Grayson hodgkins Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I plan on using a kayak to paddle the baits out That's what I thought, it is what they do on the coast here in Texas. The shorter blanks will work if you can get them up high. The farther above the waves, the better. I know some guys down here that have the rods mounted on their truck beds in a DIY rack and
Forum: rodboard

How are you going to get the line out into the water far enough without a good cast? Typically "giant reels" are not too caster friendly. I would think off the beach something in the 7.5' to 9' range would work. Maybe a glass graphite hybrid blank, a bit longer than a boat rod to help hold the line over the closer waves.
Forum: rodboard

Michael Danek Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Old bubbles will not pop with a little heat. > Simply applying another coat might work. But if > the bubbles are closed, then simply applying > another coat will not hide them. Lightly sanding > them to open them up and take off the edges might > provide a clean surface on which to apply ano
Forum: rodboard

Like John said; it probably wasn't mixed long enough. Don't worry about the bubbles, they will pop with a little heat after you apply epoxy. I usually warm my epoxy up before mixing. I would just re-coat with a thin coat.
Forum: rodboard

Those look like awesome guides. You think at some point you all might make an 8, 7 and 6 for a baitcaster surf rod version? At least a 8mm ring?
Forum: rodboard

My main concern with the old rod would be breakage. I would flex the heck out of it to see if it breaks or splinters. If not, perma gloss and go for it. I am a sucker for a good deal and if you can make it work, by all means, do.
Forum: rodboard

Like I said; Fuji Point Blank.
Forum: rodboard

That is awesome Russ. I would say that is a contender. I would spiral wrap it and maybe go with a 7'6" to 7'10". Look at the Batson E Glass blanks also.
Forum: rodboard

Looks like a Fuji Point Blank would be a good choice for something similar.
Forum: rodboard

Maybe we could do a custom rod shoot-out with all the different blanks available! Just need a sponsor, sounds like good PR for a Components Vendor.
Forum: rodboard

I do the same thing Kent does but came about it on my own from a slightly different perspective. The way Kent describes the line path is similar, but the way I came up with it was by looking at the choke point to where the line from the reel will meet the top of the blank and flow straight to the underside continuing its path to the tip. This is how I decide the guide placement. The guides are si
Forum: rodboard

Just me, but I like the Forhan revolver style because it keeps the line straight as possible and off the blank. I also never lay my reel flat on deck and it will rest on the handle, up out of the sand, mud or dirt on the deck (wade fishing) so spiral for right hand retrieve and right hander goes to the left and opposite for left handers. To each his own but I do have reason why.
Forum: rodboard

I used skeleton seats on a lot of my casting builds and don't notice any type of discomfort when fishing them all day. The spinning rods I have done with skeleton seats are uncomfortable to fish with all day, so I quit using them and have been using Fuji VSS or TVS and Alps Rapid RPD16-IS. The AT Arrow seats look like they would be comfortable also. The skeletons are lighter but not comfortable.
Forum: rodboard

Michael Danek Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Phil, it's not absolute. I'm hesitant to offer > much specific because you will accuse me of being > a wine label writer. But, at the risk of that, > here is my spin formula which I use for > "lightweight gel-spun braided lines", Fuji KLH > 20-KLH10, KL5.5M, KB4, KB4, and 4 KT4's for
Forum: rodboard

Fuji says; "More guides are better, you spend more money."
Forum: rodboard

I did a lot of crazy stuff when I made my girls rods, like Swarovski crystals inlaid on the dimpled winding checks. Tom is correct about Testers model paint. Let the pigment settle in the bottle and drain out the thinner down to the pigment level. A little bit will be translucent added to epoxy and a lot will make it solid. You can also go to Hobby Lobby or other craft type stores and they have p
Forum: rodboard

Fuji has black Titanium with SIC rings in a variety of frames. They are very high end quality guides. They are not solid black though, like the painted ones but they are dark. I also don't think you can go wrong Alps or American Tackle. Here is a link from Rod Builders Warehouse for black SeaGuide guides.
Forum: rodboard

My ears are more oily, or ear wax is great for ferrules.
Forum: rodboard

Ferrule wraps are not necessary on modern blanks, but I think they look good. I am glad to see I am not the only one that has had this quandary. If you are using a trim band or inlay on the ferrule wrap and the foot comes close to that, then do the same thing with the guide wrap on that one if it is not possible to get a space between them. You could also just do one trim band near the other fer
Forum: rodboard

Bill, Norman is spot on if you want to convert it to a light spinning rod. His guide train is correct for the small size reel, and I also really like Seaguide guides. I believe you could do between 24" and 30" for the stripper (16 mm ring size) from the face of the spinning reel. Then align the next 3 guides like a bullseye to the choke point, looking through the stripper. Keep the li
Forum: rodboard

If it is a casting rod and you are using it for crappie the stripper guide (guide closest to the reel) should be a ring size 6 or 12 mm depending on the height. A Fuji RV 6 mm for the stripper (because it is tall) followed by all 5 mm KB and KT to the tip, I would say 11 to 12 guides total, will most likely cast the farthest. I would use a 5 mm Fuji KB after the stripper followed by KB 4 MM to th
Forum: rodboard

The MB663 is in your range for what you want to do but maybe a little week for a 4.5" 1/2 oz lure. The HM version should be a little lighter than the IM and a bit more crisp (faster recovery). You could also try a MB-704 and cut it down from the butt 4" to net 6'8" and it will slow it down to where it will work better for jerk baits. I use a lot of jerk baits but in the 3.5" 3
Forum: rodboard

Like Christmas when you get them. Very hard to beat. On my longer blanks I don't believe I have ever gotten them without damage to the tube, but the blanks inside have always been good with no damage.
Forum: rodboard

I use a low viscosity clear 15 minute epoxy for the cork rings and turn all my cork and eva grips on a lathe. A 15 minute epoxy paste is used to attach the finished reamed out grip to the blank. That's what works for me. I believe almost any waterproof adhesive will work for both but I know epoxy works just fine.
Forum: rodboard

I am going with an AT G2 16" SW Carbon handle kit, cut down to 14" for the rear grip and a 12" EPDM foregrip. I was really worried about how EPDM holds up in UV light and how tuff it is and it sounds like it will be fine. The length and the weight of the rear grip should balance the rod nicely. Thank You for your input.
Forum: rodboard

I solved most all line stacking by putting the stripper directly at 0 degrees if followed up with the next guide at around 60* and adjusting that and the 3rd guide to make a straight line coming from the reel with as little angle as possible. I like the first 180* guide to be behind the major bend of the rod but sometimes that is not possible without messing up the straightness of the line, so th
Forum: rodboard

X3, Fuji SIC.
Forum: rodboard

Kent, Have not been doing spirals as long as you but have been doing the exact same thing since I started. I know the line needs to be as straight as possible coming from the reel and not touching the blank under load. You are 100% correct, the blank dictates the guide placement. My spiral wraps do not stack line on the reel because of this. Any sharp change of direction in the line will cause f
Forum: rodboard

What do you think about EPDM and how has it worked out on your rods? It is relatively new to me because I mostly use natural cork or other variations of cork and EVA. I know it came about as a replacement to Hypalon, but I never used it either. How has the material held up on the rods you have made, UV effects?. Are there any special techniques to shaping or gluing? I am considering to use as a f
Forum: rodboard

Thank you for what you do and how you do it. You make the best blanks I can get and available to the public whole. Thank you for supporting us and happy birthday.
Forum: rodboard