Thanks, Jay.
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Do you make solid glass plugs by cutting down solid fiberglass blanks or can they be purchased in shorter sections?
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Anyone know a good online source of these pens?
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First problem would be to find two blanks to fit tightly along their entire length. The chances of finding two identical profiles, one on the Inner wall and the other on the outer wall seems astronomically improbable.. and not easy to determine but by many trials... perhaps numbering into the thousands. Supposing you got lucky and found the "needle in the haystack" how do you propose
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This sounds like a winner to me. Gonna give it a try asap. An inner plastic liner might provide the added resistance to keep the eye screw in place.
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With so much focus on the relative benefits of Spiral Wraps I came up with an idea that might add some clarity to the discussion. Picture a rod built for as a tool for demonstrating puroposes only. My idea is to build a rod with a normal grips, reel seat, and foregrip. Attach the Butt Guide and Bumper Guide to the blank as normal with thread and finish epoxy. All other guides will be wrapp
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Doc, How much lower do you think the line will be on a spiral rod as compared to a conventional rod? I'm guessing the difference will not exceed more than an inch or so. For this reason I think your concern over this situation is unwarranted. The benefit of not having to fight the torque of a very heavy reel twisting your wrist is far more helpful to permit you to keep your rod under control;
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Jim, I'm glad we agree on the benefits of sharing differing opinions in a cordial manner. I do recall the "spirited" posts on the thread you started regarding spiral wraps. I take offense with any statements that demean others or promote division in the rod building community. I can understand how it may have seemed like you were being swamped with all the comments of support for Spi
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Sorry for the double post. Is there any way I can delete it?
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Emory, Imagine you are on a 30' (+ or -) open boat in open water and there are 3 foot swells. Two identical rods and reels are available to you. Both are 80# stand up models with identical Penn Internation reels loaded with 800yds (+ or -) of 80# mono. I do not have accurate weights for these reels with line.. but think you will agree they would weigh several pounds each. How easy will i
Forum: rodboard

Emory, Imagine you are on a 30' (+ or -) open boat in open water and there are 3 foot swells. Two identical rods and reels are available to you. Both are 80# stand up models with identical Penn Internation reels loaded with 800yds (+ or -) of 80# mono. I do not have accurate weights for these reels with line.. but think you will agree they would weigh several pounds each. How easy will i
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Jim, I think you might do well to take a deep breath and relax. Just because many rod builders like myself are sold on the benefits of the Spiral Wrap doesn't mean you have to like it. This is not about brow beating non-believers into submission. I came to appreciate this configuration by testing it out. Actually, all it took to open my eyes was a quick comparison using Tom Kirkman's demon
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Hi Alexander and welcome to the Forum. The benefits of spiral wraps are much greater than you will get when your guides are on the top of the blank; whether you place them on the "Effective Spine" or not. You speak of the spine as if it was a "thing" but it is not. This may be a bit confusing to you as it was to most of us when we were first presented this idea. I suggest you
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You can find brush cleaner at any art supply section of a craft store. The big retailers probably have it too. Mineral spirits are commonly used by oil painters to clean brushes.
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My late father was a restaurant owner for more than fifty years. He was also a very diplomatic gentleman. I can still hear him telling me how, when a customer is not pleased with what you know is your best effort and very good by normal standards to kindly show him or her the door. It is their right to go elsewhere and your right as proprietor to decide if their demands are reasonable. Not all bu
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I had the pleasure meeting Hiro at an earlier show and holding one of his masterpieces in my hands. The experience was very similar to the time I was handed a Stradivarius violin by a friend who repairs and maintains the musical instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Your breathing stops.
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I had good success painting a rod with pink florescent enamel paint. Fortunately the blank was white to start as that gives the brightest result. You would be wise to spray on a white primer before the pink. After the paint was dry I sprayed a coat of Krylon Crystal Clear to protect it from the final coatings of Permagloss. I did another rod the same way in florescent blue. The results were very
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I broke the cap on a half empty bottle of Permagloss. My solution was to cut off a corner from a heavy plastic freezer bag. I pushed the pointed corner into the bottle and wrapped the rest over the lip. I wrapped it with rubber bands and a plastic tie. I inverted the bottle and placed it inside an airtight plastic container along with some little bags of dessicant.This was then stored in the refr
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If you do this please post the results. Sounds like a good idea. I've been storing my Permagloss bottles upside down in an airtight plastic container with some dessicant packets around it. I keep this in the refrigerator and it lasts months.
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Dan Craft (on sponsor list) has great blanks in that price range. His FT 909-4 would make a great rod for you. Give him a call and he'll set you up with the best choice. Great blanks at moderate prices. You'd have to spend double to match their quality and performance.
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Looking for a non-smoking roommate for the Expo. I have the room from Thurday - Monday; 2/15 - 2/19. Prefer if you can share at least 3 nights. Dave customrodbuilder@hotmail.com
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John, Glad you have you aboard. The NERBS (Northeast Rod Builders) have get togethers occasionally in the homes of builders in this region. Email Billy Vivona and ask to be included in the notices. There have been several gatherings on Long Island. I get out to Long Island for surf fishing and stay around Jericho at the home of my brother. I cannot overstate the benefits of attending the IC
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John, Glad you have you aboard. The NERBS (Northeast Rod Builders) have get togethers occasionally in the homes of builders in this region. Email Billy Vivona and ask to be included in the notices. There have been several gatherings on Long Island. I get out to Long Island for surf fishing and stay around Jericho at the home of my brother. I cannot overstate the benefits of attending the IC
Forum: rodboard

John, Glad you have you aboard. The NERBS (Northeast Rod Builders) have get togethers occasionally in the homes of builders in this region. Email Billy Vivona and ask to be included in the notices. There have been several gatherings on Long Island. I get out to Long Island for surf fishing and stay around Jericho at the home of my brother. I cannot overstate the benefits of attending the IC
Forum: rodboard

I have never used Crystal Clear as a top coat. I don't think it would protect from abrasions very effectively. Permagloss is far more durable and, when applied in liquid form, provides a much thicker coating. Two low level coats of Permagloss make for very good protection from abrasions and the elements.
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I have enjoyed excellent performance from a Van Staal reel for over 5 years. In addition to bullet proof construction it weighs less than any other in class. Less weight is a great advantage when surf fishing for several hours. The Quantum Cabo PT's are an excellent moderately priced alterrnative. There is not another reel in this price range with as many quality features. They have superb co
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I painted a white blank with neon enamel paint and applied Permagloss for a final protective coat. The Permagloss dissolved the paint. After stripping it all off I repainted the blank with the same paint and, shen dry, sprayed a sealing coat of Krylon Crystal Clear. When I then applied Permagloss it set up perfectly. The Crystal Clear provided a good protective barrier for the paint. Even so, I
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I fill the open ends with a dab of Rod Bond or other epoxy adhesive. When dry I sand smooth and paint it black with Testor Enamel.
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If you have even a small drill press you can use the same technique as is noted for a lathe. Support the hand holding the blade to keep the cut straight. Not as easy as with a lathe, but should work fine.
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The finish on Tica spinning reels has been a problem for many. Others love them, Saltwater and especailly surf fishing condtions are extremely harsh. For this reason I have avoid low end equiipment in these applications. Quantum spinning reels are far superior in every way. They are built much better and have an exceptionally durable finish. Rust resistance is also vastly enhanced. These fun
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