the reel , a Van Stahl VR50 with 50 pound braid . The VR 50 model has very limited line capacity with 50 pound braid . I misread it , it's not a VR50 it's a 150 .
Forum: rodboard

Pawel Tymendorf Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > chris c nash Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > OK , 8 pages in and I think we can all agree we > > can scrap the vibrometer , what we really need > is > > a resistance leverage meter . > > > LOL, good one. Tom - you have ruined
Forum: rodboard

OK , 8 pages in and I think we can all agree we can scrap the vibrometer , what we really need is a resistance leverage meter .
Forum: rodboard

After all is said and done there will be individuals that will pick up the least sensitive tested blank and say for them it's the most sensitive lol.
Forum: rodboard

Stephen Pratt of CTS is also an exceedingly smart man who will be at the EXPO.
Forum: rodboard

Mr. Ballard's post makes a lot of sense .
Forum: rodboard

As I've said in the past line choice is the only thing you need to be concerned about when it comes to fishing braided lines on spinning setups . As long as you plan to use braided line in the 20 pound range and under you can forget about what your spinning reels spool diameter is altogether because it doesn't matter. I fish a few spinners with a spool diameters close to 70 mm wide and found
Forum: rodboard

"I would've convinced her it was still good for the future of humanity for me to attend this expo, how far of a drive is it from Boston to Woodland"? Ha ha ha ha ha ha , two to three hours tops from Boston to Woodland El .
Forum: rodboard

The one thing I make clear about the design and build of custom made surf blanks that I have ordered from CTS, ( CTS is the only manufacturer I know of that will build a blank to your specs, I have asked others to no avail) is I tell them that durability IS NOT a concern of mine and just build it for maximum performance with the carbons I specified . What terrifies me is manufacturers building
Forum: rodboard

Just an example of how many threads there are on this topic.
Forum: rodboard

With spinning setups the way you determine the first few guides is by reel specs and what line you plan to use . The reel will reveal what height the guides should be and the line will determine what size rings you should go with .
Forum: rodboard

Great stuff Aleks , somewhat surprised you shared it however . I know how much Gary despises weight when it comes to rod blanks , he calls it the # 1 enemy of performance so it will be interesting in how he deals with the below . It may come down to the nickel metal coating on the fiber just offering such a big advantage in regards to sensitivity that it outweighs the negative aspect of slig
Forum: rodboard

How about just chalking it up to a different opinion ? Just because David says he thinks the RX10 is even more sensitive than an XRAY doesn't mean everybody else thinks that way so the guy reviewing it must have screwed up or been mistaken.
Forum: rodboard

After reading a lot of the information about their technology from the link you provided I can confidently say most of it is the standard manufacturers marketing jargon that is designed to get anglers attention and open their wallets . Some manufacturers come up with fancier names and explanations of their technology than their competitors but all the top rod companies are very familiar with the
Forum: rodboard

El Bolinger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > @CHRIS how do you do your braid guide alignment > check? do you attach a reel and a light weight to > the end of the line? I attach my spinning reel with the spool removed to the reel seat and flip the blank over so it's upside down on the rod wrapper and secure it like that . I then tie braided
Forum: rodboard

Only blank manufacturer that I have literally received flawlessly straight blanks ( At least to the eye) is CTS and the most amazing part about it is they have all been surf blanks in the 10 /1/2 - 12 foot length . Don't know how they do it but it's truly remarkable .
Forum: rodboard

I never readjust the tip top after setting it exactly where it should be on any particular build . I rely on the tip top to align my reel seat and guides . The first guide that goes on after the tiptop and reel seat is the collector and then the choke guide . I check alignment of the guides by running a taught piece of braid or similar line from the very bottom of the collector to the bottom of
Forum: rodboard

Attaching the tip top is the first thing I do after I spine the blank and decide which way I'm going to build it and it's for visual reference more than anything else . Only after that's done do I move on to the reel seat, after the reel seat placement I move to the reduction guide decisions The static test and running guide placement is the very last thing I do.
Forum: rodboard

Although the comparison below is for the Frosted silver CC frame in Alconite instead of the polished silver frame the prices of the two frame types is the same . The below shows the price differences between a KT Titanium Torzite runner in size 4.5 in comparison to a KT stainless CC frame Alconite runner in a 4.5 size . A very very large price difference as you can see .
Forum: rodboard

Tim Scott Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In double foots, yes, though he was talking single > foot KT/KB in which . A KT/ KB single foot in Stainless Alconite will be about $7.00 cheaper than a Titanium Torzite KT/ KB single foot . They aren't even remotely close to a $2.00 difference regardless of size.
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