Follow the link below for Batson's recommendations. www.rainshadowfishing.com/showthread.php?t=31
Forum: rodboard

Color fading is technically "photodegradation" as light (sunlight especially) is quite powerful and will fade all dyes. Pigments are much less subject to the fading and some colors are better than others. The color most subject to fading is red. Pigments with UV resistance if available offer the best hope for some longevity. Booby's outdoor test is very practical as it simulates long
Forum: rodboard

WOW Ray, if you do get into the venture, I'm sure you will be building many more fly rods as you are in the center of Califonia's fly fishing. What with the Sac, upper & lower, the Sierras and the many waters around and above Redding fly fishing abounds! With your rod building experience you should have no trouble adjusting to the "quite sport."
Forum: rodboard

I second the Batson Rx6 recommendation. I finished one last year for my young grandson 7'6" 3wt and he loves it and fishes it well.. However, by the time he is a teenager, I expect I will have built him a number of heavier rods. Also keep in mind with a five year old any rod can get broken in a moment through carelessness or not understanding a rods limits.
Forum: rodboard

Google "color wheel" and you will find an amazing amount of information and aids in understanding color harmony and choices.
Forum: rodboard

I strongly second Mo's salutations for Backlash! I also ordered a set of custom length TK mandrels with this unbelievable turnaround: ordered on Tuesday, shipped on Thursday, that's right! Two days!! In addition all of my email correspondance with Lynn was responded to within minutes, not days as is the norm for some online outfits.....none of the sponsors of course.
Forum: rodboard

Building upon the previous posts, I start by temporarily putting the guides on with small sections of surgical tubing using the manufactures guide placement charts. I then do a static test and find that sometimes (not always) I will need to adjust one or more guides slightly. Unless you wanting to cast for distance records, the back and forth casting efforts is a lot of wasted effort IMO. Many ma
Forum: rodboard

Paper is not very good material for rod labels as it will always look like a "paper label." . Better is to use a plastic material like vinyl. I have seen some even us the matte clear return address labels that are pre set up for use on a computer/printer.
Forum: rodboard

What is the material you are working with? Is it a pressure sensitive label paper or are you using some type of adhesive to stick it to the blank.
Forum: rodboard

Your blank choices are both good, given a choice I'd go with the Batson RX7 or RX8. Not sure what you mean by " new guide concept" on a fly rod?
Forum: rodboard

You don't want to do anything to interfere with the gap! It is there for a purpose! Through use the ferrule will wear and the gap becomes less. If you interfere with that process the sections will not mate properly over time.
Forum: rodboard

I would definitly go for the variable speed as you see from Billy's post changing belts to change speeds is old world and a pain.
Forum: rodboard

I also use the 3 jaw for both cork and wood mandrels in all diameters 1/4" to 1/2". Weight is not a factor, in fact the heavier weight on a rotating object is beneficial.
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I use it extensively, but not always before I build.
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Tom, is right on! The white layer will only give you trouble if you do not remove it before gluing up as it will delaminate very easily and create gaps that are unsightly and weak.
Forum: rodboard

"Fly rod blank" and "rated for 3/8 tp 3/4" do not seem to belong together! Is it a fly rod or spinning rod?
Forum: rodboard

I think you mean the thread is transparent not opaque.
Forum: rodboard

I also use the Rio Versa Tip lines extensively in many weights for 4 to 10 and have no problems with the loops passing through the guides whether they are my custom built rods or a couple of factory rods I own. There is a reason the loop to loop connections are slightly stiffer then the rest of the line...it is to prevent "hinging" at the connection. As others have posted, changing f
Forum: rodboard

Put down a coat of epoxy first, This will give you a very smooth surface so as to avoid bubbles or the like under you decal. Be sure to let the epoxy set up at least 24 hours before applying the decal.
Forum: rodboard

It can be hard to get epoxy thin enough so as to not be apparent. Try Perma Gloss, much thinner and covers very well.
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All I can tell you is that I got the information straight from Gary on the phone Wednesday.. The rest is rumors, speculation and hear-say.
Forum: rodboard

It is senior and he is doing both.
Forum: rodboard

If you use a rat tail file in a hand drill, be sure to rotate it in reverse as the file can easily jamb in the other directions as it is cut on a spiral. I have seen some split a grip doing it incorrectly.
Forum: rodboard

Cannot think of any good reason to use the bigger one. Are the OD's the same?
Forum: rodboard

Heard from Gary Loomis today and he says he's about a month away from having fly rod blanks available. Busy now filling the "pipeline.
Forum: rodboard

Have you tried to contact Loomis?
Forum: rodboard

As a strong advocate of "Catch and Release" especially for Steelhead, I would suggest that Noodle rods should be banned wherever catch and release is mandatory, or even if it is not. Building a rod that does not have the guts to subdue a fish in a reasonable amount of time, is not sport!
Forum: rodboard

The tip top gauge is the easiest to use of all the suggestions and an added bonus is that it will measure both male and female, try that with a caliper! By the way I have both.
Forum: rodboard

The problem with the last post is..........that if you have the guides in wrong positions and load with the line only you MAY be creating an un-natural bend. By locating the guides so that the line follows the rods natural bend when loaded you are effectively bending the rod as it was designed to do.
Forum: rodboard

Anglers Workshop also has a wholesale division.
Forum: rodboard