With any leader knot when re-tying you usually trim back the braided main line to get rid of any weak spots or fuzzies. When tying the FG knot I just incorporate this part of the braid into the tag end of the loop. So, in actuality you are only losing that part of the braid that you would cut off normally no matter which knot you use. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I double over the braid, wrap it around my little finger several times, spread the loop open between my thumb and forefinger. This applies tension to the braid. Now just weave the leader back and forth until you get about 16 to twenty wraps. Then tie off with a half hitch, pull the knot tight, and finish with half hitches. Pretty easy and it works well. Usually use 15-20 lb leader, but ultralight
Forum: rodboard

I use the FG knot to attach leader to braid. In my opinion it’s the best; the thinest and strongest knot you can use. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I like using a piece of split bamboo to scrape off epoxy. Any type of bamboo will do even old cheap cane poles. I get mine from neighbor who has some +and growing in his backyard. When split you get a sharp hard edge on the external side that works like your fingernail. The softer internal part works well to rub the epoxy off. The epoxy can be softened using a hairdryer. It should be noted that
Forum: rodboard

Here is a link to NFC’s Master list that Aleks Maslov posted a while back. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Try Fuji bracket blue. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Look at HFF Custom Rods. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Here are some Vicker hardness values for various guide materials. They are all compiled from past post here on rod board. VICKER'S HARDNESS SCALE Values for Line Guide Ring Materials Stainless Steel (SS): 400 Chrome: 800-1100 Carbaloy: 1000 Aluminum Oxide: 1200-1400 Alconite: 1300-1500 Silicon nitride: 1400 NanoLite: 1800 Zirconia: 1000-1400 Zirconia PVD: 1600 SiC: 2200-2400
Forum: rodboard

Spiral wraps work great! Removes all rod torque caused by having the reel on top of the rod.. This is especially true for saltwater rods used for catching big and powerful fish. For freshwater rods, rod torque is not as big a problem but it’s still there. In addition, spiral wrapped rods cast very well, with no real loss of distance. I was very skeptical when I first tried one, but was quickly co
Forum: rodboard

Elmer’s exterior grade wood filler in golden oak is a very popular cork filler. However, It seems that finding the exterior grade is getting more difficult, at least for me. Minwax exterior wood filler in golden oak is also very good. You just pack the filler into the cork voids, let dry and then sand smooth. I will then coat the cork with U40 cork seal, it helps lock the filler in place. You c
Forum: rodboard

I guess I don’t get it. I always glue my reel seat and grip in place before I wrap my rods. Makes no difference if it’s a fly, casting, or spinning rod, the handle goes on first. Norm
Forum: rodboard

There are a number of magnifying visor/head band types of eyeglasses. Some come with different powered replaceable lens, and some come with a built-in light source. Many are quite inexpensive and they work well. Since you are a fly fisherman, I assume you have a fly tying bobbin. You can certainly use one to quickly secure guides to a rod for temporary use by spinning it around the blank while
Forum: rodboard

Although the PB761HM performs well for a number of different techniques, it was originally designed as a flipping stick, for which it excels. They are very light and powerful blanks, with a more moderate action (AA = 66), and a lot of power (IP = 895 gm) in the butt section for pulling fish out of heavy cover. I have built several of these blanks as casting rods with carbon fiber grips (both CFX
Forum: rodboard

What was rod model? Was it a ceramic or non-ceramic guide? It seems that others have had a hard time matching guides for Abu Garcia rods. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I agree with Tom, and also wouldn’t recommend an under wrap. In addition, I certainly would not reuse the old guides on that rod, they are inordinately heavy. Use a lighter modern guide concept which will bring out the best performance for your rod. Back in the day I remember using Gudebrod’s goldenrod color, with a black trim. The goldenrod color was a close match for the blanks yellow color. I
Forum: rodboard

Try corrosionX. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Using size 6 runners is not what I would consider to be a micro guide rod. If your young customer wants a micro guide rod, then use smaller runners. For such a build I would would use a KR concept build, with a Fuji KW10 double ft butt guide, a KW5.5 double ft transition guide and single ft KB/KT runners in either size 5, 4.5, or 4, and a matching LG tip top. You would probably need 10 or 11 guid
Forum: rodboard

Point Blank is one of my favorites, exceptional blanks. Never have been disappointed with any that I’ve built. The published CCS data is quite good. Some of the newer models have RDA specs but not CCS. My CCS specs for the PB801MXF are IP 632 gm AA 76. I’ve made several of them for inshore trout and redfish use as well as long crank bait rods. Has a nice soft tip and a lot of power in the but
Forum: rodboard

I’ve plugged the hollow male ferrule using Rod Bond epoxy mixed with a small amount of black pigment. Just pack a little into the end of the ferrule, wipe away any excess and and set aside to cure. Rod bond is a very flexible epoxy and it will stay in place indefinitely. Works great as a ferrule plug, and I’ve never had a failure. Norm
Forum: rodboard

The butt diameters for both of these blanks are almost the same, there is less than a tenth of a millimeter difference between them.. Plus they have an equiradius butt for the first 12” - 14”. So, the butt sections of theses blanks are very similar, and the difference between them probably not enough to definitively identify one from the other. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Are you sure you didn’t get them mixed up? I have measured by CCS and built both of these PB rod blanks and the PB691MXF is definitely more powerful than the PB691MLXF, with both having very similar action angles. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Why not replace the grip from the tip down? This would involve removing a couple of guides and the hook keeper, but would make replacing the grip very easy. Just slide the new grip in place and rewrap the guides. Fenwick used Gudebrod NCP chestnut brown for the thread wraps. There are current threads available that match this Gudebrod thread color. Removing a few guides is much easier than removi
Forum: rodboard

Spinning or casting? Norm
Forum: rodboard

Mike, your math is a off by a factor of ten for the CFX arbor material. I.e., 0.7 oz equals 19.8 gm not 198 gm. So, a 1/2” piece would weigh 0.66 gm. If you want to lighten the weight of the cotton wood grip, you could core it with a 20 or 22 mm polyurethane foam arbor. This would reduce the weight considerably. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I don’t remember Fenwick producing rod blanks with spigot ferrules. In addition, as far as I know, Fenwick permanently labeled their blanks with model number and logo. I’m suspecting that the rods you have are not Fenwick. If they are, then the blanks were cut and custom ferruled by a rod builder. If I remember correctly Lamiglas and Fisher, plus some others, might have used spigot ferrules, but
Forum: rodboard

In my opinion, building a fly rod is the easiest type of rod to build for a beginner. The short rod sections allows you to use a very minimal rod wrapper set up, just a couple of rod supports and a thread tension device. I don’t even use rod supports, just a thread tension device, which can be a few heavy books. In addition, because the butt diameters of most light fly rods are quite small, you
Forum: rodboard

Any of them. Pick the one you like. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Thinning doesn’t appear to hurt, but it’s probably not necessary. Crystal Coat is very thin and very slow curing, so it should penetrate the very thin 100 wgt silk with no problems. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Yes, the one from Hydra are also quite nice. A number of different options out there. Norm
Forum: rodboard

The CTS Crystal Coat is the thinnest modern finish I’ve ever used. I doubt very much that you need to thin it. Norm
Forum: rodboard