Also, thread meant for regular sewing most likely won't have the UV resistance that wrapping thread has. If you go with sewing thread, I'd be sure to use nylon or another synthetic thread. Many use Madeira thread, which is basically meant for embroidery machines. Using color preserver can help when trying to epoxy coat silicone treated threads. Personally, I avoid using anything other than rod
Forum: rodboard

I've gotten several requests lately for a rod that can toss 8 oz of lead or more plus bait in a spin rod. It needs to be under 7', able to toss about a pound and still be sensitive enough to feel a soft bite. Any suggestions on a blank? Some of these guys are casting nearly a pound in combined weight with a heavy spin reel and using heavy braided line.
Forum: rodboard

I'll give it a try, maybe even buying it in case quantities would work. What sort of shelf life does it have?
Forum: rodboard

Does anyone know if this stuff is available in larger containers than the 2 oz size? Anyone happen to know what it actually is? I do know it's water soluble until it dries, and has no odor. I've started to use it more and more because it seems to help keep the cork clean and allow it to be washed up better. When I get real busy, I go through the stuff pretty fast and it isn't cheap buyi
Forum: rodboard

They were two inches long tops, he had better luck than me but I did manage to hook a couple of crappie and one small catfish with one. It sort of reminded me of a tadpole shape, with the top being caramel colored, the bottom being bright yellow. He had an assortment in a box, but stuck to the yellow ones. I suppose just about anything would hit on it.
Forum: rodboard

I've seen both rollers which were over tightened and the bushings crushed in place, and many that were just so gummed up that they wouldn't budge. I've not yet seen a set of metal rollers without bushings from Aftco.
Forum: rodboard

If he's building the rod, I don't think those kits come with the rod end insert? I was told that they are to fit certain model BPS rods that already are built with a threaded on butt cap.
Forum: rodboard

I did a little fishing down in NC last year and a buddy gave me something called a Butter Belly to use, its a soft bait, in a mustard top/yellow belly with a long narrow tail used like a Sluggo or similar bait.
Forum: rodboard

I've got a big coffee cup and a microwave I use for removing rod gimbals and ferrules. Two minutes on the clock and dip the butt end in the water, if it don't go the first time, do it again as the aluminum cap will soak up a lot of heat from the water fast.
Forum: rodboard

Good link, but when it come so the handle length here, the butt end length was done this way for two reasons, first, in two of my boats, both aluminum, when the rod is in the holder, and it's not touching the bottom, it means the reel is sitting or banging against the boat's rail. This makes for some banged up nice reels. Second is my size, the distance from the center of my palm to my elbow is a
Forum: rodboard

I just use either the tubes from the blanks I buy or go to the plumbing supply down the road and buy a section of pvc pipe, which comes naturally in 10' lengths. I think the last length of 3" I bought was only a few dollars. I don't worry about end caps, some bubble wrap or paper and tape works fine. If you after longer tubes try a carpet or flooring center as they will have 1/4" wal
Forum: rodboard

roger wilson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- ............. > Just out of curiosity - do you have a caliper to > check the wall thickness of the butt section of > the blank of this as well as the other > manufacturers blank? > > My guess is that the blank that is tip heavy will > have a fairly thick wall thickness. As the rod is >
Forum: rodboard

Chris Garrity Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Here's another thought: when you build the next > one, mount the butt section (rear grip, butt cap, > reel seat, foregrip, etc.) without epoxying > anything. Put no guide or no top on, and see how > the rod balances in this "naked" state. If the rod > is tip heavy when you do this, it
Forum: rodboard

Tom Locke Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Most of the time the Post Office is the way to go. > Unfortunately, a lot of "companies" have contracts > with Fedex or UPS and get reduced rates. These > reduced rates are still more than the USPS. The > only negative to the USPS is their tracking > system, it stinks. > > My pet
Forum: rodboard

I think the seat is as far forward as I dare put it now on a 6' 6" blank, and for arguments sake, the balance point with no weight would give me a 26" butt section on a 6' 6" long rod. Which would take away a good portion of the rods action in the lower half too. The balance point with no guides isn't much different, it's still going to give me a 25" butt section with no guid
Forum: rodboard

The rod in question is built with the following: 2S66MHF2 Rod blank, weighs in at 2.2 oz right out of the tube. 7 Fuji SVSG guides plus #8 tip, sizes are 3 #8, and one of each of the following, 10, 12, 20, & 30. The set of guides and tip weighs .8oz. The each guide is under wrapped with silver AA metalic thread,extending 4mm beyond each guide foot, then over wrapped in size C black extend
Forum: rodboard

I weighed the rod as it is, it weighs in at 7.2 oz without the weight, 10.2 with the weight, added not epoxied in place. I have four more of this blank, I mocked up another rod, using tape to hold the guides in place, using single foot Alconite guides as I have those here right now, with no epoxy, an 18mm reel seat and just the shrink wrap sleeve in place to try and estimate weight. I'm not s
Forum: rodboard

I built myself a 6' 6" medium heavy spin rod, for use with a small baitrunner reel to use for back bay flounder and croakers. The blank is a St Croix SCII 2S66MHF2 , I built it with an 18mm reel seat, and 12 inch rear grip section. The grips are shrink wrap over wrapped cork for durability in an aluminum boat. I used the Concept method of choosing and adjusting the guides and used Fuji SIC
Forum: rodboard

Most of the charter or party boat guys I've dealt with want solid glass, spiral guides, and either slick or wood handles. Very few want anything other than pure durability. After being onboard a few party boats, and seeing how most rods are treated, anything less than indestructible is pretty much wasted money.
Forum: rodboard

I've had a number of Kodak Easy Share Z series cameras, all have been great, go with any of the IS models for Image stabilization, which allows for clearer high zoom level shots. My current camera is a Z1015, which is my favorite. Images are crisp and clear. Keep in mind that a 10mp picture is huge when printed or displayed in full quality, anything over say 6mp is fine for general online work. I
Forum: rodboard

Lately I've been seeing more and more cork grips which appear to have either shrunk or just deteriorated. Most are on factory rods but a few were custom builds. The minor damage cases appear as if the individual rings have shrunk or narrowed and pulled away from the adjacent ring. The cork often still looks fine, not gray or weathered, just shrunk or retracted away from the reel seat or other ri
Forum: rodboard

I'll second the sander option, its so much easier to control what your doing and its far more versatile than a grinding wheel or hand grinder. Plus if what your grinding slips, a sander isn't likely to destroy what your working on. I have an older model with a foot control, I can control the speed from about 5 rpm to full speed.
Forum: rodboard

Here's a link about thread and the different sizes and types. A friend in the garment industry told me that most nylon thread does not have any lubricant added, both since it's really not needed and for allergenic reasons if used in clothing. There is a such thing though as waxed thread but its marked as such. From what I can tell most rod building thread is very smooth and fuzz free. It
Forum: rodboard

I think the ability to have a finger on the blank was more important before braided lines became so common. Any seat which is well attached will no doubt transmit the slightest tap when using any modern braided line. I put more emphasis on balance and feel than I do overall weight, even a light rod that don't balance well can become a chore to hold all day long.
Forum: rodboard

I agree, with UPS your lucky it was just a guide. A few years ago I had ordered a number of E Glass blanks for some offshore rods, they were shipped individually wrapped in paper, bundled together with masking tape and slid into a 6" PVC tube, the tube was filled completely with the blanks which were alternately stacked as well and the bundle was wrapped with bubble wrap to prevent movement
Forum: rodboard

Maybe there was two places call Midland? The address on these labels reads Midland Rod Builders Supplies Dallas, Texas 75266 There is no street address listed on the label or it was cut away when the boxes were slit open along the seam. These are cases of both 4 oz spools of individual colors, a case or two of each diameter, and cases of small spools in the normal 12 pack boxes from Gu
Forum: rodboard

I should have added that the address for this place on the shipping labels Dallas Texas. The flea market was in FL about 8 months ago. Maybe the name has to do with Midland TX? All of the cases are shrink wrapped as if they were to be stored for a long time, which is why I'm curious as to how long this thread has been sitting somewhere. Not that it matters much since its all in good shape,
Forum: rodboard

Does anyone recall a place called Midland Rod Builders Supply? I bought a lot of old thread at a flea market and the cases had their name on the label.
Forum: rodboard

I'd venture to guess that most of the guys I get who want a custom rod are after one simply to say they bought a custom rod. Most have no idea what they need or want. Some of the requests I get are pretty far fetched. I constantly get guys looking for a rod they can use for stripers and fluke, and every other species they may encounter. About half of the requests start with "Which blank is t
Forum: rodboard

Take the pole between your knees, with a good grip on both sections and use your legs to pull the rod apart. Use some foam rubber or similar material to increase your grip on the rod. I've even gotten one apart that someone super glued.
Forum: rodboard