I was hoping to generate more discussion with this post . If any of you who read this could advise me where the post fell short of generating comments It would be appreciated . Thank You Steve
Forum: rodboard

Tom thank you for the detailed reply your advice ,like your book , is top notch .I am using VisualWrap Software so I am confident in my spacing of CENTERS but after 3 failed attemps I think I need to layout more SUBCENTERS if that makes sense. I started out with diamonds and chevrons they are simple to layout , a cross line and you are there. My wrap is kinda broke down into symetrical quadrants.
Forum: rodboard

Hello I am attempting to make a closed wrap butt wrap . I have an issue that I suspect is not uncommon . The pattern I am attempting is called a 4Diamond wrap. It is basically a small cluster of 4 diamonds with a thin cross wrap of black seperating each cluster crossing in the middle of the 4. The issue I am having is the gap in the middle of the wrap varies throughout the length of the
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Tom I think I will give that fish a shot its pretty cool . One of the reasons I bought VisualWrap was because it calculates spacing for me . This will be a test to see if it works or not . Thanks again to all of you . Your input is invaluable . Steve
Forum: rodboard

Ok guys great replies I must not have been clear in my original post . I DO WANT TO WRAP WITH THREAD . The purpose of giving to my friends at cost is to gain experience and they get a good deal. I understand the wrapping time is money in the end but for now I need experience . What I am specifically looking for are reccomendations on thread wraps that are a tad tougher than a diamond or chevron .
Forum: rodboard

Thx for the ideas . The abalone is good looking stuff for sure . I will look into the cheater wraps . At this point I really like using thread it is time consuming but time i have . I like doing it for people most of us can't afford custom fishing rods so I make it affordable for them .
Forum: rodboard

Hi El, The software purchased was called Visual Wrap you can buy it several places I purchased mine at threadcentral.com . I have seen the marbling epoxy and it is indeed very nice looking . The only advice I have is KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE .......) I got that from reading many posts and a couple of books. The first wrap I did was a Chevron ,it came out nice . Maybe to nice it kinda hooked me on w
Forum: rodboard

Hello Everybody in this great forum. I ve been building rods for a little over a year. I have completed 7 rods and put butt wraps on 5 of them. I have been building them for friends for cost of materials . My post is about asking others here what they use for butt wraps on rods that 1) look nice , 2) were simple enough to do at my level of experience , and 3) were not just hohum to look at . So f
Forum: rodboard

Yup a spinning rod . Started out with Zebco 202 seems like another life ago lol . All of you have a great day tomorrow !
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the feedback . It looks like I got lucky when I bought the Revelation rod blank. Its a lot of fun building fishing rods the only draw back is a guy only needs so many . I have made a couple for friends and they love em . Theres a lot of crappie fishermen around here who I know would really like these rods . Getting into selling rods sounds like a whole new ball game though . I am very
Forum: rodboard

I am here asking for the experienced rod builders advice or knowledge . I have built a total of 5 fishing rods ,thats right I dont know much yet lol. My experience with the rods I have built has been amazing to put it mildly . When I first decided to build my first fishing rod I was more than a little skeptical if it was worth my time or money . Long story short , it was worth both big time ! I a
Forum: rodboard

You have me curious Glenn . What does this tool accomplish ? Could you give me more detail please ? Thanks!
Forum: rodboard

I did burnish the wrap my issue is the threads almost seem translucent and they lost some color . I was surprised that happened . The wrap came out ok it just isnt as bright as I had hoped.
Forum: rodboard

Do many of you guys use an underwrap ? That could give interesting effect on open wraps . How many here subscribte to " Rodbuilder Magazine" ?
Forum: rodboard

Thank you for the replies . I would have answered sooner but yesterday was a travel day for me . It soundsl ike from your replies I am wrapping like most of you do. I hold the spool of thread in my hands and after every 2 passes I pack . I have a tendency to stretch the thread a bit as I wrap was why I mentioned thread tension as a culprit to fading colors. This is only my second wrap , I stayed
Forum: rodboard

Ok , let me say up front this is my first effort at doing research on this topic . I just did a 3 color diamond butt wrap. I took my time and packed, packed , and packed some more. The wrap before epoxy looked odd to me . One of the colors I used was a light green and the light green thread in the wrap was lighter in color than the same light green thread that was used to make trim bands on the
Forum: rodboard

Ok I decided to go ahead and try making a tapered mandrel. It was a piece of cake . I took a 3/8 threaded rod and wrapped tape around it to match the o.d. of my rod blank . Fitted the rings ,that I had filed to fit my blank , onto the taped threaded rod with a kinda touch fit so it would not be to tight . Glued the rings together with TitebondIII and used the threaded rod for the clamping device
Forum: rodboard

Thanks again David . I see what you mean on the taper of the butt grip it does look better . I can see how it would improve the grip on the rod during casting also. . I totally agree with you about this site these guys are top notch .
Forum: rodboard

Thanks again David . I see what you mean on the taper of the butt grip it does look better . I can see how it would improve the grip on the rod during casting also. . I totally agree with you about this site these guys are top notch .
Forum: rodboard

Thanks again David . I see what you mean on the taper of the butt grip it does look better . I can see how it would improve the grip on the rod during casting also. . I totally agree with you about this site these guys are top notch .
Forum: rodboard

David , Thank you for your perspectives on first grip making . I had no idea the holes in the cork were off center , the price of the cork does not reflect it lol. I am an old woodworker who has a tendency to over study things before I jump in . Also when you have a couple hundred bucks in a fishing rod you want it to look like a couple hundred buck fishing rod . Soon I will be starting 2 rod
Forum: rodboard

Thank you Roger for the detailed reply . When I bought the cork I figured making a handle would be simple lol, not! Thread wrapping has been the same way but hey its supposed to look custom isnt it lol . All of you have a great day!
Forum: rodboard

Ok thats 2 nays to the tapered mandrel idea . Herb what concerns me most about turning the handle glued to the blank is if I make a mistake and nick the blank . Beings this is my first attempt stuff happens and this blank is 6 feet long . Thanks for the replies I really value the opinions .
Forum: rodboard

I want to make my first cork handles. I have read there are basically 2 techniques commonly used to make a handle . 1) glue the rings on the rod and turn the handle on the blank or 2) glue up the rings on a mandrel and file out the center using a tapered reamer . The idea of turning the cork glued up to the blank does not appeal to me ,to many chances for a snaffoo on my part . Then theres gluing
Forum: rodboard