I use a Dremel to cut the blank as well.
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Mark, you're right, it is a little stout for a 3/8 oz bait. For me personally, I'd rather have the power and not use it, and need the power and not have it. That and I don't throw a lot of the smaller jerks. Mostly 4 1/2" up to 5 1/4" baits that weigh close to a half ounce or a little more. I tell ya one thing though ...... it will work the heck out of a Lucky Craft 90 Staysee SP,
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Here's an idea ..... buy a fast or extra fast action blank that is longer than you need, and trim length from the butt. It slows the overall action of the blank when the blank is under the load of a fish, but it doesn't affect the tip when casting or working the bait. You lose a little hook setting power by trimming the butt, but it's a jerkbait. it's not like you're blasting the fish on a ho
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Nick, you're comments are spot in my book as well. Like you, I am going to use as many guides as it takes to keep the line off the blank. Gib, I'll add a little more of my thoughts that piggy back what Nick is saying. The intended use of the rod can have a bearing on how many guides a builder puts on it. If I'm building a rod that I'm not going to be putting a lot of lifting pressure on, for
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I order them based on where I want the back of the reel seat to land on the blank. As Steve said, a half size smaller is better than going too large. If it's too large you have to shim it to fit and you defeat the purpose of that type of seat somewhat. And too large can cause finish problems. They're easy to ream. I just reamed an Alps MVT reel seat using what amounts to a 1/4" diameter
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I think there's a little mischief afoot. But Roger, I'll answer your question concerning why the line passing below the blank with a conventional casting guide layout, is not a good thing You don't want the line passing below the blank on a conventional casting rod guide train for the same reason you don't want your guides spaced too far apart on a spinning or spiral wrapped guide train. Any
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I throw jerkbaits quite a bit, and because of that I built a rod (actually the first rod I ever built) specifically for throwing jerkbaits. Not really a specific blank recommendation, but more of an, something to think about rod design idea. I built my jerkbait rod on a trimmed (6" off the butt) medium power, fast action blank. It still behaves like a fast action when casting, when worki
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In regards to the OPs question, I would think there would be little if any difference between the characteristics of the blanks if both have the same action and power. As Michael mentioned previously, the material the blank is made of could result in one blank weighing more, especially in the upper third of the blank, and that weight would slow the blank's recovery. As far as a couple of the
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I use an 18 RPM dryer, and don't have any problems (that I can see) with it being too fast. My biggest remaining problem with finish are IMO, two fold. First, I only build on average, 2 rods a year. (although this year I'll be building at least 4) As I don't do it that often the first and some times second wraps I coat have a slight football shape to them. My second problem, and one that
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I'm still new to rod building, and all I've ever used is LS Supreme. Maybe the fact that it's all I've ever used is why I'm surprised others don't like it? Anyhow .... I don't do long decorative wraps, nor have I put a manufacturers decal on any of the rods I've built thus far, so I have no experience with using it on wraps longer than those needed on guides. My struggles with it, other than
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Thanks for the replies Don and Dan ........ much appreciated!
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Question on the Sulky thread? Does it present any finish problems (fish eyes) if the user doesn't apply CP to the wrap before finishing with epoxy? May want to give it a try, if not.
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Donald, I'm loving it too. I just got done putting the wrapper together. All that's left to do is attach it to a piece of 3/4" particle board, and I'll be able to move it around easily. As with any new toy I get I had to play with it a bit once I got the bed pieces joined. The thing is pretty cool. The wrapping motor's response to foot pedal movement is better than I expected. I'm de
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Just wanted to put a shout out to Janns Netcraft for their blazing fast service. I ordered a Rodsmith power wrapper from them yesterday a little after noon. I just checked the order status, and the UPS tracking information, and it is on the truck and out for delivery by the end of the day. Today !!! Now I know they're in Ohio, just like I am. And I've driven there a time or two to pick up
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First let me say that I'm not familiar with either of the blanks you're considering. I'm just offering general thoughts on your question about trimming the 7'2" Immortal blank down to 6'8" or 6'9". Second, let me say that I've only trimmed two blanks to build rods. Both having trimmed 6" off the butt of the blank to build the length rod I wanted. Is trimming the butt goin
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Ok ........ as usual Carol at Utmost is on her game. I sent her an e mail Monday at about noon my time (I'm in Ohio) and even though she was working from home on Monday because they had snow, she got back to me before 4 o'clock my time. I'd call that quick, but nothing unusual for her and the people at Utmost. Anyhow ... she called Batson, and Batson has "The Judge" crankbait blank
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As Spencer mentioned, at most you're probably only going to have 4" of actual handle material on a 5'6" rod. For me personally, I build and like split grips because they show the blank, and for me, the more blank shown, the better. I know you've already decided on what you're going to do, but in case you haven't ordered your components yet, here's how I personally would handle the h
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I'm with Thomas .... while fishing a Senko isn't really a power fishing technique, the weight of the bait (even the 4" version) doesn't really fit the "finesse" category. If the rod's primary use is going to be fishing 4" or 5" Senkos, I personally would go with a medium power blank. Open water, medium light power is no problem. But if you're skipping docks, you don't wan
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Travis, the search function of this site is your best friend. Want to learn about spinning rod guides ..... hit the search button, in the box titled "search messages" type in "spinning rod guides" then look to bottom right in search box and you'll see a box that says "last 30 days" that is the default time frame. If you want to look back further hit the arrow and a d
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Hey guys, thanks for the responses, they are all very much appreciated. Robert, I saw that Get Bit has the live bait blanks in The Judge series available. My guess is that the pricing for the crankbait blanks will probably be similar to the live bait series of blanks, but won't know until I see some actual prices. I'll keep your recomendation of Get Bit in mind. Thomas, I'll post some info
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Are they available yet? Anyone seen any pricing for them yet? And most importantly ..... anyone know somewhere that sells them? I'm wondering if Utmost can get them? Thanks for any information you folks can provide
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I'd have to agree with Norm on having the seat fitted a little further from the butt than you want the back of the reel seat to land. As he said, they're easily reamed. I recently needed to ream an Alps MVT reel seat (an exposed blank reel seat) out about .010" to get it to fit where and how I wanted it. I cut down the shaft of an old aluminum arrow and cut a slot in one end with a Dreme
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Rick, I'm confused? Do you have the reel seats in hand? Or are you ordering them and you're just listing what you are ordering, or have already ordered? The reason I ask is, if the Fuji seats are sized a true 13 mm ID, (.512") then a 13 may be too big. That is if the blank actually measures the .517 at the butt. as you listed. Assuming the blank has a linear taper, the taper of the blank
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Jon, I initially thought the Immortal blank I received about a month ago was the same color as the other two Immortal blanks I built on last year. The one I received recently is a lighter color, more silver than the last years blanks. Either way, you're right, there was a color change. Still a gorgeous color in my book.
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Tim, if you're ever looking for a blank in the Immortal line up that fishes like a medium power, at least like a medium power of the factory rods I've fished, the 73 ML would be the one you'd want to look at. I built a rod on that blank. Very light and very sensitive, and of course that gorgeous titanium chrome finish. An awesome rod!
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I made my first rod dryer using an old microwave motor. I don't know if it was hooked up to a step down transformer, because to be honest, I wasn't aware that it might be lol The motor had 110V markings on it, so I just purchased a cord with one of those little dial on/off switches and hooked it up. I worked great. My problem with it is that I was also using it to apply finish for my wraps.
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LOL Jon ..... I can understand that. It wouldn't be my choice of colors either. And yes, the one I was referencing was the MHX tagged grips. Is it that you want the grips made for the SK2 because of the tenon it has on it? Or is it the OD of the grip versus that of the reel seat? I saw on Winn's web site that they offer grips with an OD of 1.08". That's pretty close to (.103 larger than)
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Tim, I'm not familiar with the various rod brands you mentioned so I can't really comment on the degree of difference between them, and the 7'2" MH Immortal blank you mention. I built a rod on that Immortal blank, and I would say in power it compares to my heavy power Shimano Crucial, and heavy power G Loomis GL2. And if you look at the numbers the blank is rated for, it falls in line with b
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Jon, Mud Hole lists a Winn 3 1/2" split grip made to fit the SK2 reel seat. Unless you have overly large hands, I would think 3 1/2" would be fine.
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I too wrap over the top. and turn the rod away from me. My thread spool and the eyelet I pass the thread through before it goes to the blank are between me and the blank. The eyelet the thread passes through is about 3" back from where the center line of the blank lays in the stands. It makes it easy to see the thread, and to watch the angle of the thread that helps keep the wraps tight
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