Herman & debbie working on guide wraps
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Debbie & Kathy reaming their cork for handle assmebly
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Myself showing Frank how to do a guide wrap
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Pete who attended the previous Gathering took home with him enough knowledge to build his own wrapper. Using an old drill some scrap wood, and a lot of ingenuity he built his own wrapper/lathe. It even had speed control
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Here is a picture of Pete's Homemade wrapper. This thing even had speed control. Squeeze on the Irwin clamp for more speed. I was very impressed with the thought that went into this.
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I tried two different process's. I turned both down on the lathe to make sure the color went beyond the edge. The smallest is turned down to about the diameter of a quarter, still lots of color.
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A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had tried to dye Birch Bark. One person responded saying it didn't work. TaDahhhhh Dyed Birch bark, Black & Green with a natural Ring seperating.
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This is my first attempt at a Simple St Johns. I made the center diamond too big but I was running behind so I had to take it the way it was. The pic was taken after the CP but before finish was on. The retiree was very pleased, and took the time to thank me personally. Gratitude like that drives me to perfecting my skills a bit more.
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This is a rod I donated to an MDA @#$%&. I actually fell asleep while I was putting CP on. When I went to put Finish on it the next day I found a guide wrap that I didn't put CP on. Of course it was after I put the finish on and that one wrap was so much darker that I realized there was no CP
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I believe I am talking about the "Ghetto-licious" a spiral wrapped mini-guide rod I am working on. The guides are held on with masking tape, and we all agreed that a Duct Tape trim band should be added before I tried to fish it
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Alaska Rodbuilders Gathering
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Brown and Blue Spider. I used Billy V's book to design this one. If your scared to try a Buttwrap like this get his book. It will make it super easy, and Billy is always willing to answer questions you may have
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Just a Blue Spider with a faded cream to brown background. I used Billy V's book to help in teh design of this one.
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I am finally brave enough to put a picture out here. I really like this combination of colors.
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I will be visiting Oklahoma City after the first of the year. I was curious if anyone was aware of any rodbuilding stores there? If so please let me know.
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You can also just print out your pattern on grid paper. It takes a bit longer to tweak everything, ubt it still works
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Does anyone have any suggestions for Halibut rod guide sizing and spacing? I live in Alaska and have bought a saltwater boat of course I am only going to outfit it with custom rods, but I am unsure of guide sizing and spacing for halibut rods. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I am planning on blanks in the 60-80 pound range.
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Thanks for all the input. It sounds like I will have to see if they are willing to take a chance on a cut down rod, or if they are willing to throw down the cash for a true "Whopper Stopper".
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I have received a request to build a rod for some friends. They have just purchased a boat and want a Halibut rod for their Grandkids to fish with. They have used rods on a charter before called "Whopper Stopper". It is a lot shorter than the common halibut rod, and eaiser for the little ones to handle. Is anyone familar with what they are talking about? If so what type blank is us
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Wine glasses with guides wrapped on? Were they on the stem?, or on the globe part of the glass? I think I would be tempted to make some kind of tapered Jig with a stem to go in a lathe chuck, to put on the top part of the wine glass, and tape it on there, then some kind of round plug witha stem to tape to the bottom. That way you have both hands free to apply the guide. Thats just me thinki
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I am looking for an Iowa Howkeys weave pattern. Does anyone have one they would be willing to share with me. I would greatly appreciate it if they did. Kirk
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I appreciate everyones inputs. I am not sure which way I am going to go, but I a leaning towards underwrapping with holo-shimmer. I don't think it will be an exact match of what I am aiming for, but it should look pretty cool anyways. I will be able to get the basic theme down. If any of you have ever thought about trying Holo-Shimmer I highly reccomend it. It definatly dresses up the rod.
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I have seen this out here before, but did a search and came up empty handed. I am building a rod for someone that wants to match the paint on her Dasds Motorcycle. It just happens to be a Candy apple red bike, with gold trim. I have heard of people underwrapping the candy apple thread with gold to get a better candy apple affect. I have tried it with gold mylar, and Sulky holo-shimmer in gol
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I highly reccomend them. I have several friends that fishthem on their salmon rods up here in Alaska. If it can handle a big ol Kenai red that hits the current then it can be fished just about anywhere
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Well you need more help than that if your dad is an Eagles fan...........Just kidding.........I am a loyal Seahawks fan so I had to throw the jab in there...........I really have no idea what the best colors would be. I get queasy like I smoked a cheap cigar when I see the Pilly green........lol
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I am sure everyone has been doing this for years now, but I just figured out something pretty slick. As I sat and re-wrapped a few guides on some of the rods I have going it dawned on me. Why don't I leave the last thread tag on untill I have the guide in alighnment? I have a habit of popping that loose and having to redo the guide. It makes it a lot more difficult to pop that tag loose when
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Dave, I live in Alaska and build many fly rods every year. There is no need to use E on a fly rod unless you are building something for serious saltwater fish. I use A on everything up to and including 10 wts. I have never had a problem. I have considered going after Salmon Shark with a fly rod and if I do then I will use E. Unless you just don't feel like it for whatever reason I woul
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John, Thanks for sharing that, I think............I finished with all the delicate rod work I was going to do last night so I popped a cold one to keep me company while I glued up a couple of rods to work on today. Well needless to say I had read your post, and I must have checked at least 10 times on each blank I was gluing to make sure I was roughing the finish on the correct section.......
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Well what is a guy to do????????? I tried the fishing thing yesterday.........Still over 18 inches of ice in one of my favorite early season trout streams. I guess I will have to head south and fish where the cool kids have been going. Till then off to the rodroom to finish a few projects
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Thats it...........I have finally found a reason to move out of Alaska.............Get my Rod make magazine sooner. Tom could you send Alaska's copies a few days ahead of everyone else's so we don't have to listen to how great it is for days before we get a chance to see for ourselves?
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