Here is a link to the Kreinik braids in metallic. -John
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Thanks for the advice. I went back and checked your photo galleries. Nice work! Jeff, I think I saw your DAV glued up grip which is what led to my questions. -John
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I can find Kreinik braids in various widths at my local A. C. Moore. Having just watched Randy Parpart's DVD on braids and wraps, I was wondering if that might work for a butt wrap. Has anyone ever used the stuff? I know it is used quite a bit in fly tying (see the Harrison Steeves books). Thanks -John
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I'm thinking of putting a foam insert in a cork grip I will be turning as an accent trim. Do you have to use EVA foam or will the craft foam that you find at Michael's or A.C. Moore's work just as well? The foam I have is about 2mm in thickness and goes for about .50 cents a sheet. It doesn't say what kind of foam it is on the label. Has anyone used that for an insert? Thanks for the h
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Do you have any of the Rice threads left? I've sent two e-mails over the last few days to request the list per your instructions and I haven't heard back. Thanks. -john Colleen sent the info today -- thanks.
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Dear Joe, Thanks for the link to your site. Your instructions are great! I think after reading it a few times and practicing on scrap I'll get the hang of it. Your instructions are a real service to newbies like me. -John
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I intend to be there next year for sure! I guess that leads to a question as to when the Tom Kirkman DVD on Rod Finishing will be released.<g> I'd buy it and I bet a lot of other people on this board would as well. -John
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The Campbell Fork School, as Tom notes, is very highly regarded. I know they have offered classes in both fly fishing and bamboo rod making in the past. I've met Jan Davidson, the head, in the past and I know for sure that he is a fisherman. Brasstown is in a beautiful area. It is on the other side of the Smoky Mountains where things are starting to level out again as you head towards Tenn. an
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I know there are a lot of DVD's and videos out there showing how to do thread wraps and designs. Are there any that show applying the finish using a spatula as opposed to using a brush? The majority of what I read here suggests that the spatula is the way to go. I think if I can see it being done I'll understand it better and be able to do it myself. I don't know the bandlength restrictions
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Thanks to all for the suggestions. Mike is right -- it is a *custom* rod and more importantly, it's my custom rod. Raymond and Ted also had some very good suggestions on how to find the correct length for me. Again, thanks. -John
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I am trying to determine how far up from the butt to put the reel seat on a split grip baitcasting rod that I'm building. It is a 7' popping rod for redfish and seatrout. I seem to remember Rich Forhan saying in Charlotte that the butt should hit you in the forearm to give you the needed leverage. I think he said it shouldn't be longer than your forearm. It would seem to me that you would want
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I visited a local quilting shop this afternoon in search of Madeira PolyNeon 40. They don't carry it anymore. I did find Mettler Polysheen (which I have read about here) plus two others that I hadn't heard about. They are Isacord Polyester which is made in Germany and Fujix King Star which is Japanese. They both were 40 wt threads. Has anyone ever used these threads for decorative wraps or ac
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Greensboro is even closer and I dearly love Stamey's. I just didn't know what High Point had to offer in the way of BBQ jolints. I'm willing to experiment. I figure given the closeness to Lexington, High Point *must* have at least one decent BBQ place. -John
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I think you made a great move taking it to High Point. Now the question remains about whether you are going to offer tours of your shop. That and where is a good Lexington-style BBQ place in High Point. -John
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Given that I grew up in the town next door to the one that I think you are alluding to, I think it would be a great idea! It's a little longer drive for me than to Charlotte but the amenities definitely make it worth the extra driving time. But the major question will be whether or not they have good barbeque. And, no, I'm not going to ruin Tom's surprise. John
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I've been doing some searchs on how to do a spiral wrap. If I understand it correctly, the first guide (closest to reel) would be my double foot 10, the next guide at 90 deg. would be one of the single foot 7's, and then the third guide would be the single foot 8 bumper guide at 180 deg. Is this correct? Also, though right-handed, I am using a left-hand reel on this rod. I just don't want to
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Mo's summary of the choices and advantages/disadvantages of titanium versus stainless has swayed me to go with the titanium esp. given the weight factor. I spoke with Bill Stevens in Charlotte about guide sizes for doing a rod like this with a spiral wrap. His suggestions were a double foot 10, a single foot 8, and the rest (6 of them) single foot flyrod 7's. Given these sizes, should I use a
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I guess what caught me off guard was that the components cost approximately twice as much as the Batson Rainshadow blank. I did get the blank at a great price down in Charlotte. -john
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I've gotten some very good advice and much to mull over. If I seemed a little bit shocked at the price of the components, it was because the last rods I've built were fly rods. Even the best snake guides are not very costly. But then again, a fly rod built for small streams in Western North Carolina isn't intended to fight very large powerful fish or deal with the corrosive conditions found at th
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I'm building a 7 ft inshore casting rod. I'm using the Batson Rainshadow IP844 for the blank. I got a suggestion at the Charlotte show that I shouldn't consider anything but titanium guides. I just priced what I needed and I'm still trying to catch my breath.<g> From a philosophical standpoint, if you were going to build a saltwater rod that you'd only use a handful of time a year in sal
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I had a couple of local friends who were manning a booth for an outfitter from Montana. They were promoting trips to Montana and Chile. They were of the firm opinion that they had much more traffic at the booth this year because of the National Rod Builders Show. Given that they have been to each and every Fly Fishing Show in Charlotte since the beginning as either an exhibitor or visitor, I thin
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I wish I there were but unfortunately the answer is NO. There is, however, a Bass Pro Shops in Concord Mills which is just up I-85 North from Charlotte. John
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It was the old Convention Center that was imploded. The one where the Rodbuilding and FF Shows are held is the new center which was built in 1995 according to this story. I think the confusion was because the names had been the same. -John
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I just got back from the Florida Panhandle and was able to do a little bit of fishing for trout and redfish while there. The trip got me to thinking about building a spinning rod to use for in-shore/flats/bay fishing. My fly casting style needs some work and while I love fly fishing, I really love being able to catch fish.<g> Is there any reason that a salmon/steelhead blank like the For
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Dave, His website has a message saying they will be closed until June 1 due to personal reasons. I'd give a try again next week. Hope this helps. -John PS: He had a long message on the board earlier this week detailing future changes in his business.
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Dave, It depends on your definition of reasonably priced. Diamondback and St. Croix both have a 15 ft, 10/11 wt spey blank for around $180 US. I have a Hardy blank that I paid about $250 for a few years ago. One of these days I'll build it. It even came with nickel-silver ferrulle plugs. I take it that you reside in Scotland. Have you tried any of the European manufacturers? Hope this he
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I've never wrapped with silk but understand that it is the traditional thread used by bamboo rodmakers. How does silk compare to nylon in terms of strength? Would you use the same size or go smaller? I am looking to finally do a Hardy fiberglass blank which is a deep amber and saw this nice silk in the Angler's Workshop catalog in Granger Green (yellowish olive). I don't see anything exactly t
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I'd like to try one of the Fuji skeleton fly/spin seats where you insert a cork or wood insert on a fly rod. I see that they come in 15mm and 17mm. Which is the proper size to use on most graphite rods? Thanks -John
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While I can't help you with extending a rod, I do have a suggestion for a blank for a smaller spey rod. I was looking to build something similar to what you are suggesting a few years ago. It was suggested to me to use the St. Croix Wild Salmon 11'6" drift rod blank (WS116LM2) as the basis for a 5-6 wt. spey rod. I never made the rod unfortunately but I would still consider it. This blank
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I want to do clear transparent wraps on a fly rod I am building. I know I should use white silk such as Pearsall's Gossamer for the wraps. I want the guides to look like they are clinging to the rod without any means of support. The blank is a glossy Orvis dark grey Silver Label TL. However, I have been given conflicting advice on the thread coatings. Some have told me that I *must* use a varn
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