What is the spray or solution you can put over an ink decal that will seal it from your finish epoxy? Thanks
Forum: rodboard

Without a doubt ..... the internet!
Forum: rodboard

Without a doubt ..... the internet!
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the replies guys. No doubt, the screw up was mine. I have removed many reel seats and a few handles for rebuilds that I give to kids and a children's summer camp south of Des Moines. 30 secs-60 secs has always been enough but sometimes I did have to do it a second time. I think I have learned 2 major things out of this 'cluster-debacle': Keep it in the boiling water for a considerable
Forum: rodboard

Rod building is a constant adventure in 'Live & Learn' education. Was removing a cracked wooden handle from a beautiful Batson RX8, 9', 3wt. Wrapped the Window Reel seat in a plastic bag and put it in boiling water for 30 secs. Took it out, and wearing leather gloves, quickly twisted the seat loose and removed it. Got a deeper pan and did the same thing for the wooden handle. Wrapped the upp
Forum: rodboard

Clive, a good thing to note carefully early on in Birch handles. Once glued up but still NOT on the rod blank, Birch Bark handles have VERY LITTLE cross strength. You can split them quite easily with very little pressure. If I'm sanding, reaming or tweeking them in any way prior to putting them on the blank I carefully wrap them some with masking tape to add strenghth.
Forum: rodboard

Wow! Sorry to hear about the wreck. Happy to hear nobody was hurt.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Tom Have a great Show. I lament not be able to come this year!
Forum: rodboard

Question. Which distance is more likely to cause LINE SLAP on a spinning rod? A. A bit shorter distance from the reel to the stripper (say 17 -19") or ... B. A bit longer distance from the reel to the stripper (say 20-22") ? Thanks
Forum: rodboard

Have not built a fly rod over a 5 wt in a long time. I am going to do an 8 wt, 9' rod. Would like suggestions.... Stripper size, runner size and reel seat? Will be used a lot from a boat, in brackish waters. Thanks
Forum: rodboard

I find the words 'Custom' and "Decal' to be very contradictory in Rod Building. Kind of like 'original' and ''print' would be with a painting, If I commisioned Mark Blabaum, Tom Kirkman, Mike Barkley, Doc Ski, Ray Adams, Billy Vivona, Mark Fisher, Terry Henson, Marco Silva, Ken Preston, Nuno Paulino, Pat Vinzant and any of another slew of great builders .... to build me a 'Custom Rod', I wou
Forum: rodboard

There have been some interesting posts on guides and grooving wear. Have any of you had any grooving issues ( on spin, casting or fly rods) with Pca Bay Minimas?
Forum: rodboard

Kinda have to agree with Billy. If a benefactor came to me a said, " Build a great rod for yourself and I will pay for ONE component of the rod"! It would be a no-brainer. It would be a top of the line BLANK!!!!! If they said they would pay for TWO of the components, the next would probably be the guides.
Forum: rodboard

Thought!? Since it is from you for a son, it will be wonderfully unique the older it gets. Why not put the 'creative/personal' touch into it in your thread wrap colors, handle make up (Birch Bark, Burl,Checkers etc), perhaps a little feather inlay, angle wraps / trim wraps on the guides, unique butt piece. 30 years from now, it being a similar color to a Sage will mean zip in comparison to the pe
Forum: rodboard

Lee, I very much agree with Ken and Bill. Very adequate 'hand wrappers' can be easily made! Then a few of the 'must have' tools can be bought with the $ that would have been spent on the wrapper. Unless you are building many, many rods a year, a power wrapper is really not needed. I prefer, pardon the pun, the very 'hands on feeling' of a hand wrapper. Some very essential tools you might want to
Forum: rodboard

Welcome Ben. A little advice from an old builder. Randolph's advice of custom building to fit YOU is dead on. That is what you will evolve too anyway.Kits are a great way to start but just that 'START". You say you are already a fly fisherman. What action 9' rod do you cast well with now? Build on that action or a tiny bit faster and you'll be fine. Early on advice: Go slow and really have
Forum: rodboard

Tom, I wouls be very interseted to see what they had to say with the Pac Bay ..... especially the minimas?
Forum: rodboard

I wouls be very interseted to see what they had to say with the Pac Bay ..... especially the minimas?
Forum: rodboard

Ray,I share Roger's view. Several of my own, personal, high quality rods are Tenn. grips. My favorite SCV walleye rod has a Tenn grip and I don't particularly like the feel of slip rings. And Tenn grips are super light. I use 'Waterproof Adhesive Tape' that I cut in thin strips. A couple of 4" strips on each foot holds nicely. Quick & slick.
Forum: rodboard

It all looks too clean. .... but give it some time. Nice job!
Forum: rodboard

A few years ago, I think someone posted that they finished a rod, dripping on epoxy from a dried french fry. I have never copied that effort for proof but the longer I build the more I think it would probably work. I believe the key word is drip rather than brush. I too now use a spatula. I believe I could easily use a brush. But I would drip more than brush.
Forum: rodboard

Do post us Mr B. Thoughts all good!!!
Forum: rodboard

Keep your first build and NEVER re-do it! It will be your wonderful 'measuring yard stick' for the rest of this fun, addictive activity./hobby.
Forum: rodboard

Umpteen more fish are lost because of: Poor or weakened line, Poor knots, Dull hooks and Improper hook set than ANY of the nano diferrences in weight and placement of weight on a well built custom rod. A plain jane light, sensitve rod , with black thread, is a piece of cake to build AND wonderful to fish. A custom rod, with 'eye candy' well placed on it, with some muti-color threads and inl
Forum: rodboard

I believe it shows that the marketing folks setting up the commercial basically don't know a 'bluegill from a cheerio' when it comes to fishing. Nor does the old actor guy. Which leads me to this: I think they should have used Mike Barkley for that commercial. He would have been much more believable and would have shown off a better looking and correct rod rig. I'm just saying .....!!!!
Forum: rodboard

I have tried most all of the Rod Finish epoxy that has come down the road in the last 10 years. Consistency in your prep and mixing style gives you a fair playing field trying any new brand. They tend to all have their own little differences but all work fine. That being said, I have the best all around results with TM Reg for my first coat and TM Lite for the second coat. There do tend to be som
Forum: rodboard

Casting from a boat can be a little more difficult than casting on land. Because of that a longer rod makes the 'pickup' off the water a little easier. I would go with an 8'6 or 9'. A 4 wt lets you nicely throw smaller flys but has just enough backbone to throw beadheads, small poppers and hair bugs. 95% of my mid western fishing is done from boats with my 8'6 5wt and 9' 3 wt( with a 4 wt line o
Forum: rodboard

Life is really quite short.To catch fish on a rod you built is one of the diamonds of life. Continue to enjoy Ray and wait 'til a friend is thrilled with the production of a 'Ray Rod'. Another diamond in life!
Forum: rodboard

I really appreciate the honest feedback guys. I am going to try it a little up in Minn this week. Will be very carefull to tie good knots and will think of it as an expensive line experiment.
Forum: rodboard

Spencer, I am very interested in your answer. Could you elaborate in more depth. When an owner notices grooving in his guides, what does he conclude is the reason? Since I build and repair rods, I do know that most breaks are user error. But I am not confident on the true causes for guide grooving. I have been told that fireline and hard hook sets can stress a rod/guides to their limits. Look f
Forum: rodboard