Hi... I haven't been on here for about 5 years so I doubt many of you remember me. I have been out of building for that time as wellbecause of several things which I won't go into. My situation is this. I have decided to get the business back up and going as retirement is just a few years down the road. I have a customer wanting a 7' Catfish rod in white. He wants fiberglass. I am thinking I can
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I have been making my ramps by wrapping the same as anything else. Sometimes I stop after a few layers and apply CP just to keep the thread from falling down the ramp. Works great.... been doing it for about 5 years now with good results. I hardly ever buy hosels anymore. I just wrap a ramp.... it works.
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I was reading a post about the problem of getting epoxy in micro guides and how to get it out. I had an idea... maybe its stupid... I dont know... but what about intentionally plugging the holes with modeling clay or something similar before wrapping the guides on or at least before applying the epoxy??? Sound crazy??
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Its been a while since I posted as i have been out of rodbuilding for about a year. I am back up and going now and am about to attempt my first bass rod with micro guides and have several questions. Does normal static stress guide placement methods apply? Can these guides be used in conjunction with a simple spiral wrap? and if so... what pitfalls should I watch for in doing this? This phorum
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I'd just get a blank with the properties I desired and paint them yellow.... That's the easiest way for me. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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I use Krylon Fusion with great success for the color and a good coat of Spar Urethane as a clear coat. Haven't had any complaints yet.
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Thanks guys..... Jay, Your email saved my life.... Got er done..... Thanks a million Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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printed it off and have been trying for 2 hours now.... Still need 3 or 4 more hands...and a brain.....
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To each his own, but as for me, the only time I don't use the Forhan locking Wrap is on double foot guides.
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I am having fits trying to figure out how to do something that is bound to be as basic to rod building as knowing your alphabet is to spelling. The problem is that I have never had to learn it until now and it's driving me nuts. I have to change colors on a wrap.... it goes like this... 1/8 inch of black then 4 wraps of purple metallic, then 2 wraps of silver metallic, then 4 more wraps of pur
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I'm with Mike. I use hot melt glue for tip tops 100% of the time with 100% positive results. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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I have foound that it is much easier for me to paint a blank the color I want than it is to find one pre-painted. Krylon fusion is a great paint for blanks. Automotive paints work well too if you have the paint store add plenty of flex additive. Top coat either with a couple of coats of Minwax Helmsman spar urethane in the clear gloss and you are good to go. Wal-Mart and Ace hardware both car
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Get any blank you want.....scuff the finish with 600 grit sandpaper, Spray with Krylon Fusion (available at Wal-Mart or Ace Hardware) (they have two shades of red) then two coats of Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane (get the clear gloss type) (also available at Wal-Mart or Ace hardware) allow a day to dry.....and you are good to go....Hope this helps... Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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I build mostly Bass and Striper rods. Here in Georgia, the economy seems to be biting us in the butt especially hard. This has been my slowest year, with only high end and repair work, and not as much of that as in previous years.
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I don't know who started it.....but Putter's pretty hard to beat in my book.... Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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The customer wants an open diamond crosswrap in the split grip. I'll either have to color the blank or come as close as I can with thread. Gudebrod 326 w/o CP gives a nice burgundy effect. Maybe that will work. I am still open to suggestions. I just need to kinda match the reddish brown of the rest of the blank. Personally, if it were my rod.....I'd marble it too. thanks... Steve Buchan
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I am converting an AllStar IM6 to a split grip for a customer and I encountered a problem. Upon removing the cork for the split grip, I discovered that the section of the blank under the cork had not been colored that nice reddish brown color as the rest of the blank. Does anybody know what they use to get that color, and where I might get my hands on some of it? Steve Buchanan Steve's Cu
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I use them for Bass rods exclusively unless the customer requests otherwise, They are light....inexpensive....the rings NEVER come out. The only downfall is that if they are stepped on and bent...you can bend them right back...but several times of this and they break. That is probably true of all guides that are not made of titanium. I love them...Haven't had a complaint from a customer yet in
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The Diawa ones you saw are probably made exclusively for Diawa and not available to the general public. A lot of really cool reel seats are like that....too bad, because I've also seen a bunch of them I'd love to be able to buy. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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Recently I found a good deal in a wood lathe....5 foot lathe for $100. I now need to find a chuck (preferably self centering) to turn cork....My spindle is threaded 3/4-10. I am a machinist so I can make something to adapt if I can't find that thread. Where can I find chucks suitable for turning cork (on a mandrell) without paying more than I gave for the lathe? Steve Buchanan Steve's Cus
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I'm with Ron....as a fisherman, I would rather have a balanced rod, no matter what it's weight, than the lightest rod ever made if it was tip heavy......Just my two cents. I always try to sell my clients on balanced rods....I'll build them how they want them, but I have found that most who try a balanced rod request that future rods they purchase be balanced. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom
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I do it like Ellis does except that I use the syringes with the little bottles and keep re-filling the little ones from the big ones with yorker caps. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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This is gonna seem like a dumb question... I've been doing this for nearly three years and I just encountered my first tip top that had not been put on with hot glue. I am re-doing a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Zylon rod for a customer and heat won't budge this tip top. How do I get it off....short of shortening the rod....LOL? I guess we never learn it all huh?......Thanks in advance... St
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I would check with Billy Vivona.....as far as I'm concerned, he is the Guru of crosswrapping......Just my 2 cents. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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Krylon Fusion...might take a couple of coats for white tho......Top coat with a coat of spar urethane. That's my .02....... Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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I build about 95% bass rods. A good 60 to 70 per cent of those are Rainshadow & Forecast. Never had a problem with them yet. I recommend them in bass applications without hesitation. Steve Buchanan Steve's Custom Rods
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Jan's Netcraft has the Berkley SS304 guides. I use them quite a lot. One of the available colors is chrome frame with gold ring. They are very inexpensive too. I love them.....Good luck. Steve Buchanan Steve'sCustom Rods
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I had an idea to try snake guides on a bass rod (except for the stripper ). I mentioned it to someone at the big show and he didn't think it would work well. I would like for some of you folks to weigh in on the subject so I can determine whether or not I am a fool before I give it a try. I might add..... it would be spiral wrapped and the snakes would all be on the bottom. All input will be
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Hey folks...Just got back from the show...(which was OUTSTANDING !!!) and got back to building rods. I have a customer whose rod I am almost finished with to call me up as I was putting the epoxy on the thread wraps and ask if I would put his name, my name and the year on the rod. I explained to him that I had bought decals saying "Custom crafted for: (His name)" and my logo....Steve
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I have never done a threadless wrap...the very idea blows my mind...If the look of threadless and the strength of thread is what you are after, I might have a solution for you. You're gonna think I am crazy but I bought a spool of transparent nylon thread made by Coats at Walmart....yeah...I said Walmart. It looks a bit like monofilament fishing line. I bought it to experiment with this same l
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