Terrible loss for my business when Merrick closed it's doors. You are right, many items they stocked that others do not. Having both Merrick and MudHole covered all my bases.
Forum: rodboard

Does anyone have one that will fit on a butt wrap? Do you have one for sale or know where I can order one? Of course I got a Christmas rod order this morning wanting such a decal on the rod. I tried to find a phone # for the Vikings but was not successful. Decal Connection will make me the decal if I can get permission for a one time, one decal, from the Minnesota Vikings Co. Thank you i
Forum: rodboard

Hi Call Angler's Resource and ask for Jim. He is very knowledgeable.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Jeremy, I have used your product on three white blanks. For a first time effort I was very pleased with the results and so were the customers. As I get time I will be experimenting further. A very good product.
Forum: rodboard

Hi, I soak used guides overnight in a baby food jar containing Lime Away at full strength. Wow, the next day they look beautiful!. Neil
Forum: rodboard

Hi Geoff, Explanations like yours are always appreciated and make us better informed builders. Thank you.
Forum: rodboard

Hi, Why do I use Minima 4 spin and casting guides? Because the rings can not fall out or be broken. Saves me and my customers the cost and time of having guides replaced. They work! I use them on rods rated to 40# class line. Yes I do use braid and no damage to the rings. The guides may sing when reeling in a heavy weight/fish.
Forum: rodboard

Good morning, Very interesting. Good responses for a difficult question that rod builders have been trying to figure out for a long time. Sure I would like to get $80 per hour to build fishing rods. Who wouldn't? We also have to be realistic. What is your customer base? How good is the economy in your area? How much money do they have available for fishing equipment? What type of f
Forum: rodboard

Hi, I build on the ES, and @#$%& series for my salt water customers. The people appreciate the light weight of the blanks, the sensitivity and ability to take in big fish. The CTS company will build blanks to your design. I have taken advantage of this opportunity and am very please with the results as well as my customers.
Forum: rodboard

Thank you for your reply. I will be calling you.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Jeremy, Very interesting product. Good fortune with your endeavor. The fishing rod environment can be hard on equipment. I like the idea of dipping eva grips. How will the paint hold up especially when using rod holders and all the slimy baits we use. Thank you in advance.
Forum: rodboard

Hi, Why not mount a new thread stand on the old moveable base? I would look into that.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Tony, The fact that you were pleased with the rod builders work is a very good start. I do not know how far you live from the builder, far can be a consideration. Folks who buy custom rods come in all varieties. Some of them fish seldom and others fish all the time. Some are not very technical about their fishing and gear where others are very technical, know exactly what they want an
Forum: rodboard

Hi, This has been discussed many times. My bottom line is what the customer calls it. Customers think all different things. Don't they say the customer is always right?
Forum: rodboard

Hi, This is all about "what floats your boat". Yes, as rod designers we try to perfect our ideas and designs. But the bottom line is that the customer get to choose what he wants/likes. It is his money we hope to get out of his wallet. I build rods to what the customer desires. Sometimes the butt weight is too much for my likes but the customer wants those components. He pays
Forum: rodboard

Hi, I can understand your concern. Have no fear as Aftcote is an excellent finish. I have been using it since it came out and the reason I use it is for the very reason you are concerned with. I did a test when I first started using it. I left the excess finish in the mix cup to cure as I was interested in knowing how long it would take to fully cure. (My experience was that finishes that
Forum: rodboard

Hi, Because it is different, looks nice, can be done in many ways, adds a personal choice and maybe the owner never had one before. Also another option that a custom rod builder can offer the customers.
Forum: rodboard

Hi, You may have to paint one yourself. Lamiglass told me they stopped using pink paint. This was about a year ago when I needed one. CTS will paint a blank pink for you for $20.
Forum: rodboard

Bill B, I have a fellow rod builder who has been applying finish to eva grips for years. It is usually the front end of the fore grip. He runs it up from ther butt wrap to about 1/2" onto the eva. I looks sharp and he has not had any problems. Neil
Forum: rodboard

Hi John, You are right! What I don't remember is what Jesse used for the outer edge of the mold. I think it was natural latex. But how did he keep it round. Probably close to 20 years ago I saw his rig and of course have forgotten. I get time I will go back thru the RodCrafter Journals to see if Jesse ever wrote an article.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Nicholas, I own 2 of Jesse's grips with the flounder inside. He explained to us, RodCrafters at a National Seminar, how he constructed them. I have the basic idea but not all the details. I don't remember if he gave out an info handout or just spoke. We need a RodCrafter who was there with a better memory than I. You could file out a section of eva grip, install a pin and then keep a
Forum: rodboard

Hi, Call Merrick Tackle and ask if they have any of Jesse's grip's left in stock, 1-800-628-8904.
Forum: rodboard

Hi, try calling the company and ask them. Go straight to the top.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Bill, I am one of those who believes the tank is half full. So I always look for the good in people. Never have I claimed to be a good business person, ha, ha. Basically I am service orientated. That is how my business is driven. I do not take a deposit. Much of my new business is by referral so there is always some one i know who knows the borrower. When rods are ordered I do no
Forum: rodboard

Have been lending out demo rods for about 20 years, Only one has not come back and that was at the beginning of the program. Usually I know the people I load the rods to. The plus side is that the customer gets to know the blank capabilities and I believe this has been the reason for many sales.
Forum: rodboard

This is for the members of Rod Crafters who knew Bernie JR, Bernie Zabinski. I received a call today informing me that Bernie had passed away. God bless your soul my friend. Bernie was part of the Brooklyn Bernie's. He was a long time friend of Bernie Cohen and some wheres along the line some one started to call him Bernie JR. Seems that whenever I saw Bernie, Bernie JR was close at ha
Forum: rodboard

What did I do wrong now? It is okay to type ES series but not ?? series? These blanks are sold by an advertiser in the left column. I don't understand? But then again I guess just being old gets one into trouble.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Sam, I stock and build on the ES and @#$%& series. These blanks make fantastic catching tools and my customers sing their praises. These rods are used all around Long Island, NY waters from 5' to 600", skinny water buck tailing fluke to tile fishing in 600' of water and everything in between. I find the blanks to be very sensitive and I am feeling sensations that I never experienced
Forum: rodboard

Interesting web site.
Forum: rodboard

Hi Randy, That me be so but what I like about the cow bone is that it varies between 1/2 to 1 " wide and gives a nice wide flat area to lay over the wrap. In essence it applies pressure to many more threads and giving a more even pressure to the area.
Forum: rodboard