After being away from rodbuilding for a couple of years, I have to replace a snapped downrigger rod. I've been wanting to do an eliptical using cork, and with the help of Mark B's excellent tutorial, was able to come up with this.
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I built this a few months ago - but just now getting around to posting. The blank is a Rainshadow IF1368- 4. The rear handle is a piece of Aussie burl, brown malle, and the front one is just a boatload of assorted cork. The ramp is a piece of a poly reel seat arbor, and the strippers are the new titanium framed Titan Ring Locks.
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Gargoyles patttern from Billys new book. After seeing the one posted by Michael Joyce a while back i decided to try it , a shamless copy with a twist....
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After several requests for pics of the winner of the name tag contest , here it is. Originally a cigar tube, I wrapped a couple of batson ltcvsng's on the ends, applied the waerslide, and finished w/ a couple of coats of TM. Inside was a miniature telescoping rod w/ custom grip (natural cork, Andys cork, & a wood checker insert ala Mark Blabaum style). It was held in place by a miniatu
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I didn't know what would happen wrapping this in a variety of gold shades - sort of a "what if". This is Billy V's Crown pattern with arched tips. 8 passes, 8 different colors. Sorta looks like a setting sun
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Feathers, that is. I am not real happy with the way this turned out - too busy and nothing to really focus on. I was trying to overlay the fuller base feathers with some that are sparse but with lots of color. Just thought I'd post it to show what not to do!
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The side turned out a little better - three colors of hackle outlines the main body
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Bocote wood and natural cork rings - Wood is finished with polished ca glue and the cork has a thin coat of water based satin varathane. I finished it up during the Charger game yesterday. I think I'm going to enjoy the new lathe...... Does this obesssive compulsive behavior ever stop?
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Friends Son is graduating from USMC boot camp, officially becoming a marine. So I built him this Rainshadow ISP783F spinning rod to remember the day. Official Marine colors, scarlett and gold, are on the guides as well as the split grips and old glory
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Another one from "Teh Book"
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This is my first effort working with cork. I used a variety of Andys cork, as well as his mandrel's. The insert is a piece of stabilized Vancouver Island yellow cedar burl, which is where this rod will be put to use.
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I have wanted to try this one since i saw it posted here. I wish I had made more room for a few more passes of the copper,but this being only my third butt wrap, miscalculated the width of the metallic thread. Also m dryer crapped out so I have to sand and recoat the finish to get rid of those udders
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Dad is just a little proud of the grad.
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Subtle is nice on certain rods but this one got a little loud - holograph paint on the blank, chrome and holo ring turbo guides acid wrapped, and a MJ inspired spiral connected butt wrap closed with fluorescent polyneon.
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simple grip with rubberized cork ends w/ matching butt,
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My second attempt at working with feathers. The rod is a grad present for my son (along with a steelhead trip to northern British Columbia). I wrapped it in his high school colors and attempted to maintain the same hues with the feathers
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after finish was applied the colors got real iridescent in the sun
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Billy you are right - your elf is sorta goofy. Favorite builder(s) - thats a real tough one - there are alot of people here who do incredible work - For me these guys set the bar: Crosswraps - MJ Weaves - Doc/Hiro/JimUpton Foam handle work, crosswrap design & sense of humor - BillyV Guide wraps and overall look - Hiro/Scott Throop Feather inlays, unique fly rod handles - Terry Hans
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I have just recieved a set of the Titanium frame AmTac ring locks. They are MUCH lighter than the original Titans, as well as having a shorter length along the blank. They are also much more flexible. I don't have any TLNSG's to compare them to.
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Interesting thread Mike, I had to give it a little thought but here's my take. The question began by "when you START a rod for someone or yourself....." key word being start. First off, I don't sell rods, right now this is a hobby for me, so I build for myself and a few friends. So I know exactly what the rod is for and where the rod will be used /abused. So that said I think that the
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Sounds like a great trip and glad to hear how well the rod performed. I built two of those for myself a little while back, with the alps guides, along with picking up a couple of Accurate reels to go with them, then I moved to my place on Vancouver Island so I haven't used them yet. Where did you go in Baja, I need to plan a trip to put mine thru the paces.
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Staples, Office depot, etc.
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Bill, like Raymond said, go to the web site - there is alot of info there. That being said, there is a learning curve involved but don't let that hold you back. I was a little intimidated at first, but things get clearer and clearer the more you play with it. I do live in SD, if you want to send an email I'll try to answer your questions. You can also use the VW site to post questions .......
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A healthy OLO back to you Bill. good one!
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Julio, I realised this morning that there is a mistake with the above information that I gave you. I now use the spacing function in the Visual Wrap program to compute the spacing - It's really fast and easy, but it needs the correct input! I made a stupid, dislexic error converting your circumference #'s into the diameter figures the program needs. Sorry about that - hopefully you'll see this be
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Julio, welcome to the world of decorative wrapping & good luck with your 1st closed wrap. I had to go out for a while after I posted - sorry if I confused you. Thanks MJ for jumping in & setting things straight.
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