Thanks for all the input. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow...I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again!
Forum: rodboard

I forgot to mention...higher speed than the 9 RPM dryer I have from CRB or on my AmTack PW.
Forum: rodboard

Hello All! Just wondering what the pluses and minuses of applying finish at higher speeds are. I'm still a rookie(on my 17th rod) and have had pretty good success with finish on most of them, but I've read many posts and watched many videos on high speed application, and thinking about giving it a try. Logic dictates that I should stick to what I know works, but... As always, your input is inv
Forum: rodboard

I'm getting ready to do my first snake skin inlay, and would like to add a few feathers over part of the skin. For those of you who have done this, do you apply a coat of finish to the skin before inlaying the feathers? Thanks in advance for any input!
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for all the input! I'm not sure what actually took care of the wobble...I took almost everyone's advice! I suspect much of it was related to the rod stands. As I said, I never had a problem wrapping despite this, but adding the tail stock made the whole unit wobble free, which is what I was after to try my hand at turning some handles. I'm sure I'll have some questions about that soon!
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Roger-that is the wrapper that I have, with Mud Hole's offering for an upgraded chuck (the Pac Bay). Are you and maybe Matthew thinking the problem might be with the wrapper itself, and not the chuck? I have the original chuck that came with wrapper...should I put that back on the wrapper to see if the wobble still exists?
Forum: rodboard

Happy New Year, All! My sweetheart surprised me this Christmas with a power wrapper, and had heard me speak of getting the upgraded chuck, so she looked it up in my Mud Hole catalog, and bought the ATC wrapper with the Pac Bay chuck. I've read enough reviews to conclude that this isn't the best upgrade available (don't get me wrong...no disrespect intended to any of the sponsors here). I've tr
Forum: rodboard

I searched the forum concerning cord handles-specifically paracord handles, and have decided to finish the handles using Perma-Gloss. I've never used that before, and while I intend to test finish on a scrap blank, I was wondering if I need to apply CP to the cord before the finish? I'm not worried about how the finish will affect the color, just how it will adhere to the cord. As always, th
Forum: rodboard

I've read nearly every post and watched several videos about abalone inlays, and am ready to take a give one a try. I'm going to put this under a Fuji NS7 reel plate to help hide any first timer flaws I'm sure to have, but I have a question. After removing the sacrificial thread used to hold things in place after cooling, should I secure (wrap) the ends prior to applying a coat of epoxy over the
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Thanks for the confirmation, Tom. Again, wasn't the end of the world. Just hadn't been looking out for it before now.
Forum: rodboard

I just ran across a splice in a spool of Madeira Polyneon. Wasn't the end of the world, but was just wondering if this is something I should be watching out for? Is it common for thread manufacturers to splice thread for larger spools?
Forum: rodboard

I'll be there...my first as well! I've already reserved a hotel room less than a mile from the convention center. I reserved a double room from Friday until Monday...if anyone is interested in sharing the cost, shoot me a message.
Forum: rodboard

I do a lot of night fishing for cats...just wondering if anyone has tried this yet, and if it'll replace a glow stick? Thanks
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the input, guys!
Forum: rodboard

I'll be using mono. Also, this rod will not be used often, so salt water corrosion really shouldn't play a huge factor (this will mostly be a vacation rod until I retire in 20 years!) Thanks
Forum: rodboard

I posted a question a few weeks ago concerning surf rod blanks for a first timer, and after much consideration, have settled on a 11', MH blank (St. Croix 3SRS110MHF2 ). This is going to be a spinning rod (the reel I'll be using is an Okuma ABF-65). Reel seat and handle materials are pretty standard, and after much research, I'm thinking the center of my reel seat is going to be around 28"
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I have the same feeling, Ben... I'm still a newbie, but the things I've learned from ALL the mistakes I make seem to help gain more knowledge than all the posts I've read or videos I've watched. And I realized before I bought my first kit that I can't buy the components to build a custom rod for less than I could buy a factory rod, but until I fished one for the first time, I had no idea how gre
Forum: rodboard

As always, the input from the members here is priceless. I'm going to limit my rod length to between 10' and 11', leaning towards 10'...as was mentioned, might get a chance to use it back home. I'm leaning towards a heavy power blank...is that overkill?
Forum: rodboard

Michael/Tom-I understand what you're saying about struggling with a long rod. I'm 6'1", and weigh 210, so I think I have the height and strength to throw a longer rod. What I'm not sure of, as I've never done it before, is a shorter rod easier to cast than a longer rod? Or more specifically, is the learning curve faster with a shorter rod than a longer rod? I checked out the blank that E
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I'm not necessarily targeting a specific species...in a perfect world I'd catch one of each. But from what I've read, snapper, black drum, bluefish, redfish, sheepshead, croaker, pompano, and blacktip sharks are what I can expect in the area. I'm definitely planning on using live bait, and I'm anticipating using around a 4 ounce weight. I have a pair of Okuma Avenger Baitfeeder reels-ABF-65, t
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I found out last week that I'm going to be in the Fort Pierce/ Port St Lucie area of Florida the entire month of December this year ( I live in Ohio). I have no saltwater or surf fishing experience, but I'm looking forward to changing that! Looking to build a pair of surf rods, but was hoping for some help getting started. All of my research so far has me leaning toward a setup using 20lb mono
Forum: rodboard

I'm pretty new to this, but I had an issue with craters not covering the thread with CP, so I'd add another coat just to be sure.
Forum: rodboard

I tried the taper offset method on my first 4 attempts at doing a closed wrap, with no success. After watching Rooster Rod's Perfect Crosswraps video, I skipped the TOS method, and have had several successful closed wraps. You'll find numerous threads for and against TOS here, but I'm in the group that doesn't believe it works. Set your spacing based upon rod diameter, and keep it the same down
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the replies! My father's not new to fly fishing...or at least he wasn't 40 years ago! He still has the fly tying bench he built 40 years when life offered more time for what's REALLY important, but I'm sure he'll have to relearn technique! Herb-I sent you an email, and appreciate your offer to help! Thanks again, guys...I'll post an update after the build!
Forum: rodboard

My father is retiring this fall, and has mentioned on several occasions that he wants to do some fly fishing when he does (he hasn't in over 40 years, and I'm not sure he will, but...). We live in Ohio, and he mostly fishes farm ponds for LMB and occasionally wades the river for SMB, but rarely does he catch fish larger than 3lb., most in the 12"-15", 1lb. range (he doesn't care!), and
Forum: rodboard

I just started building this past November, and the knowledge I've gained from this forum has always been appreciated, but I was AMAZED by the difference a custom rod made this past weekend! I live in Ohio, and target flathead catfish in our rivers (the biggest fish I can catch here), and the season is just getting hot. I fished from the bank with two rods...my old favorite and the one I built
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Fuzz- In a word, Amazing!!! Your work far exceeds my level, but maybe someday! Thanks for your help!
Forum: rodboard

Michael-I misunderstood your first post, and thought you mixed your CP with something. I'm new to rod building and had read a post about bubbles in CP, so I've never done anything to agitate or stir it. I'll definitely try that the next time. The rod you built in the link you posted looked awesome, btw! Phil- I did two inlays on the rod I built...the first between the butt and the rear grip,
Forum: rodboard

Michael- I did almost exactly as you described, using Flex Coat CP. The only thing I didn't do was mix the CP. Can you share your formula for mixing?
Forum: rodboard

I just finished my first feather inlay on a rod, and while it turned out pretty well, the feathers lost a lot of their color when finished. I used different pheasant feathers and applied using CP. Prior to applying the epoxy, the hints of green and blue and vivid white were still apparent, but after the epoxy was applied, most of these colors were lost. Is there a trick to keeping these colors
Forum: rodboard