I was going to get the @#$%& but it obviously doesn't work. If it did they would be in the same bath tub. lol.
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Nice project. For display I would take a dremel with a buffing wheel and jeweler's rouge after and bring that shine out. Take the solder stains off it from the heat.
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I don't know what its called. But in the electrical department at the hardware store the have a self sealing tape. As you wrap you stretch it and it seals to itself. No glue on it to stick to the cork. I use it for ice rods.
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Thank you all. I definitely have a direction now. Gonna do this kinda backwards. Due to limited funds. Gonna adapt the chuck to mine then piece meal the rest as soon as momma says I can. When momma is happy, the house is happy.
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Ok after making my first power wrapper. Looking to upgrade to a better one. I need to to be sectional as I do alot of ice rods. And maybe a few regular size rods. Most are I know. I was wondering what everyone would recommend. Was looking at the alps with the chuck upgrade or maybe the Pac Bay with the chuck upgrade. Any help and guidance would be helpful. Thank you.
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I build alot of ice rods with small guides and very flexible tips. I use fuel line for R/C applications. Comes real small. I cut about a 1/16 inch off it and roll it up on the guide and blank. After i start wrapping i just cut it off. Cheap a foot costs about a buck and i get hundreds of bands.
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Happy birthday and God bless. That is an achievement. May you have many more.
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Billy, My heart and prayers are with you. Your perspective and reading your posts about helping others when you needed it just shows your integrity. You do amazing work and no matter what the storm takes from you, it can't take the talent and knowledge you have. That will be the seed you need to regrow. Best of luck and godspeed.
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i start with 220 grit paper. Keep your hands moving. I chuck the blank up in a drill and run it on low medium speed. ( dewalt cordless drill) don't know the rpm's. That was a trial and error. Take a blank that you don't care about, like an old solid fiberglass blank. The old zebco 202 combos, Shakespeare, etc. The old cheap rods. progressively work up on grit as you get your desired flex. I finis
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Any solid glass rod is nice. It can be sanded down to exactly what you want . Jann's has a good assortment for your needs. All I build is ice rods and they are just as good as Thorne Bros when sanded down. I have made tb noodle rod and sweetheart perch rod from them to get my specs. Then sanded blanks to match from Jann's. Both are good. Just an idea. Thats what makes tb's blanks different, they
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I use double sided tape and trim with a razor off the guides when I do my rods. All I build is ice rods. Works good for me to hold in place and move once or twice to get the right spacing.
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Use them extensively on ice rods. Double swaged makes them smooth with no problems. Light. All positive.
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Are they going to be shanty rods or outside rods. Shanty rods I will use w minima4 size 4. Outside rods i use a 6 or 8 so it don't ice up. Not much weight difference between a 4 and 8 to effect the action.
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I use any solid blank that I can sand down and "custom" make to my likeing. I use a solid carbon blank close to what I want and sand the tip to the backbone to get what I want. This is for a feel rod like a walleye rod. I use a solid fiberglass or glass/graphite for sight rods. I made some crappie rods that have mostly tip and little backbone. I do this so when setting the hook I am not
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Thats all I build is ice rods. A tip for doing the tops is I use my left hand (index finger) as a guide to hold the tension and my right hand to wrap on a power wrapper. I have a guide I made out of a credit card to guide the top. Real thin and I rest it right on the top. There are some real good ideas on the photos page for tools. Some rods I do I sand the tip down so that it's extremely flexibl
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What about using the thread as an accent if they are weak. Just a thought.
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Golf works has a 2 part epoxy with beads in it t hat I tried on an ice rod to help center the blank to the grip. Its worked good. Didn't know if it would hold up in the cold or get brittle and crack. Still working good. Golf was my last obsession till I broke my back and started doing this. Lots of goodies that can be crossed over from club making.
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What about a solid glass ice rod blank. I use one to to ice rods with every cloth ripped.and glued on. Go slow as the tip is somewhat fragile.
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Theres slot of free literature from finish manufactures also. They go into some depth about types and recommendations.
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Using a wider blade will also help with blade drift when ripping. Speeds and feeds watching the blade contact help. Just some advice from an old furniture maker.
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What about an ice rod handle for the ul. They have a few to choose from like the st. Croix knock offs.
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Can you use his departments or station logo to make it more personable?
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That number will go up by 2 next year. I will tell my gf its a romantic getaway. She will find out how much o love building lol. Congrats Tom.
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Yeah unfortunately my gf isn't into shoes. I could have used that to my advantage. Now I must play detective to find the weak spot. I have been trying to get her into it but either her will is stronger than mine or she doesn't like fishing that much. Blasphemy lol.
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I am new to rod buildng but quickly realized that you have to be a jack of all trades to do this. First getting equipment you have to be machinist, an electrician, an engineer, a carpenter, etc. Then to actually make a rod you have to be a bodyshop mechanic, again a carpenter, and last but not least a surgeon to put in such detail. My hat is off to all. Getting addicted now so maybe I should add
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Woman in general are geared mentally to tedious tasks than men are. I am trying to get ny better half to paint my rod tips for me. She has a Steiner hand than I do. I can thread a sewing machine while it's running I shake so much.lol
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Here's something to think about. I know from building ice rods that fiberglass are a sight fishing and durable rod. Carbon or graphite rods are more for feel, but are more likely to break. Just adding some thought into the process.
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Would a "traditional" location chart work for ice rods or possibly a scaled down version. Seems the geometry would be the same. I am using a try it and see how it looks approach. I don't think its that critical seeing your not casting only stress from fighting the fish. Just was wondering. New to all this but still want to build them right. Thank you.
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Thank you for the warm welcome and advice. Yeah obsession is definitely an understatement lol.
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What about a solid fiberglass blank in that range. Thorne bros offers one 72" that can be cut down. The tip can be sanded to get a soft tip so its not pulling through the mouths of the crappie but still has enough backbone for an occasional bass or northern that troll the same water. I make ice rods and do that. I was amazed at how many crappie I was missing due to pulling through. This is w
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