I had a problem and someone on this forum told me to micro wave it for 10 sec. before use. I did that in it helped a lot. In fact the finish is better and I have plenty of time before it starts to cure. For me it was great advise. Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I can't tell you how much I have learned from this site, I go to it everyday just to learn. It is people like Tom and the other folks on this site that go out of their way to help beginners like me. Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

Any body ever use them? How do you get them to stick and still remove the water under and around them. I have some made for finger nails and they look good until I put one on a piece of old blank then not so good. Any thing special I need to know? Thanks Phil
Forum: rodboard

I went to the Mud Hole class and that was a great experience for me I learned a lot, but I also learned that I didn't know anything compared to what I need to know. They need a second class (advanced) for people who have had the first. I have learned a great deal from this board and reading. My biggest issue is still the finish I struggle with that. It could teach you finish, how to measure and
Forum: rodboard

I hope I can come again, my daughter in Atlanta is expecting my second granddaughter Feb. 14 and I can't miss that. I hope to come on Sat I went on Sunday this year and I think I missed a lot. I attended the Mudhole class just before the Expo and didn't know much. I still don't know much but I have learned a lot from this forum. Thanks Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I am new at rod building, less than a year, and I have never done a under wrap. Does the thread that I use for the under wrap need to be smaller than the thread used to wrap the guides? Thanks Phil
Forum: rodboard

I am not to happy with it, but it is new and time will tell. I like the old one better I found it easier to find and brose items. Mudhole has always been good to work with I couldn't do this with out them so I will have to adapt. Phil
Forum: rodboard

I am building a split grip with the Winn Grips. I need some ideas on how to ream the butt grip to fit the rod. The hole does not go all the way thru and I have been drilling the hole larger and then using a dermal tool the enlarge it. I drilled thru one last night and now I have to purchase a new grip $$$$$. Any thoughts would be very helpful. Phil
Forum: rodboard

I forgot to mention it was not a fault of Mud Hole with my order, it was a packaged item (guides) and one was missing. The guides are sold as a set and Mud Hole set me a new set. I could not ask for better service. Phil
Forum: rodboard

I am glad I read this I was about to order a blank from them. I have not being doing this long and only had one issue with a order with Mud Hole. I called them on the phone and they had the guide in the mail that day with no questions ask. It's hard to beat that kind of service and they were very nice about it too. On another occasion I ordered from Mud Hole and when my order came they sent me a
Forum: rodboard

I have the drying issue solved thanks to the help I received here, the yellowing surprised me because it is mostly over the decal. I was not careful enough with the mixture and that was the start of the problem but it did get dry and looks pretty good except for the area in front of the grip where I placed the decal. I also put a decal between the split grip (NC) he is a Carolina fan and it looks
Forum: rodboard

I built a rod about a month ago and had trouble with the finish getting hard it took over a week. I looked at the rod yesterday and the finish has a yellow tint to it over the decal and a little at the edge of one guide. It is a split grip and a decal there looks good. It was built on a white blank so it shows pretty bad. Any ideas on this? Phil
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Roger. Phil
Forum: rodboard

Question, in preparing the butt grip on a split grip I reamed it a little too much. Can I wrap tape to the blank in a effort to make a tighter fit on the butt. The Winn grip I had did not have a re moveable end cap making it a little difficult to get a good fit and I screwed it up by making it a little to big. Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I am using Pro Wrap color fast A, and no CP. I put a second coat on last night and it looks a little better to day. It is finished now so I have to live with it. Its a cheap rod buillt for my grand daughter and for me to get experience building. Learning is not cheap but that is what it takes.
Forum: rodboard

That is a good point about the guide feet, I use a file to get them down on the ends, I will sandpaper them good on the next build and see if that helps. Thanks to everyone. Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I do follow with the packing tool and burnish the threads, the guides seem tight but I usually don't have to move them much. It seems like the epoxy shrinks the tread, that is just the way it looks. I don't see this when I am applying the epoxy it is after it is applied should I try to make the wrap tighter I am using A thread and I have had the tread fray so I am not making them as tight. I put
Forum: rodboard

I am new at this so bear with me this is only my 4th rod. I am building a rod for my granddaughter and I checked all the wraps good before applying the epoxy. After adding the epoxy I noticed the wraps seem to open up and not look tight. What am I doing wrong or not doing at all? Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I have a question about the direction. Why do you change directions to apply the finish, it seems to me that would disturb the thread? I am new at this so that is the reason for the question, not questioning your knowledge.
Forum: rodboard

When you order new blanks, I just received one from Lamiglas yesterday, does a decal come with the blank stating the specs for the blanks. I have ordered MHX banks and the Lamiglas and no decal. I have a St Croix on order with Mud Hole will it have a decal or do I need to order it also.
Forum: rodboard

I just received a blank from Lamiglass yesterday, it was in a plastic bag but no decal. The Mud Hole HHX blanks did not have a decal either. I thought they would have had decal with the spec.of the rod.
Forum: rodboard

Go to one of the Mud Hole classes, you will learn enough to get you started. Without the help of the folks on the forum and Mud Hole I would be lost, waste a lot of money and probably loose interest. It takes time but it's fun and a little addictive. Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard

I will look at it today, but I don't think the butt cap is removable, at least when it arrived the cap is on the butt and I didn't look that closely.
Forum: rodboard

I am using my first Winn Grip and it's a split grip. How do I size the butt part of the grip to fit the rod?
Forum: rodboard

I am sorry it does not feel like it moves, its just not hard. Phil
Forum: rodboard

It is not much softer, I don't think you could see a finger nail mark. When you press it does feel like it moves, it's just soft. Soft is hard to describe.
Forum: rodboard

Possibly, I haven't tried that.
Forum: rodboard

I poster earlier about the finish being soft, It has been 1 week and has not hardened up completely. It is soft not sticky and does not leave a finger print. Jay advised to add a second coat and make sure of my mixture. Is there anything I should do before adding a second coat?
Forum: rodboard

I poster earlier about the finish that was soft, It has been a week and still is a little soft not sticky just soft. Jay advised to apply a second lite coat. Is there anything I should do before I add the second coat?
Forum: rodboard

Thanks to everyone and you are correct in thinking about the next time, I learn something every day and everyone here is great to me. Thanks Phil Ayers
Forum: rodboard