Looks good. What brands and models?
Forum: rodboard

There are a couple of options for no foregrip winding checks 1. The Fuji WCS winding check for SK2 seats. 2. A tapered rubber vinyl winding check. They will fit the Aero reel seat
Forum: rodboard

Roger has tweaked my interest. I just have to figure out what I need to retrofit my Renzetti with the appropriate DC motor, power supply, speed controller, foot pedal, and the knowledge to put it together. Don’t need a head stock, and don’t know if I need a new foot pedal, I doubt that the one that comes with the Renzetti will work. I am far from being an electrical engineer. What would be a goo
Forum: rodboard

Don’t use finish epoxy to coat a rod. If you want to get rid of scratches give it a clear coat by wiping on a thin coat of Permagloss. Do a search here to get the details for applying it. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Carol, I have tried the XO guides in both stainless steel (SC finish) and titanium frames with the RS rings and they are quite nice and light. The RS ring is very thin, mate not as thin as Torzite but close. A while back Rick Hall of SeaGuides gave me a couple of sets to try. I wrote a little review of these guides here on Rodboard. I still don’t think they are available here in the US. They
Forum: rodboard

I don't think you can go wrong with a RodGeeks 2 piece 9' surf rod blank. They are a good buy. Since you are using mono I would suggest doing a new guide concept (NGC) layout, usingFuji corrosion control KW (double) or KL (single foot) guides, or a combination of both, for the reduction train and KW or KB guides for the runners. Building a surf rod is no different than any other type of rod. A
Forum: rodboard

Are you going to be using a casting or spinning reel, braid or mono? What weight lures, and what size of reel and line? What’s your budget? These do make a difference. Norm
Forum: rodboard

As I mentioned before they are a very small company, and are making blanks as they go. If they have it in inventory they ship it with first come first serve. If they run out have to wait until the next production run for that blank. I also made another order for fly rod on 12/26. Will see how that order goes. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Placed an order on 12/21 and it shipped today 1/3. Two weeks not bad. Norm
Forum: rodboard

A while back, Tom Wewerka convinced me to try the RodGeeks S glass banks for crank bait rods. I picked up several, and all I can say is Thank you Tom, they really do make great crankbait Rods. They were a lot lighter than I expected. Made them from 7’ to 7’ 11” I’m sort of partial to the 7’ MMH as an all around shallow water crank bait rod. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I do use my power wrapper for turning grips and it does a great job. However, for the price of the power wrapper you could buy a very good midi lathe with all the needed accessories. You can easily set up a variable speed DC drying motor for both applying epoxy at high rpms and drying at low rpms. The one sold at MudHole rotates from 0 to 45 rpms with a turn of the knob. Can also get 100 rpm DC m
Forum: rodboard

I do all my wrapping by hand. I like sitting in one place and moving the rod as I wrap, rather than having the rod in one place and me moving as I wrap. I own a top of the line power wrapper and have found I wrap faster by hand than I do using power. I also enjoy the hands on satisfaction I get wrapping this way. Many powerwrappers feed the thread from the front with the rod turning away from you
Forum: rodboard

Not so sure they are making a profit.
Forum: rodboard

Dealt with him on several occasions, he was very knowledgeable and always helpful; a really nice guy. My condolences to his family and friends Norm
Forum: rodboard

I was writing when you posted. The Akios 656 CTM is a high profile round casting reel which is larger and twice as heaviy as the other reels that have been mentioned. It is a nice reel for a surf rod, or heavier inshore fishing, but is out of place for most freshwater fishing except for maybe muskies or catfish, or large salmon. So it doesn’t fit what you want in your initial post. It also is rig
Forum: rodboard

Yes the 330 GT is a beast, and is more of a boat reel than a casting reel. David is correct in saying that there are a lot of very good casting reels with centrifugal braking. I have been using Shimano Curados for years and all have centrifugal braking that requires internal adjustments, my Abu Garcia Revos also have centrifugal braking but the controls are external, which is more convenient. Of
Forum: rodboard

If the grip is a split grip, just mock it up without gluing or wrapping any thing in place. Friction fit only, and tape the guides in place. Have him come over.and try the rod with varying handle lengths. Let him choose which length fits him best. One of the nice things about a split grip it can be moved up and down fairly easily within the the 3"-4" needed to be tested. Remember flippi
Forum: rodboard

It is almost impossible to find a knowledgeable and unbiased sales person, even in places like Bass Pro or Cabela’s. The better ones I’ve found have been associated with local Tackle shops, and still many of them tend to be know it alls who actually have limited knowledge about the products they sell. The most knowledgeable are the repair people, they know how reels really work and what separates
Forum: rodboard

It is all about what feels right to you. Most of my lefty friends do not switch hands when using a casting reel and prefer cranking right handed. On the other hand (pun intended) many, if not most, righties like to switch hands and crank right handed, some even when using spinning reels. Go figure! Norm
Forum: rodboard

Richard - you mentioned this is going to be your first baircasting reel. So I am assuming you are right handed and use a spinning rod and reel that you cast right hand and crank with your left hand. If this is the case make sure you check out the left hand retrieve casting reels, Most righthanders will cast right switch hands and crank right, never quite understood why, but supposedly due to us
Forum: rodboard

Use a cordless drill, and let the grip slip in your hand while reaming. This slipping helps to keep things centered. Go in a little then ream from the other end of the grip. Don’t force it, that’s when you have trouble. Been there done that! Norm
Forum: rodboard

Yes, I gave list prices as a starting point. The Diawa Coastal does have good reviews, and I have been curious about the Twing line guide, and their magnetic line braking system. It is a little heavier than Lew’s, and Revo, but 8 oz is not too bad for a heavy duty reel with good line capacity. Norm
Forum: rodboard

I have also been looking for a double duty casting reel for light inshore and freshwater. I’m looking for a relatively light low profile reel that will hold up. I am currently using an older Shimano Curado 201, which has lasted well. I like left hand retrieve but that’s me. Been looking at the following, and I think they are all quite suitable. Abu Garcia Revo inshore gen 4 $249, 7.7 oz Ab
Forum: rodboard

Roger is correct. I original used the matching Minima tip tops because I was sceptical as to how they would hold up, and wanted to see for myself how well they did on rods that get a lot of hard use. So earlier this year I had a bass tourment fishing friend of mine bring over his 9 rods that I built or refurbished with Minima4 guides about 4 or 5 yrs ago. I carefully inspected all the guides an
Forum: rodboard

The new Shimano Curado DC has magnetic braking, and costs about $250. The non magnetic centrifugal breaking Curado K is about $167. Never tried a magnetic control bait caster, it’s got my curiosity up. Norm
Forum: rodboard

Thank you, and wishing a Merry Christmas and.a Happy New Year to all! Norm
Forum: rodboard

That will work much better than larger runners, and will give you a very nice long, and light line rod. I make a lot of long (8’-12’) crappie rods here in the South, using light salmon/steelhead blanks, or stripped down crappie rods with a KR concept set up. Depending on the user’s desire, I will use either the Fuji KR guides or the Minima M and F guides. These guys like the longer rods because
Forum: rodboard

The first 30’ of a 7wgt line supposedly weighs 185 grains or about .42 oz (~7/16 oz) so that weight is right in the middle of the ST804-2 casting weight range, so it should load well. It will have a fast action, but not sure how fast, since I have not used this particular blank before. In addition it is about the same weight as the sage bass blanks, less than 2 oz. Norm
Forum: rodboard

How about a two piece medium powered 8’ salmon/steelhead rod. NFC has the ST804-2 (IM) rod on sale it’s rated for 1/4 to 3/4 oz. so should have the power you want. The sale price is $72.10, not a bad deal. Norm
Forum: rodboard

In my opinion, Size 8 runners are really border line for a a KR concept rod. If I were doing it for icing conditions I would use either size 5.5, 6 or 7 KB/KR runners. I think size 8 runners would ice almost as quickly as size 6 or 7 runners, but I might be mistaken. For the reduction train on a 9’6” cold weather rod. I would op for KL25H, KL12H, KL8M, KL7L, and these would be followed by your ru
Forum: rodboard