I'm set. King size bed for me and the wife and a rollaway for my son. We'll make it a mini vacation. I called and made my reservations, but I had to tell them I was coming to the fly fishing show to get the special rates. They did not know anything about the rod builders show. I checked online to find out the normal rates, $259 for a king size bed. What a savings! $91 a night through the sh
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I have no doubt the rod will do it's job, and the owner knows how to fish, I just thought it was really funny she told him that. Oh, and there are one or two big reds east of the Sabine :) . Larry
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I built a rod for my friend to use fishing for speckled trout and redfish down here in Louisiana's fine marshes. 7' Rainshadow blank, used the bumper guide system and holographic guides, and a nice buttwrap with red and gold metallics and nylon threads. Put his name on it in metallic gold and a gold speckled trout decal. Looks really sharp. My wife and I brought it to him at his house and his w
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Gene, make sure you prep the guide foot good by filing it down to a gentle slope. If you don't do this, the thread will actually push the guide away as it tries to climb up the ramp. I have started using bigger rubber bands, about 1/8th" wide, that I cut into pieces and then tie a single knot around the blank. I then slide the foot under the rubber band and it seems to stay put pretty well.
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Tell Lance we all wish him a speedy recovery. Nice bones, too. Larry
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Go to your local craft store, and you can get a big bag of disposables in a few different sizes for pretty cheap. They look the same as the Flexcoat brushes to me, except in a few more colors ( and sizes).
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I sight down the blank with the guides on the bottom. As long as you see the same amount of guide sticking out on both sides of the blank, they are straight. Get them close before you wrap them, adjust a little if needed after you wrap them, and then finish them.
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Color Preserver will seal the threads and prevent the epoxy from soaking into the thread, and prevent the epoxy from changing the thread color.
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David, when you say it shys away from the thread, is this on the first coat? I use a thin first coat of Flexcoat lite, thin enough to see the thread texture through it when it soaks into the thread and cures. When I say thin, I don't mean I thin the epoxy, I just don't put it on thick. I want it to soak into the thread and not leave much if any above the thread surface on the first coat. The sec
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Bill, I have not used one yet, but looking at them and playing with them at your shop, I quickly felt like it would be easy on the hands after a long day fishing. Cork tends to be a little rough, especially after it is well worn. The flocked grips you have feel good, and will probably be easier to grip when the trout are biting good and the hands are slimy. Larry
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A magnifying glass will probably tell you what it is. Bubbles show up well under one, and you can see the fibers in the thread sticking out of the epoxy if the lumps are from fuzzies.
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You could try using ncp thread for the trim, or metallic for the trim. Neither of these need cp. Larry
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When you heat it, don't twist the tip too hard or the blank will fall apart inside the tube. You might try hot water or a torch (briefly).
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Well, just a thought, but how bad did you scuff it? If it's just enough to dull the shine a little, scuff the rest of the rod, put a coat or 2 of perma gloss on it, and wrap it up. Larry
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Don't use the blue painter's tape. Use the good sticky beige masking tape. It holds much better. Make a few wraps of thread around the tape and press the thread into the tape with your fingers. It will hold. Every once in a while, when the tape starts getting full of thread, make a new wrap of tape on top of the original layer, sticky side to the blank first, then twist it over with the sticky si
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20 lb Power Pro, yellow in color. Slick, strong and does not leave any color behind. Works a long time and the yellow is easy to see on the table, unless you are using yellow thread. Larry
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And you can put another coat over the wraps and they should be fine.
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Well, I have to tell you, it was pretty quiet on the board over the weekend. Wish I could have been where most of you were. I will certainly do my best to bring the wife and son to Charlotte next year. Larry
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I use two 4 foot flourescent light fixtures, each with two 40 watt daylight bulbs. I have them hung from the ceiling just high enough above my work area so I don't hit my head on them. I suppose one 8 foot fixture would do, but the 4 foot bulbs are cheaper. Larry
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I would vote yes, cover the entire butt wrap area just as if it had an underwrap. Larry
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I bought a bottle of 811 and it was syrupy too. I poured a little in an epoxy mixing cup and thinned it about 15% with alcohol, and it soaked into the threads well. I then used a second coat which was also thinned, let it dry overnight, and when I put the first coat of flexcoat lite, it turned out great. I like the 811 better than the flexcoat cp, so I will probably use it from now on. Larry
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Bill, you might need to FedEx that stuff to Charlotte. A couple of those tools look dangerous to fly with. Larry
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For those of you going to Charlotte, make sure you stop by and see Bill Stevens and ask him to show you how he does trim wraps. After the main wrap is done, anywhere on the rod you want, from one wrap to as many as you want. Really slick. This was a big head scratcher to me until he showed me one day. But then he may not want to give up his secret...... Larry
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I guess a rod blank would be just the frame?
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Bill, I don't think it's the cold, it was like half set jello when I got it home from Academy. I don't want to be any further south, either. I like it right here so I can come bug you every once in a while. The JD sounds like it might work, but trading spaces with Lois would never fly. My shop's not big enough for her sewing equipment. I just thinned some with denatured alcohol, and it went on
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I bought a new bottle of 811, and it is thick. The bottle says thin with alcohol, should I use just rubbing alcohol or denatured? How thin should I make it? I don't think it will soak in as thick as it is. Thanks, Larry
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Steve, where can I find Varathane Blue Diamond Crystal? I tried a local hardware store and they did not have any. Thanks, Larry
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How long does the 811 take to dry, or at least, how long shoud I wait before coating 811 with flexcoat? Larry
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OK, a few questions for the masses. Bubbles in my CP over buttwraps are bothering me, to put it mildly. Can I use Flexcoat epoxy over Gudebrod 811 CP? Although I know the bubbles in CP are easily popped while applying, what is the best way to avoid them? I have been using Flexcoat CP. Is Colorlock better or just different? I have seen posts regarding Varathane Crystal Clear. Anybody h
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I would suggest learning to wrap with a hand device, and spend the $300 - $600 on thread, blanks, glue, guides, handles, books, etc. You may be surprised at how much you will do by hand even after you get a power wrapper. Just my opinion, though. Larry
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