I will give it try. Thanks guys
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Have some time to do a few handles. Went to the backyard shed and found my stash of Birchbark had curled up pretty badly. Have any of you got some quick, slick method for straightening the bark in a fairly short period of time? Should have stored it on a flat surface with some significant weight on it. Live and learn. Thanks
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Tom, another thought. Are you carefully making sure ahead of time that your rod is perfectly level? You can purchase a very small, bubble level at most hardware stores.
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Alan, you are sooooo early into this rod building thing that there may still be time for you to break free. However, if you insist on plowing forward into this exciting 'hobby/addiction' I would advise you to heed the recommendations of the posts. Some things look a little large and expensive for this rod. HOWEVER it comes out, NEVER change or re-build it. Keep it as solid reminder of your firs
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I have evolved to a spatula. The thin 'rectangle' end is used for most of the wrap and the triangular end is absolutely essential for small wraps and edges. The dripping on eliminates much of the creation of bubbles. Wicking the lower 'drip' is quite easy with the spatula and does not cause a 'cross-brushing/bubble producing' motion like a brush does. I do however find that a brush/dripping is
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Reproduceability!? I like that word Sam. lol
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Just finished putting six # 4 Pac Bay Minimas on as the runners on sweet little 2 wt fly rod. Put a single trim ring Gold Metallic wrap on each one. That is plenty of delicate little focus for this old rod builder tonite. Looks really nice but now I'm ready for a Corona.
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What is a good house-hold material for cleaning up a penny? Thanks
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Had the g-kids N Y 's Eve. They go at noon today. G-daughter did a purple wrap and we kinda added some pink metallic to it. She especially enjoyed clipping the tag with the good nippers. Older brother even tried to add a trim wrap to his practice wrap and he put in the whip finisher and pulled the tag through. He chose to remove the tag with the scalpel. No blood, no foul! He likes to pick t
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Yes. Very carefully tapering the edge. And I mask the blank. Any medical supply store usually has scalpels and blades. If you are not close to a medical supply store, jump on the internet and type in 'Medical Scalpels'. Many stores supply them and I find the # 11 blade to the best all around for Rod Work. They are an invaluable tool for many of the little delicate tasks of custom rod buildin
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The very edge of the skin often becomes the tricky / delicate spot for a nice smooth transition for the wrap. It takes a little more time and some calm TLC but I carefully, very lightly, feather scalpel( # 11 scalpel and mask the blank) the skin right at the edge (similar to file and prep for a guide foot prior to wrapping). This makes the thread wrap over the edge very easy.
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Tom's reply is sooooooo right on!
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Is there a spray product that you can put over a paper-like decal that will seal/protect it for an epoxy coating?
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I don't put them on my own fly rods anymore cause of the ease and extra length afforded to attaching the leader to an opening in my style of fly reels. However if a customer wants one, they provide a great opportunity for a smart / handsome wrap on the butt section., They look very nice and add insignificant weight to the butt section.
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Probably several different solid ways to do it. I have evolved to this. ( I highly suggest you practice on a spare handle / blank a couple times before doing the real thing) Mix a big gob of 5min TM Epoxy.... plop all of it on the handle/blank edge.....(I use a toothpic/bodkin for this) begin turning it by hand at the angle of slope you desire (runs quickly for the first min or so then begin
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Do you mean a ramp?
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Do you mean a ramp?
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An understanding robot wife!?!
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After all these decades, I'm still experimenting. Being a rod builder now with quite a bit of extra time ( semi retirement ) creates an opportunity for me to constantly try out new guides. Light wires, ceramics, Pac Bay Minimas, Amer Tackle, Fuji, double foots have all been on my main 5 wt, 8 1/2' rod. This winter I am stripping it and will try Recs on it for the first half of the summer. When
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As fast as the hand can turn the rod.
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The sheer elegance, length and lightness of a flyrod lends itself nicely to some handsome, color coordinated bling..... especially in the butt/handle area...in my humble opinion. By using singlefoots as the 'drop downs' and 'runners', the slight extra weight of a little bling in the butt section becomes a wash. The 'personal attachment' fisherman seem to apply to their flyrod is often of a highe
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Ken, just an interesting little side note on this. When I want to experiment with a particular set of guides and spacing, I often just wrap up the rod in question and only put two coats of CP on the guides and then go fish it. I am currently in my second month of fishing my 9', 6 wt like this, 2-3 times a week. I have two coats of Casons Crystal Clear on the guides and it has held up fine.
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Matt, you/we got a lot of great advice from the posts. The second sentence in Ray's first post is especially KEY! Good luck. Been there, done that.
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You got good one there Bill. Well rounded builder and a great man to boot. Way to go Bill. Congrats Mr Ray!
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Did you add any chemical to the finish when you were mixing it?
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" The best things in life are free!" So true in this fascinating activity called rod building and especially with helpful, friendly, master builders like Ray. He has helped me and so many of us with his emails, Library and open one-on-one sessions. Doc, Tom, Mike Barkley, Randy Putter, Ken Preston, Terry Hernson, Mark Blabaum, Bob McKammey and many other grerat builders often give th
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I am very intrigued by this post. Please keep us posted on how your 3 wt went from 'normal ceramic type, to snake guides?!?!
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I have been following this thread with great interest. Wanted to jump in with a responce but couldn't find the proper wording with my thinking/feelins. Then it hit me. "Pretty" just isn't the right word to go with my rods. I have never tried to make a custom rod "Pretty". I very much prefer the word "Handsome" along with color-coordinated, highly functional and li
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Great point Tom!
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Barkley has always been full of 'Golden Advice' to rod builders.
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