Make test wraps, make test wraps, make test wraps. Seriously. the only way to know with certainty if a color combination will be pleasing to your eye is to make test wraps in the reel seat and grip area. You might try a few hues of light red that is not color preserved. Every once in a while you can find a hue that when it darkens and becomes translucent matches the blank color. Nothing
Forum: rodboard

Their open and cure times are different as are the time windows during which re-coating is recommended without roughing the surface of the prior coat. As the old saying goes, and from a practical perspective., you can cover the differences with a dime.
Forum: rodboard

True story. Long, long ago and far, far away during a management training period, I was given over to a teller supervisor who was to instruct me in all things about being a bank teller including the most efficient way to count currency. I did not notice she was left handed until it was way past too late. To this day I count currency left handed. I learned to wrap with the thread traveling u
Forum: rodboard

Cannot over emphasize Bill's recommendation to do test wraps. Just about the time you think you know what color thread to use for a specific translucent hue you'll be wrong. While you're trying new techniques making test wraps try 000 silk or YLI sparkle silk.
Forum: rodboard

Think the property in question is a rod's recovery - the lapsed time and direction of the oscillations resulting from a rod suddenly unloading. I was taught (long ago and far away) the belly wag was the quick and easy (and admittedly subjective) way to observe a rod's recovery properties. Have always wondered what impact, if any, the relationship of guide positions to the spine might ha
Forum: rodboard

I dry fit one on a 5 weight once. Thought it too large. Sure wish there was a triangle seat appropriately sized for 4 - 6 weights.
Forum: rodboard

Sounds as if either you did not well seat the sections or .there is something wrong with the drying equipment. A wrap of tape on the exposed male ferrule after well seating the sections is a good idea that can save the day if you have an oops applying epoxy to the female ferrule wrap. But the tape or lack thereof does not cause sections to separate.
Forum: rodboard

It would be helpful to know the type of rod and grip and number of rod sections. Nonetheless, one way to think about doing it is to clamp the rod securely to a table or bench (or have someone hold it securely on the table or bench) and use strips of sand paper and "shoe shine" the grip two or three swipes then rotate the rod 1/8th turn and repeat. The idea is to slowly remove material
Forum: rodboard

Tom My work area is in a basement where the temperature is rarely better than cool - even during the summer. The drying tent and heater sold by Mudhole works like a charm to avoid extended cure times even when the room temperature is mid to low 60s. You can warm the epoxy resin using a microwave for a few seconds. Warmed - not hot - resin will warm the hardener and make application easier
Forum: rodboard

Phil Maybe it's my day to be dense or the age thing is rearing its ugly head. Regardless, I get the tip top thing, but the weight suspension process still has me befuddled. So, I'll rephrase the question. How much difference in the number of guides or significant difference in the locations of guides did you find using your described process vs suspending the weight only by the tip top? Ar
Forum: rodboard

Phil Two questions, the first of which is what is the purpose or advantage of only temporarily affixing the tip top? Secondly, if the rod is held level, weight is added to the line from the reel through the tip top until the tip is pointed down (a 90 degree bend is achieved) the results would be the same? And are the results the same if the line to the weight is attached to the tip top
Forum: rodboard

No, not white silk. Use natural color silk. Use silk with no dye. Yes, natural silk is a very light color, but it is not white. For Yli, 100 wt silk the color number is (or used to be) 212. No tight wraps. Use only enough tension to prevent the wrap from unraveling. Do not burnish or excessively pack wraps. Use a light or lite formula epoxy finish. Mix 3 ml of each resin and hardener
Forum: rodboard

Like this without the guides. See the ferrule wraps.
Forum: rodboard

A single turn intermediate wrap? I've no idea how to make such a thing, but I think it very possible to create the illusion of a single turn, intermediate wrap using 100 weight natural silk (not white but natural which is an "off" white) and an India ink pen in the color of your choice. Lock in the silk with 3 or 4 turns, color a length of thread equal to 1 turn with the India ink pen
Forum: rodboard

Ron You are spot on correct using static stress test to determine guide locations. And using a brightly colored line or backing makes the task easier. However, try loading the rod to 90 degrees with a second line attached directly to the tip top and minimal pressure on the line through the guides.
Forum: rodboard

Anyone notice how expertly she avoided high sticking? Her rod approaches a 90 degree bend on the hook set and thereafter it's not even close.
Forum: rodboard

Have experienced no problems with either the U-40 product or Tru-Oil for fresh water rods. Have not used U-40 in several years preferring instead Tru-Oil for both aesthetics and ease of finish cleaning and repair. U-40 was a one application and done thing while Tru-Oil is a multiple application finish, usually about 8 to build depth.
Forum: rodboard

Shawn I'm with you - sort of. Love the under wrap look, but the additional weight and performance loss is nothing to love. Just finished a 1 - 2 weight fly rod. It is sort of a novelty but it will fish. Cannot imagine guide under wraps on the rod, especially way out towards the tip where 1/0 and 2/0 snakes look huge. But a single under wrap for the strip guide would not be the end of t
Forum: rodboard

TFO Finesse Glass is upper limit of your range.
Forum: rodboard

Lynn Unless a fellow is buying ethanol on the cheap from the friendly local moonshiner, "grain" alcohol is on the pricy side compared to isopropyl alcohol. It's not that I'm especially frugal, It's just that it's hard enough to make finish perfect wraps without adult beverages in the mix.
Forum: rodboard

There is alcohol and there is alcohol and alcohol, all of which is referred to as alcohol. Jack Are you certain the alcohol at your work table is ethyl alcohol and not isopropyl alcohol? Isopropyl is commonly available in drug stores in 72% + or - and 90% + or - solutions. Ethyl alcohol, aka ethanol or grain alcohol, is the alcohol we consume as an adult beverage. When it is de-nature
Forum: rodboard

Mark You've clearly been captured by the dark sides of spinning, bait casting, and, worst of all, spin cast. Join the ranks of the enlightened anglers with a fly rod, the truly superior and gentle way to fish, and put all the spin vs bait cast behind you. (Just kidding.)
Forum: rodboard

John I too use a Work Sharp, Ken Onion edition, and it does an OK job quickly. Good advice about heat above. You will nonetheless need a set of small hand files to clean up the feet bottoms. Check out the Flex Coat web site for a video of guide feet prep using a small grinder belt similar to the Work Sharp.
Forum: rodboard

What weight fly rod are you building? !00 weight, 3/0, silk is OK for 6 weights and less.
Forum: rodboard

David While you are experimenting consider trying 100 weight, or 3/0, silk. Use as little tension as possible and do not over pack. To finish apply a first coat of ThreadMaster Lite using 3 ML hardener, 3 ml resin, an 3 ml acetone. This is the finish formula for clear wraps and it does a great job for the lighter colors you want to be translucent. To my eye silk sometimes has more "po
Forum: rodboard

Spencer is correct - longer is nearly always better. Rods less than 7' can be a challenge to cast, especially when making roll casts. Thus on a small stream with lots of vegetation waiting to grab an overhead or side arm cast the roll cast is frequently your best friend. The question is less which is better, 6'6" or 7', and more with which can you better make the casts you need t
Forum: rodboard

Click on the "Photos" link above, log in, and upload away. Then just copy the link to your picture, copy it in your text here, and yoiu are done. Simple.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks, Roger.
Forum: rodboard

If you find any let us know. I am really tired of cutting down 1/2" rings; it's super boring..
Forum: rodboard

It depends on your definition of "best". Best tri-hex bamboo blank goes out the door north of $500 if you can find someone in this country to make it for you. $125 is not doing to buy you a lot if anything for the better (best?) s-glass blanks by well regarded makers. The same is true for tradition, hex bamboo. For carbon fiber (graphite), and again with the caveat your definition
Forum: rodboard