Are you using braid or Mono line? If using braid use the KL16H, KL8H, and KL5.5M for your reduction train, if using Mono or Fluorocarbon go with the KL20H, KL10H, and KL5.5M guides. As far as running guides are concerned, you can use any size (5.5, 5, 4.5, or 4) KB/KT guides you want. I mostly use size 5 or 4.5. The K in the guide model # stands for ‘Tangle free’ and have a ring that slopes sli
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No idea, those numbers are not published by NFC for the X-ray blanks. Somebody may have those numbers, but I don’t. However, looking at the specs for both the MB733 and the SJ732 they appear to be quite similar. Sine the SJ is labeled as an XF its AA should be greater then the MB, which is labeled as F. The IP of the MB may be slighter higher than the SJ since it is labeled as ML vs L. With eith
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Yes it is. Most Carbon fiber foam core grips are a bit lighter than cork. This will vary with the density of the foam used. Most grips are made with foam having a density of 6 to 8 lbs per cubic foot. You can make your own foam cores using foam products from United Composites, Fibre Glast, or Aluminite. Norm
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David stated above that the X-ray SJ732 has an IP of 460g and an AA of 72. If you cut this blank down to 6’6” you will significantly reduce both the power and action, which will probably give you a much different in hand feel. So you may wind up ruining a perfectly fine blank.The MB663-HM has an IP = 402 and an AA = 74, which will be much closer in both power and action to what you want and may b
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There are a number of ways to build a handle for a surf rod. A reamer would be used if you want a cork or EVA handle. Other types of handles would include making a handle using cork tape, shrink tubing, Winn Butt wraps, cord, or combinations of these. Norm
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Can also make your own reamer. Use a piece of blank of appropriate diameter, and spiral wrap 1/2” wide reamer tape clockwise around the blank piece leaving a gap between the spirals. The tape is attached to the blank using contact cement, because it will hold up very well to frictional heat. Don’t use epoxy to attach the reamer tape, it will break down very quickly due to frictional heat. You can
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When you say a 24” handle what exactly does that mean? Is it the length from the butt to the back end of the reel seat, or from the butt to the front of the reel seat, or from the butt to the front of the fore grip? This does make a difference. A 24” rear grip is exceptionally long, but if the reel seat and forengrip are included, it’s still long but not exceptionally long. Everyone has differen
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The big one for measurements. Norm
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If you want to put a clear coat on the entire blank wipe on Permagloss. It is extremely light, hard, and durable. Never use finish epoxy to coat an entire blank, it is much heavier, not as durable, and harder to apply. Do a search here on how to apply it. Norm
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If you don’t want to paint the blank, then use a size D NoCP thread. It’s thick enough that the dark blank will not show though, just pack it tight. You can test on a scrap piece of blank. The major problem with white is it never stays white, once the epoxy finish is applied the wraps will begin to yellow, some finishes faster than others. Many people that do white main wraps will use a non yel
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I assume you are talking about ProKote. It does have a very long pot life, and because of that it also has a very long cure time. One the reasons I don't use it.if you want something that cures faster try Thread Master, but it had a shorter pot life. There are some that mix ProKote with Threadmasster 1:1:1:1 (Billy's mix). Has properties intermediate between the two. As Tom said move to a warmer
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I surf fish the Florida pan handle area quite a bit using 9’ M to MH salmon rods with a 3000 reel and 10-15 lb braid. Most of these beaches do not have heavy currents and are easy to fish with fairly light tackle. Like Herb stated the fish will come right into the wash. The heavier the lures or weights you are casting the more powerful the rod needs to be. So it depends on the type of surf you a
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Use noCP thread and pack tight. If that doesn’t work for you, most white spray paints like Krylon or brush on enamels will work since it will covered by thread and finish. Make sure you mask off the area you want to paint and make sure its dry before wrapping. Norm
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Happy to hear that! Good luck with the repair. Norm
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The best method for me was doing as Tim stated above using a set of drill bits. I mark the depth on the bit to make sure I don’t drill through. Find a bit that fits snuggly, turn until you reach the bottom, use the next size bit and repeat until you get the size hole you need. It only takes a few minutes and you get a perfectly centered hole. Fool proof. Norm
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You are cutting yourself short by not trying a KR concept. The KR concept guides are the KL high frame guides for the reduction train and the KB/KT guides for the runners.The minima4 M and F guides are PacBay guides, and make a very suitable option for building a very light KR- like concept rod, and they are very inexpensive. I have been building rods for just about 50 yrs and the KR concept is t
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Ron, it sounds good! The Minima4 guides are really light and perform very well. On a light rod you can't beat them. Norm
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Unhide your emails, if you want to correspond private. Just click on the name of the person you want to contact and the email will be shown, Remember the New Guide Concept and the KR Concept are different animals.Although they are similar, the KR concept is a refinement of the NGC and was designed as a rapid choke microguide concept for braid. It uses high frame small ring guides to rapidly c
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I dislike recoil guides for a spinning rod because they are very noisy and have a very low height for the ring size. For a 6’3” rod using a 1000 size reel with light braid a KR concept will give you an exceptional guide train, that is both light and sensitive. For the reduction train, I would use Fuji KL16H, KL8H, and KL5.5M, followed by KB/KT runners all the same size, in a size of your choice
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Heat the glue plug with a heat gun or even a hair dryer. Take a drill bit drill into the glue plug and when it heats up pull it out. Heat will soften the glue and you be able to work it out. Since the butt section is short, you could push the plug out using a piece of rod blank coming from the break end. You'll get it out just don't force anything. Norm
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I would also do an internal plug repair. Find a blank piece of a similar taper that will fit snuggly into the tip section of the broken rod for several inches. Once you find a piece that fits,take off the butt cap a push this plug into the butt unti it protrudes from the broken area, and now see if the the tip section will still fit snugly and butt up against the end of the butt piece, if it doe
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I also liked the Hitena finish. To me it seemed very similar to Threadmaster. Norm
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For me accurately measuring the Action Angle is difficult, I will check into trying to get one of those slant rules. Based on personal experience I know that the secret to getting good Intrinsic power numbers is to make sure the butt section of blanks is securely locked down so there is no tilting or pivoting when weight is applied to the tip. Always looking for a better method of doing this. I
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Ben, I have no idea what it means about their machinery. Other blanks of the same model are on spec, could be the way they trim the blank, but it’s certainly is quality control issue. Just like the waviness, and mesh in the butt, they are all quality control issues. These flaws are mostly cosmetic, and probably won’t affect performance, but they should be labeled as seconds, and not sold as fir
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I have not used the st Croix S glass or the MHX S glass blanks so I don’t know how they compare. I have used a lot of MHX blanks and they are of high quality and represent a great value. In addition, they have a great hassle free warranty, the best I have used. Don’t let the price fool you, they make very good blanks for the money. The specs for the MHX blanks appear to be close to the St Croixs,
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Here is a little summary from Sollar Composires on laminating epoxies. They like the 820 epoxy series, but also sell West Systems epoxies. In addition, they sell a variety of different types of tubular sleeves that can be used in making grips. Norm
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I have had several NFC HM blanks where tip size was at least 1 size lager than the listed specs. Another quality control problem? Norm
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Here is a picture of the fiber mesh in the butt of my NFC MB(SJ?)736 X-ray. What is it? Norm
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My X-ray also had a blemish, a wavy spot about 10” up from the butt. Maybe a wrinkle in the prepreg when rolling on the mandrel, but it should have been caught during inspection. Makes me wonder about quality control, or if seconds are included in the sale blanks. Makes one wonder. I did not mention this before, but on the inside of the butt there is some sort of fiber mesh that was not adhered t
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I am sure they could make them for you. A gyotaku fish would be very unique and distinctive. Good luck! Norm
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