Dave, I've had the same frustration. As Larry suggested, I too use the small cable ties to initially hold and position the guides, but I then go one step further. Once everything is in place, I wick a drop of super glue under each guide foot. After that's dried, I remove the cable ties before wrapping -- you just have to take care not to bump the guides and knock them off. Using this tech
Forum: rodboard

It's been a number of years since physics and engineering mechanics, but I'm thinking the discussion re: vibrations propagating (or not) through air gaps in a rod handle is appropriate only if air is the only thing "connecting" the handle to the blank. The minute that a more solid connecting material, such as tape or graphite arbor, is introduced, its properties are going to dominate t
Forum: rodboard

Rob, Another suggestion from a relative newcomer who's had similar problems. Use whatever tie-down method is easiest to initially position the guides, elastic thread, rubber bands, tubing, whatever -- I've found that wire ties work well for me. Get them all positioned, then wick a drop of crazy glue under each of the feet, being careful not to involve the tie-down. After the glue sets, care
Forum: rodboard

Andy, To be true to this thread as well as other comments on the board, there should be girls wrestling not only in Threadmaster, but also in LS Supreme, Flexcoat (both Hi-build and Lite), etc. Further perhaps, one of the contestants in each brand of finish should have been treated with color preserver before the match, and the other not. Then all observers could rate the finshes on a variet
Forum: rodboard

While on the subject of Threadmaster, what is a typical "working time" folks are finding when using this product? I've used it on a couple of projects, and really like the way it goes on, levels, etc. But, it seems to start thickening pretty quick, even spread out on foil.
Forum: rodboard

Tim, Hate to jump in here since you were the one who started this thread, but.... Is there also any info (manufacturer or personal) on heights of the American Tackle titanium NIV series guides, especially the larger sizes that might be used to start a heavy-duty spinning rod before going to smaller single-leg A-frames? Thanks in advance from both Tim and I.
Forum: rodboard

Very interesting. I've gone to split grips on the few rods I've built recently, and have also "converted" a couple of already-builts by hacking out the middle of the original grip. It's getting to the point where a full grip looks a little strange to me!
Forum: rodboard

All, I'm building a spinning rod for a buddy, 7' for the Gulf for nearshore trout, reds, etc. He would like the reel seat to be similar to that shown on the Jann's Netcraft site as: CORK CONCEALED HOOD SPINNING HANDLE KIT 13-1/4" LENGTH, their Catalog # 215107, where the cork foregrip contains and moves with the locknut. The problem is that I would also like to introduce him to the sp
Forum: rodboard

Kyle, Let me qualify this response first -- I've lived in State College, PA for nearly 40 years, so I'm familiar with all things Penn State. I'm currently finishing a "Black 'n Blues" rod. It's a 9' spinner, but the color scheme I used may help you out. The blank is charcoal matte, and I used blue hypalon for a split grip. I chose the lighter blue, but I'm pretty sure there's a
Forum: rodboard

In light of some of the recent threads re: guide spacing, etc., Ralph's last question is "right on"!
Forum: rodboard

Good thread, isn't it? There have been times in the past when particular threads seemed to take on a right vs. wrong, or us vs. them mentality -- not necessarily maliciously, but rather from an opinionated viewpoint. However, looking through the previous responses here, and recollecting some of the concerns we've seen in the past in total, it's pretty obvious there's no right or wrong. Some fo
Forum: rodboard

Doug et al., Here's a chance to share a little bit of experimentation from a relative newcomer. I too have that dreaded "fat fingers" malady, or maybe I'm just plain clumsy -- the less "stuff" hanging on the guide when I'm wrapping, the better things end up. I have tried a few of the suggestions, including those above, and what had come closest to ideal was using the guid
Forum: rodboard

Tom, Related to your two questions, I say, "Right on!" And after that, I also say, "I've got to stop looking at the *^@$&^% rodbuilding board so I can get this *&%$#$ report done!"
Forum: rodboard

Cliff's mathematical tretise and the responses beg an issue that has made me wonder every time I read a post and responses on "proper" guide spacing, and even after I've read and re-read the two articles in the library on static testing and the new concept primer. Every presentation on guide spacing ends with "test casting" to verify good placement of guides -- and there's wh
Forum: rodboard

Dave, Sort of a dumheaded response here (maybe I'm missing something), but if you don't worry about the blank being "exposed" above the grip, why would you be concerned about it being exposed within the grip?
Forum: rodboard

Rob, Great minds must think alike. I'm now doing a 9' spinner for near-shore -- matte black blank, blue (not grained) eva split grip, amtac's blue reel seat and TiCh guides with the blue rings. No nickel checks though, just black nylon. I plan to wrap in metallic blue with a metallic trim also, but I'm not sure yet whether I'll be using white or silver for the trim. Have the handle done an
Forum: rodboard

Bob, How did the Minwax colors hold up under use? Transfer? Fading? etc.?
Forum: rodboard

All, Sorry to jump in here, but what about staining cork prior to finishing it? Blue, green, whatever??? Anyone tried this, and how did things come out?
Forum: rodboard

Putter, Tried the glue stick too, but the problem there is that you're sticking the guide down into its "final" position -- if it's wrong, you pull it off, reheat, restick, etc. I'm trying to figure out how to align the guides while they're being held down with something (ike the wire ties) allowing movement, but then get the guides glued into their final position prior to wrapping.
Forum: rodboard

I have tried a number of techniques discussed on this board for positioning and holding guides prior to wrapping -- rubber bands, elastic thread, etc. -- and each seems to have benefits and drawbacks. I recently tried the small wire-tie approach, and liked the ease of putting the guides on and aligning them using these ties; however when starting to wrap, I found that any little bump (I can be a
Forum: rodboard

Stan, I was going to chastize you for not purchasing THREE shot glasses right off the bat, but after thinking about it, I guess the one you use for sp(l)ine finding can do double-duty if needed!
Forum: rodboard

Billy, Wrong side of bed this morning? Seriously though, I have often had the same question. Being a relative new guy to rodbuilding and the forum, I don't do much posting -- rather, just lurking and listening. But part of that is that many of the questions I have are either answered by the ongoing discussions, or in the library and/or past postings. I probably spend as much time using the
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Dave and Steve for the info -- to bad to hear what you had to say though, 'cause a $10 on-sale blank would have been great to get. However, I'll listen and wait until a suitable 8 or 9-wt blank appears on sale somewhere in the future. This forum is great -- there always seems to be someone out there who has the information and/or experience you need and is willing to share!
Forum: rodboard

I've been fishing the beach on the southern Outer Banks (Emerald Isle, NC) for a few years now, all with spinning equipment. As I contemplate retirement early next year, and associated plans to spent more time at the beach, I'd like to get back to some fly fishing -- I used to do quite a bit of it here in central Pennsylvania. As well as the different type of fishing, it would give me an excuse
Forum: rodboard

Hiro Tanaka's work is truly art -- many other pic's posted on the board reflect less imagination and skill to varying degrees, but are most likely just as satisfying to the builder. In addition to rodbuilding, where I am a relatively new-comer, I play volleyball, and have for many years. Do I play as well as Karch and all the folks in his world? Absolutely not. Will I ever get to that level?
Forum: rodboard

And when you buy one, you get a set of Ginzu knives and a free bottle of Orange Blast cleaner!
Forum: rodboard

Steve, For what it's worth, I have been equally frustrated at times when trying to get a matching set of guides for a concept set-up using a combination of V-frames and single-foot "fly" type guides. In some cases the frame and ring colors, materials, and manufacturers can be matched between the two guide types, in other cases not. So you either mix and match, or go to an alternati
Forum: rodboard

In general, what style guides do folks recommend for the running guides in a concept set-up? I'm looking at light to medium weight salt-water spinning rods, 7-9 ft long, approx 10# test line, throwing metal to 1+ oz. Should I continue with the single-foot, A-frame style guides right to the tip, or transition to single-foot fly rod type guides for the smaller sizes with the line being close
Forum: rodboard

All, A couple of threads recently addressed titanium guide heights compared to Fugi concept guides, and alignment of running guides with the tip top. My question relates to both of these concerns. I want to use the AmTak titanium guides in a concept set-up on a 7 1/2 ft salt water spinning rod. The question is what to use for the running guides. Stay with the single-foot A-frame guide st
Forum: rodboard

Alexander, Don't have experience with any of the specific blanks you're asking about, but I did build the Fish Eagle II GS 704 kit, listed at 1/4 - 3/4 oz. Love the blank and the built rod that resulted from the kit, but honestly, the 3/4 oz. upper limit really pushes the rod. Throwing 1/2 oz., the mid-range as suggested by Tom, is pretty comfortable, but now having used the blank, I'm think
Forum: rodboard