Next I'll work on my photography skills. I think it will take a decent camera.
Forum: rodboard

Finished my first composite Grip. Fished it in mexico and also fought a few threasher sharks with it.(I was after Yellowtail) I'll make a few changes on the next one, but overall it is comfotable and light. I am pleased! Thanks Tom (RodMaker).
Forum: rodboard

I took a crack at Michael's rose as shown in and on Billy's book. Should have made the diamonds larger, but oh well. Thanks to Michael and to Billy
Forum: rodboard

Finally finished this one. The trim bands go with the bones I posted a while back.
Forum: rodboard

Any tips on keeping the trim bands straight? I cut off three for every one I kept.
Forum: rodboard

Built this boat rod for my sister. Thanks Doc Ski and everyone for all of the support.
Forum: rodboard

I was playing with some weaving but can't quite decide how to trin this.
Forum: rodboard

No problen putting the cork on first. I build a thin, hollow, tape ramp above my winding check, wrap the wrap right on up onto the handle, and tape it off up there where size doesn't matter. When tying off, I start tipward and once I get to the ramp, I remove it and finish the wrap. Hope that helps.
Forum: rodboard

Try pouring 3 or 4 ounces of foam in. It just doesn't take much and if you pour too much into your pvc mould and cap it off, you have quite possibly just made a bomb.
Forum: rodboard

Ah Yess... The Pac Bay Chuck question. I have tried everything and now simply streach a small shock cord from the real seat or a loop made of blue tape over to the chuck. With the addition of a piece of tape around the chuck for good measures, I forget about the whole thing. No problems.
Forum: rodboard

I have some blue composite sleeving that I want to use. The problem is the stubborn creases in it are very strong. I dont believe that the sleeve will stay bonded to the foam while drying since it takes so much force to make it lie flat. Will creases relax when wet, or is there something anyone has done to Iron out creases befor using sleeves? I have thought about ironing or soaking in distil
Forum: rodboard

My 2 cents worth..for what it may be worth. Using the simple spiral only requires 2 sizes of guide. the first one(stripper) sized for the reel and placement and the rest your smallest running guides. once the line passes the centerline of the the blank, why would you want to take it back out again? As a bonus, your rod is lighter from smaller guides, and the guides are less expensive! I have
Forum: rodboard

Oh...there they are..Thanks Stan. Any advice on failing eyesight? LOL
Forum: rodboard

I bought a ww at the High Point show last Feb and am finally getting around to setting it up. My question is, how do I cut the thread slots into the foam wheels? Do I use a razor blade or...? Thank You
Forum: rodboard

Take a look at this. The jigs are very easy to make and make the knots into no-brainers
Forum: rodboard

The answer to "how many is enough?" or as I hear, "how many fishing rods do you need?" is always...ONE MORE!
Forum: rodboard

I have tried most of the above with mine. I now wrap tape around the two disks behind the chuck jaws so that they can not loosen. Since my rods still want to work forward sometimes, I use a tiny bungee(shock) cord and hook one end on the reel hood and the other on one of the protruding chuck jaws. No problems since.
Forum: rodboard

Has anyone ever incorporated block or glued-up plastic or acrylic into a handle? Any cautions, tips, sources or tutorials? Especially sources for small quantities! Thanks
Forum: rodboard

Terry, That looks great. The reason you tuck the ends in is to get the end reliefs to look good and tight. you achieved that with the shrink wrap! There is no need to tuck anything now. You would just ream it out later anyhow. To cut the ends, I have been turning on the lathe and laying a fine toothed Exacto saw against it. Still turning, sanding the whole thing just into the carbon and th
Forum: rodboard

Bill... I'll bet you can't say that three times. lol
Forum: rodboard

The spray cans do a great job. just be sure to keep a wet edge while spraying it on.
Forum: rodboard

Too Funny. I had to cut a rose wrap off last night. I had done one for my sister. My girlfriend liked it so much that I decided to do one for her b-day. She doesn't fish, so I did it on a walking stick. I was tying it off when I realized that when I had layed it out, I was thinking fishing rod...not walking stick. The roses were all upsidedown! OK...not that funny, but I do feel your pai
Forum: rodboard

Holy Cow! I couldn't finish ONE if I had a dead line two weeks from now, all the parts layed out, and nothing else to do for a month. That whole ADHD thing. Good luck on the challenge.
Forum: rodboard

Joshua. Yes that was spray rattle can acrylic. I used it because I did not want to add any amber color. I'll try to post it, but my camera doesnt do a great job.
Forum: rodboard

I used clear acrylic. It looks smooth and professional. I was wondering how it would hold up with use. After a weekend of kayak fishing in M exico, in and out of rod holders, they still look new. I am very pleased. Also, I dispelled the myth that these would be slippery. Even soaking wet an with fish slime they were not slippery. I will try urethane on the next one.
Forum: rodboard

I frequently have the same problem with nubs. I just carefully shave them off with a very sharp blade after the first light coat. The second coat levels fine. Again, I wouldn't sand unless I had way more serious problems. Then just wipe the wraps clean with a coffee filter and recoat. No solvent or rubbing. The sanding marks will level and go away. After all, we are talking fine (400 or f
Forum: rodboard

Harold. If you mean by "bumps" the unevenness of surface from tag ends and such under the thread, you don't need to do anything. They are normal and your finish will level over the top causing them to disappear completely. Those kinds of "bumps" cannot be and don't need to be sanded out! If you go into your threads, you will have serious issues. Other bumps may show up after y
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Duane. I shaved it and it looks pretty good. I'll just leave it to the finish from here.
Forum: rodboard

I put the first coat of tm light over a spider wrap and went to sleep. This morning I found that a giant bubble formed and popped at the edge of one of the spiders, leaving a bubble crater. Deffinatly a bubble, not a fish eye. the edges ot the crater are white like damaged finish and I don't think I can clean it upwithout damaging threads. Will that melt in, or do I need to go after it with som
Forum: rodboard

I Fondled the Okuma Kayak rod and the forgrip was VERY long, affecting the balance of the rod too much for me. The thing I do like about it is the rear split grip. The butmost part of the grip is as long as a rod holder is deep, and the split holds a hook keeper. I am including this feature on a rod I am working on now. I have been wondering if composite/foam handles have enough float to fl
Forum: rodboard