Rails would be helpful, but I just set the spacing I wanted with the stands and move the thread carriage as needed. If you get the hand wrapper and rod dryer, you'll have plenty of stands. I was mostly drawn into rod building because I wanted to try thread art, so my initial investment was the hand wrapper, an inexpensive but large e-glass blank, a thread pick, burnishing tool, razor blades, and
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I just started building about 5 !Months ago, and bought the CRB HWS-1 hand wrapper and the CRB rod dryer. I didn't want to make a big investment in equipment until I knew this is something I liked, and for the price and my interest, it was a good fit. I'll be upgrading to a power wrapper soon, but won't upgrade to the CRB power wrapper. No complaints with what I have...Great price point to find
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The EVA stock I'm looking at has an ID of .35"...Only ID option...and my blank is .85" at the butt. From your comments, I'm thinking that using a drill to get closer to the ID and letting the stretch of EVA is the way to go. That being said, Billy V made the comment that I'll end up making my own Reamers anyway. I'll do a search in case it's already been posted, but would love to know h
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I'm still acquiring tools as I need them, and have a few Flex-Coat pilot bits, as well as a set of Dream Reamers. Before I gum up my Reamers (I'm guessing that will happen), was wondering the best practices to use for reaming EVA grips? Thanks in advance for your input!
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Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I'll try Roger's fix...It's what I have the tools for!
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Roger...I think I understand what you're saying, but I'm pretty new to rod building language so please bear with me! You're suggesting I match the plug to the ream at the butt cap? If so, I know I have a little wiggle room to keep the grip solid, but should I focus on taking more material off of the plug, or out of the grip?
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The kit I have is a St Croix HSK-4 if that helps, but thanks for that tip, Jeff...I was leaning toward tight fit and sanding. Any advice on drilling a short hole in a grip to accept a plug when a pilot bit won't work and I don't have a press?
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The kit I have is a St Croix HSK-4 if that helps, but thanks for that tip, Jeff...I was leaning toward tight fit and sanding. Any advice on drilling a short hole in a grip to accept a plug when a pilot bit won't work and I don't have a press?
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I'm starting my fifth build and my first build with a cork grip, and purchased a St. Croix handle kit. I also purchased a set of Dream Reamers and a few FC pilot bits, and have the grips fitting nicely. The kit came with a tapered "plug", not a cap, and the diameter is larger than my blank (butt diameter is .44"). It's roughly 3/4" long, and tapers from about 3/4" to 5/8
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Thanks for all of the input! I did a YouTube search, and found Tom's video on applying finish, but not the one which referenced using a heat gun. I had poured my finish on foil for the first coat, but used a small brush, left it unattended after about 15, and used a DNA torch after applying. After watching the video, I bought a bigger brush, and didn't apply heat, as I saw no bubbles. I kept a c
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I cant wait to hear how DNA in a plastic bottle torch might affect my finish, but I don't think I did anything to over heat the finish.
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It was.
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I'm new to this addiction, but have read dozens of threads on this forum about ways to prevent fish eyes in my finish. That being said, I have a few... I'd already planned on adding a second and maybe third coat to my butt wrap, but would like to know how these coats will remedy the fish eyes, and if I need to do anything special to prep for them? I hope I'm not breaking any rules, as I know th
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Thanks, Ken!
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I agree with you about TOS...my first attempt at a closed wrap using TOS didn't end well, and after watching Steve's DVD I was able to finish my second closed wrap with minimal issues. What I've been trying to figure is how to close my wrap with my last thread of the pattern adjacent to the first thread. I'm away from my bench until this weekend, so I can't experiment until then, but what I'm thi
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I just finished my first closed wrap...a double wrap on a large blank...And I only had to fill in about 1 mm to close the wrap, so it was pretty easy to bring it all together. It turned out well for my first one ( not a contest winner, but few outside of this forum would know that, and everyone reading this post had their first!). I'm getting ready to build another on a smaller blank that isn't
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I contacted Kevin yesterday to be included in next year's event, and learned that a few veterans missed out this year. If you're looking for an excuse to give your wife to spend more time at the bench, drop Kevin an email. I was humbled by the veteran I spoke to today who thought he missed out this year...humbled. Great cause, and it's not too late!
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I'm new to rod building (finishing my 4th), and am hooked! Running out of excuses to build rods for myself, and want to build one for my business partner. He's an occasional angler, and fishes for bass and blue gill in his favorite pond. He'll appreciate a hand crafted rod (and forgive any beginner flaws!), but he'd never invest in a custom rod, and swears by his old stand by with a Z33 reel (
Forum: rodboard