Al, They have been out of business for some years. However, this simple guide alignment tool works as well as anything> Some years ago, I made my own guide alignment tool by cutting the reel off the reel foot of an old spinning reel. This is essentially the same thing as the guide alignment tool illustrated earlier. Simply sight down the top of the spinning reel foot and
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If it is a cork grip, simply take a slip joint plier and grip the cork grip with the pliers, spin the grip and cause the cork to crumble. Then, apply heat to soften the epoxy and use a single edge razor blade, held vertically against the rod blank and scrape the softened adhesive off the blank. It should only take a few minutes. If an Eva, or Foam grip, take a razor knife and run multiple cu
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As Henry Ford said about selling his cars. Everyone can have what ever color that they want, as long as that color is black. I feel about the same way with fishing rods. Tough to beat basic black for a fishing rod. Simple, understated, and it simply catches a lot of fish. I will sometimes say to someone who wants color is to simply take a piece of paper and have their child or ch
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For my spinning guides I now simplify them quite a bit from a few years ago. I start with the first guide being a high match guide in either size 20 or 16 depending on the line I will use. Then, I drop down to a size 12 and then I go down to size 6 or 5 runners to the tip. I place the first guide at 19 inches from the face of the reel and then place the rest to get a smooth line flow when t
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Ernie, Interesting: I was born and raised in Montana. There, when getting a bottle or can of carbonated beverage, everything was referred to "pop" i.e. bottle of pop, can of pop etc. However after living the bulk of my adult live in Minneapolis, MN - the midwest - all of the same carbonated beverages are referred to as "soda". That is bottle of "soda"- ca
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I have had a multi lb spool of Black Thread by Pac Bay -- I believe. I never ordinarily use either NCP thread, nor color preserver and the thread remains a true black, no matter the finish that is applied over it. I believe that the thread that I have is the same as this thread: Best wishes.
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Colby, Take and use a file and sand paper and knock off the side of the grip that is sticking out on one side of the reel seat. As a matter of fact, just continue to file the side that is a bit smaller and make the other side match. Then, finish the rest of the rod and go fishing. You will have a nice looking unique rod that will be just fine and will catch lots of fish for you.
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Note: For the folks who have indicated that they can get dust in their finish if they use the process a unique way. In a word - DON't apply and dry finish in an area where there is any possibility of having dust in the air that could possibly contaminate the finish. I very much practice the use of a clean room and a "Dirty Room". i.e. any rod building work that employs sa
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Aaron, I don't know if you have an appropriate saw, but if you do, this blade is one of the smoothest cutting blades that I have ever had on a saw: + The ultra smooth cut, is all about the tooth design. I currently have this blade, in the appropriate size for the saw involved; on all of my saws. Take care
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Aaron, The rod butt too long. Take it to your chop saw and chop off the butt. Time for operation 2.5 seconds. Seriously, if you don't like the comfort of the rod and if a shorter handle will work better for you, no need to ask anyone's advice. Chop it and enjoy the shorter butt. Over the years; I have chopped a number of too long rod butts and have never had any misgivinging
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David, I always glue on the tip and then wrap the top 1 inch of the blank. However, I stop wrapping when I encounter the tip top. However, if I happen to have a tip top that is too large - for one reason or another, I will wrap to the tip of the blank and enlarge the diameter of the tip by a single or more layers of wrapping so that the tip top is a nice fit on the wrapped tip. Take
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As Spencer pointed out, the same blanks are being made on the same machines that made the original Rogue blanks. I checked a year or so ago and at that time - a lumber company had taken over the property of the former Rogue rod building business. Take care
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David, You mention you nicked a wrap when trimming a thread. If you are using a blade for trimming, this is not unusual to have happen. To 100% avoid nicking a thread, put down the blade and pick up a pair of scissors and use the scissors to trim the threads as needed. My preference is to use one of Dr. Slick's fly tying scissors. The cost is reasonable and the scissors are readily
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I built a support, just for working near the tip of a rod: and: The supports were made from a piece of nylon cutting board and pieces of solid fiberglass ice rod fishing blanks. I simply cut the blanks to desired length and then use a dremel tool with an abrasive cut off dish to create a slot of the required width in the end. I cut as many supports as needed. Then, I u
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Joe, You can use the rod for anything you like. That rod model has literally caught hundreds of thousands of fish over the years, with virtually any lure that is available that the rod will handle. A good rod indeed. Best wishes p.s. Don't get caught in the rod pigeon hole rat hole. Just because some one recommends a particular rod with a particular lure or bait - for a
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David, If you want a unit that will just drop into your current unit --- assuming that the size is the same as the current one - This one will do the job and is very inexpensive. -------------------------- This is $12 at your local Home Depot. Best wishes
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Sam, Thanks for introducing a new word to my vocabulary --- Spline ) I did not know what that word meant in the field of Mathmetics. Thanks again.
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David, If you have the Pac Bay wrapper with the AC 5000 rpm motor, the foot pedal that is much like a sewing machine foot pedal and a controller with a dial on it that is mounted into the bed of the machine, - your speed controller is an SCR basic speed controller. The initials SCR stands for Silicon Controlled Rectifier - which is the semi conductor that cuts off part of the AC voltage w
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Sam, I built this thread holder, guide and tension device when I first started building rods many many years ago. This holder has never failed me and it has assisted me in building the many many rods over the last years. The holder simply rests along the back side of the wrapper bed and it moves along as the rod is wrapped. This is a picture of the thread holder in use:
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Here is a Crappie rod complete kit for $50. Build it as a 10 footer and you will have a nice long reach to drop into holes in weeds for the paper mouth. Take care
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Not hard. Use an 8 foot steel head blank. Pack bay minima guides. Inexpensive EVA split grip and reel seat and and you will be good to go.
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Copy that David. I will not use CP on a rod, unless it is specifically requested by the client. I prefer using NON ncp thread - with no separate coating. I very much like the semi translucent and darker colors obtained with plain thread and no CP. Best wishes
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With respect to Steven's comment. Rather than wrapping the guides with hair, perhaps use hair to create an rememberance emblem with the hair. Then, encapsulate it in several coats of finish to protect it. Best wishes
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Or, The customer could take a roll of black electrical tape and overwrap the decal and name with the tape and call it good. Total cost - $5 and 20 minutes. Take care
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I have turned some wood grips and wood inserts. In each case, I have applied two coats of Flex Coat thread finish and they have turned out very well and have remained pristine for many years. After application, I have the grips on a dryer and turn them as the dry - in a fashion identical to turning a rod after wrapping and applying thread finish. Best wishes
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Ever wonder about the difference between the word asvise and the word advice? The following may be food for thought: "The main difference between advice vs advise is that “advise” (with an S) is a verb, which means to recommend, or to give information to someone. On the other hand, “advice” (with a C) is a noun: an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action." Take
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For a rod of 10 feet or a bit more - I use the rule of 30 inches from the reel seat for the stripper. For a rod of 12 feet - I use the rule of 36 inches from the reel seat for the stripper. For rods of 6-8 feet, I typically use a distance of 19 inches from the reel seat to the stripper. For myself, it makes 0 sense to measure stripper distance from the butt of the rod. The distan
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Alan, Not a rod insert, but rather the bones of a large boat seat. I have used spar varnish to finish this wood, before adding the foam and upholstery and I couldn't be happier. I am using the spar varnish to protect the wood from going to pieces in the humid / wet conditions of being a seat that lives on the water. I believe that the finish will do a very good job of protecting t
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Gary, All of these blanks will work fine for the purpose. For myself, I use similar blanks for this purpose - but use a longer 6'6" blank for more casting distance. Take care
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Daryl, This is the method that I use, and it is very simple. About 10 wraps before getting to the end of the main wraps, I lay in the three trim bands and simply tape the long trim bends to the blank up the rod, and tape the lay in thread over the main wrap to hold them in place until you get enough of your main bands over wrapped on the trim thread. About two wraps after laying in thos
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