Try a three guide reduction train of KW30, 25, and 16 (or 12M). This should give you a good reduction train based on guide heights. Runners can all be size 8. For a 6000 reel you can push the stripper a further out from the spool tip (22” to 25”), maybe even a little further, if needed. This will put the choke guide at somewhere around 45” - 52” from spool tip. Space the two reduction guides acco
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I think your closest match for the guide will be the new PacBay Minima guides that have just come out with a 316 SS frame and hard chrome insert. From the height and ring ID sizes may be a size 6 F guide. Norm
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No longer sold in the US. They were very popular down here for spillway fishing for hybrid striped bass and stripers. Also made a nice light surf rod. I have stripped down and refurbished a bunch of these rods with better components. What part of his rod broke, tip section or butt section? I have an extra tip section if needed. Norm
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The titanium wire used for spinnerbaits and recoil guides is a nickel titanium alloy also known as nitinol which has shape memory properties. Nitinol also comes in a number of different grades, each with different properties. From what I understand this wire can be formed into a certain shape and when heated and quenched under controlled conditions will ‘remember’ this shape after deformation. Th
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I erased what I just posted; happy that you found what you wanted. Good luck! Norm
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Phil: Thanks. Not sure if the titanium welding rod would work or not. For a hook keeper it works quite well since it’s only duty is to hold a hook securely in place while you are not fishing. Not sure how it would perform as a snake guide guide. It certainly would be easy enough to test. There are a number of different types of titanium wire in different gauges on the market, and I have no idea
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Double or single foot? If single, V or Y frame? Norm
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About a year ago I posted how to make an open end hook keeper I designed using stainless steel wire. Look at this original post and pictures to see how to make these keepers. Since a number of people do not use hook keepers because of rust/corrosion problems, I wanted to share my recent experience using titanium wire in lieu of stainless wire. I tried a number of pure titanium grade 1 wires an
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I have never tried the Seymo finishes. Are they as hard and as durable as Permagloss? Norm
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If masking tape removed the paint it should be easy to remove the rest of the paint. I doubt that the paint would have lasted very long anyway. You can scrape the paint off using a single edge razor blade or utility knife blade held at 90 degrees to the blank. This will effectively and easily remove the paint without hurting the blank it self. I have not used Citri-Strip so I can not comment on i
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I think the only time one runs into the danger zone is when the tip top is epoxied on and you try to remove it. It takes more time and heat to break the epoxy bond. This is one of the reasons I never epoxy a tip top in place. Never had a problem removing tip tops mounted with hot melt adhesive.
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Get the flex coat hot melt adhesive, works great, I have never had any failures using it. A double stick package of it is almost a life time supply. Norm
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I agree with you, and would certainly check with St Croix. It could very well be a defect and covered by their warranty. A rod should not splinter like that under normal fishing.use and maybe even under abnormal use. I use a lot of extra fast rods and have never seen such splintering. Show them the rod to see what they think. The worst they can say is no. Norm
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I personally never install tip tops with any type of epoxy, but I have removed tip tops that have been epoxied in placed. I still heat with a flame while rotating and pull extra hard till the epoxy bond breaks down. As a general rule, fast set (1-5 min) epoxies breaks down quicker and at a lower temperature than slower set epoxies. In my opinion, hot melt tip top adhesives are the best and easie
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I like the convenience of using a flame to mount and remove tip tops. Been doing it this way for 48 yrs with no problems. By the time the soldering iron heats up you could remove dozens of tip tops, In my opinion, the best way to mount or remove a tip top is the any way that works for you. Norm
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I never met him, but I had a lot of respect for him through his publications and posts. There was no doubt that he was an accomplished rod builder who was more than willing to share his expertise with others. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Norm
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Ken - Here is a previous post by Mark Talmo that may be of interest to you. I have not tried this method but it sounds very interesting and allows for one to fabricate a ferrule for any rod. Norm
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Put a coat of flexcoat on it. Should have no problems. I have also found that prokote is soft, it gives you plenty of potlife but takes forever to set up. Flexcoat is a very nice finish, but my favorite is threadmaster, it sets up faster than most and gives a very hard finish. Some like to use the Billy Vivona mix which is a 50:50 mix of ProKote and Threadmaster which has properties intermediate
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If you have a stash of broken rods you may be able to find a section of old blank that will snugly fit over the blank where you want the ferrule to be located, without any wobble. Want about a 2" over lap on each end so the total length of the ferrlue should be 4" - 4.5". Measure multiple times and dry fit before cutting the blank or the ferrule. You will want a little gap between
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The article for making reverse pilot bits i in RM 9 - 5, pg 18. They work very well on cork grips and less so on EVA because of its softness and tendency to stretch. You will need to shim the drill bit's stem to fit the existing hole in the grip. Use high speed and a slow draw, go to the halfway point in the grip then reverse to the other end . Helps to keep the bit from drifting, also let the g
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Bushido rods are nice, but not that nice! Norm
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An up locking reel seat has the moveable hood to the rear of the back reel foot, and you have to screw the nut up to lock the reel in place. A down locking reel seat has the moveable hood in front of the reel foot and you have to screw the nut down to lock the reel in place. Norm
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Full action I think means moderate to slow action, with the rod bending the full length of the rod. The MHX blanks are very nice, have a faster action, and represent a very good buy. If you want something with an extra fast action try the MHX SJ720. Use the length you like. For an ultra light rod I like to use the PacBay Minima 4 match (M) as reduction guides and the Minima 4 fly (F) as running
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How about MHX flipping/pitching blanks. An extremely good deal for the money. Norm
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Just tried to connect to Get Bit and could not get through. They maybe working on their website. Made an order Weds night and got confirmation of shipping on Friday. You can try calling them but they may not be open due to Labor Day. Their # is 407 542 7840. Norm
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I have read a ton of posts by Bill, and they were always helpful. Sorry to hear of his passing. Condolence to his family. Norm
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Get Bit has a good deal on the dream reamer set. If you are planning on making more rods, buy it. In the long run it will save you money, time and heartbreak. They are a good investment, well worth the money, and will last for a long time. Norm
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An extended pilot bit would work ok as long as your starting hole is 1/4" and you are very careful. With the short pilot it is easier to to get off center.The reverse pilot is nice because you can shim the stem of the bit to fit any size starting hole and the long stem keeps the bit centered. Norm
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The grit reamers use paste (gel) epoxy for gluing the grit in place. The problem with this is that fictional heat generated while power reaming will break down the epoxy and the grit will come off sooner or later. A better option is to use reamer abrasive tape spirally glued to a tapered rod blank piece using contact cement. Contact cement is less prone to breaking down due to heat when compared
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I would move up to the MH blank. This will give you a little more versatility, since it will not only cast your lighter lures quite well but also allow you to cast something a little heavier. For a 3000 Penn reel you might think about changing your reduction guides to either KL20H, 10H, 5.5M, or KL20H, 10H, 7M, 5.5L. In my option the larger stripper give you more versatility and better performanc
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