I am also a hobby builder. The biggest improvement to my rod building lathe / bench was the addition of 3 4ft. led shop lights hanging down from the joists above. These light "bars" hang (light chains) approximately 2 ft. above the bench surface and are centered over the rod being built. Also, if you stand up while building, a comfortable working height of your bench is important. I sta
Forum: rodboard

Cheers !!
Forum: rodboard

Salvatore None of the brushes I list below would I consider one use brushes. I wash them out with U40 brush cleaner over and over and they last me a year or two each if stored carefully. I have bought all of the listed brushes at local big box craft / hobby stores, but they should be available on line also. Darice "Kids Corner" Young Artist Triangle Handle Brush Set Royal Langnic
Forum: rodboard

Sterling I have built a handful of rods using poly threads, both Sulky and Floriani. I also have used color preserver on all of them, as I use color preserver on all of my rod builds. The poly threads do just fine on guide / hook keeper wraps. Rog
Forum: rodboard

Plano 3700 boxes fit 100yd. and 1oz. size spools quite nicely !! Take out all of the dividers and lay the thread in on its side. I use 8 of these boxes and organize the thread by colors. Rog
Forum: rodboard

MHX SJ812, SJ841, SJ842. Great bang for the buck ! Rog
Forum: rodboard

LOL !
Forum: rodboard

Im with Roger. I prep every guide that I install on a rod. I also slightly round the sides of the guide foot to allow a smoother coating of finish over the top of the foot. A sharp square edge on the top of the foot is difficult to get any finish depth at that spot. I also "file" the foot bottoms with the appropriate sized chainsaw file and taper the point of the foot (needle files) to
Forum: rodboard

Yes ! U40 brush cleaner.
Forum: rodboard

Broken or unuseable arrow shafts !
Forum: rodboard

So....I'm trying to find some info for the ICAST show this year. It seems that the only info I can find deals with exhibiting and registration. I this show open for the public to attend? If so is there a website that would have public attendance info? My daughter lives in Orlando and I'm due for a visit! Rog
Forum: rodboard

Roger I use a sawed off reel foot / stem from a broken spinning reel. I mount the reel foot in the reel seat and bore sight the guides with the seat along the blank. I attach each guide temporarily with a 12 thread or so wrap, then adjust all for a straight path to the tip, then wrap on the permanent wrap while cutting off the temporary wrap. It is probably a few more steps than most builders ar
Forum: rodboard

Amber Also take note of the list of sponsers to the left of the forum page. These suppliers / dealers keep this website up and running. Most of them also offer instructions and videos and help you with answers to your questions. I am a "hobby" builder and just started my 51st rod. The first several were pretty rough but the more you build the nicer they get! Rog
Forum: rodboard

I have used finger nail decals for Steelers and Penguins themed rods. I found them on a website / @#$%& seller called Etsy. Mudhole does offer sports team decals but they are college team decals. Search finger nail decals or tattoos. Rog
Forum: rodboard

Ernie I use needle files of varying shapes and sizes, an a nice tool called a "flex-i-file" from Micro Mark. I also the guide holding tool from Mudhole. I also file / round the underside of the guide feet with different chainsaw blade files. Yes - it's a giant pain, but it's necessary (in my opinion) no matter the manufacturer of the guides! Rog
Forum: rodboard

Marc I was / am a fan of the small Cabela's brushes too. I have looked everywhere for the same brush with no luck. Fortunately I was able to "load up" on them before Cabela's got out of the rodbuilding supplies business. I am now down to about 50 or 60 left, and would buy more if I could find the exact same brush ! Rog
Forum: rodboard

I'm with Norm ! Rog
Forum: rodboard

Ernie Don't worry. You will like the final product. The VSS handles are very nice.....especially if the hidden thread foregrips are used. Rog
Forum: rodboard

My concern is that a size 1000 reel foot would be too small to tighten securely in the hoods of a larger reel seat, or the gap between the hoods would be too large. Rog
Forum: rodboard

Hello everyone I have been asked to build a light power spinning rod to be used with a size 1000 Shimano spinning reel. Will a size 1000 reel lock down securely in a #16 spinning reel seat? I will be using a self turned acrylic seat insert and a set of #16 skeletons, I am wondering if I can use a stock reel seat to size the insert I will be turning, or should make the "between the hoods&
Forum: rodboard

I just recently rough turned about 20 reel seat inserts from various acrylic and wood pen blanks. I'm just waiting to final turn and polish them after I decide whether to make the spin seats #16 or #17. I use skeletons from Pac Bay, Fuji, and Batson. I have some very nice colors and interesting patterns to choose my inserts from. I have made a few seats in the last year or two and they came out b
Forum: rodboard

Scott Yes.....Batson guides will work just fine! I have used Y25 - Y16 - Y10 - F6 - with F6 or MG 5 or MG4 runners, and also Y25 - Y12 - F6 - with F6 or MG5 or MG4 runners. Another setup is Y20 - Y12 or Y10 - F6 with 6 or 5 or 4 runners, but I usually start with 25's just in case I would want to upsize the reel for whatever reason. I use #8 - 10 mono / #8 fluoro / #15 - 20 braid almost all of
Forum: rodboard

David RodMaker magazine vol. 15 issue 6 has instructions for making a "inside the seat" scuffing tool. I used a short length of a wood dowel instead of the metal rod. I chuck the tool in a drill or my lathe and turn it. Works great! Rog
Forum: rodboard

Ditto the Stanley Surform ! Rog
Forum: rodboard

Like Phil says.....U-40 brush cleaner !
Forum: rodboard

Todd I would recommend any 6'6" to 7' name brand rod blank in the "spin jig" category. I also fish for smallmouth in south central PA rivers and the spin jig blank category of blanks fits the bill in med light and medium powers. I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the budget blanks (CRB and Mudhole's OEM) but have used many other higher level blanks with good results. MHX
Forum: rodboard

Greg My braided line will slip under my "dropshot style" hook keeper every once in a while. In my case this is caused by a loop of slack line forming between casts. Fortunately I have noticed the snag before casting. Rog
Forum: rodboard

After cleaning the brush in U40 brush cleaner use a old school clothes pin to clamp the brush upright and barely touching a 1/4" of brush cleaner in the bottom of a tall thin jar or bottle. This will eliminate the brush bristles from taking a bend or set while stored for the next build. U40 doesn't evaporate much so I do not cover the jars. Rog
Forum: rodboard

John I suggest 2 options. Either move the stripper guide out to 18" or so from the reel spool shaft and shorten the reduction train to the choker...or... change the stripper guide for a #20 guide. Also when you run a line from the reel shaft to the choker are you running the line to the outside of the guide or the inside of the guide? This can move the reduction guide positions slightly.
Forum: rodboard

Robert I also use U40 Cork Seal. Rog
Forum: rodboard