You need to get the right size winding check,IMO. I like to have a 'not quite snug fit' on top of one wrap of 'A' thread, two wraps at most. If you use a 100 grit reamer for your finish reaming you can get a good enough fit to put a trim ring there instead of a winding check. I believe this looks especially good on a light fly or ultra-light spinning rod.
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I always deal with Bob at Custom Tackle Supply by phone and have Never had a problem.
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Back when the graphite arbors were fairly new, I got 300 cheap. 100 each of 12mm., 16mm., and 18mm. I still have a couple dozen of each. Apparently the older ones fit better than the current ones. I use both these and the Flex-Coat arbors and very much like them both. But, if the graphite arbors are as off size then as the current ones are, I'll be buying the Flex-Coat atbors in the future.
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Steve, on the strip of sandpaper, what is too long and what is short enough to be safe? I sometimes use a 1in. wide strip, up to 600 grit to polish a reelseat insert or cork grip.
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Before I bought my Dremel (thin fiber cutoff wheel with masking tape). I put tape on the blank and used a triangle file to cut the blank. These are the two best methods I've found for cutting a blank.
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Tom Slater, which blank are you using for this rod?
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I use Lemon Pledge on my rods, and to clean rods in for repairs and to final clean my custom rods before delivery. I read about it right here several years ago. It (Lemon Pledge) works very well indeed.
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Steve, get some basic flycasting lessons and go from there. Learn a few basic techniques and flyfishing will be even more fun. Line control is part of it, for sure. Try your local fly shop. Most give free or inexpensive lessons.
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I've found that a longer rod can aid you in casting soft baits like dough baits, chicken livers, crappie minnows, etc... Mine work better, (long rods), at 8 to 10 feet long for this purpose. I believe a longer rod can give you a longer acceleration to cast a delicate bait farther than a shorter rod, all else being equal, or close to it. You still must learn to get the most out of the length rod y
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ThreadMaster & ThreadMaster Lite are the best rod building finishes I have used. They're in the top three with Perma Gloss, IMO.
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No one mentioned this yet so here is mine to go with cat fuzzy wraps. When I rirst set up my rod building work room I used the wrong wall plug, the 'lamp plug'. When I finished wrapping the rod I turned off the light, closed the door, remembering the fuzzy wraps, and went to bed. The next morning my rod had these pretty icicles from one end to the other. When I cut off the light I cut off the dry
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Mel, I did just that before I posted here. Thanks Perrie. Chris, I'll email you later today, thanks. Bill, $15.oo, I talked him down from $25. He told me he hoped I enjoyed this, 'quote' "useless piece of ----", unquote.
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Yes and no. The IGFA #4 rating indicates a 2kg. or 4lb. rating. But, an IGFA rated line is intended to break at or below the rated # test. A "premium" line is intended to break at or above the # test rating. So, your #4 'noodle' rod is rated for 2lb. premium line or a 2kg. (4lb.) rated IGFA line. I know that Original Stren 2lb.test is rated at 4lb. IGFA. Tim posted whlie I was typeing,
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I bought an Alvey 45C1 reel at a yard sale new in the box. I would like to use it for Flat head & blue cats, big ones. What length blank, handle, reelseat, and guides work best with this type of reel? Do I need to build a surf rod style, long rod? The open guide(?) came in the box with the reel. Do I follow the instructions on the card it is pinned to? I'm out of my depth here and need some
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Russ, I totally agree with you. I like the minimalist approach with a 3 to 5 wrap nailknot style trim wrap or two, or not.
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You only need 1 to 1 1/2 times the diameter of the female ferrule to keep the ferrule from splitting. Longer wraps olny add weight.
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He's already done that, attracting rodbuilders, that is, with the quality of his merchandise.
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Custom tackle Supply, on the left, has them. I got mine there.
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Spray "lemon Pledge" on a cotton cloth (piece of old tee shirt) and give the rod a good wipe down.
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Do you do your trim wraps like a nail knot, or another method? If you're using single foot guides, I believe you need a Forhan Locking wrap. Then a nail knot type trim wrap on each end should be easier than a trim wrap up on the guide foot. If this isn't the problem, then you need to supply more detail.
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Here in Alabama I use 'Jones Rod Building' and except for a few people asking what kind of hot rods (cars) I work on I've had no problems.
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It would make a Pfleuger Medalist reelfoot fit those reelseats it is Not reccomded for if you take some off of the sides.
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I was lucky enough to be given a 9ft.4/5wt. medium, they make a med. fast also, by a customer who had me build him a pair, a 7ft. 2/3wt. and a 9ft 5/6wt. I love the true medium action. It is a straight taper and will load as well with a 4wt. line as with an 8wt. I also love the way this rod protects a light tippet and has the backbone to handle a 7lb. striper, Lewis Smith lake, I never would have
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Your best choice is to rewrap. Then, just don't make the same mistake again. Believe, me there are plenty of new ones out there.
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Custom Tackle Supply is my rod building supplier of choice. If Bob doesn't carry it, whatever 'it' is, then I'll shop somewhere else. Great service too.
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This is one of the many reasons I wrap by hand. You may be using too much tension on the thread. I use a bit of scrap blank for this. Oh, I prefer a Flex-Coat SW-1 hand wrapper.
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I put S.H. on lead wire, fly weight, and for head cement (clear) and for loops on the ends of fly line (red). Again, it thins with acetone which I Do Not want on any rod or blank, IMO. For rodbuilding I use 91% clear rubbing alcohol because denatured alcohol has impurities which can be M.E.K. or similar.
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Go to the photo page, click wraps, type tip in search, click go, and you will see a #3.5 guide as a tip top.
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I used, before Dremel, a triangular file like Duane uses the cut off wheel. Now I cut blanks like Duane.
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I just this minute ordered a dozen #4 Alconite BLAG guides from Custom Tackle Supply on the left. I needed to order a pair of blanks anyway, Rainforest RF2SP600, for a matching flyrod-spinning rod pair for a friend. So I'll find out about these guides for myself. I couldn't bring myself to go smaller.
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