The sewing center in my town just started stocking Madeira thread. They have every color available. What a sight to see over one hundred colors before your eyes. My question is what is the recommended type of thread for guide wraps, rayon or polyester? Or can either one be used because all colors are not available in both types. Thanks in advance, Larry
Forum: rodboard

It sounds like you spray the decal after it is applied to the rod? I spray the decal with the Krylon before applying it to the blank with excellent results. It only takes about 10 minutes to dry. Larry
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for all the ideas guys. Built a EVA ring and glued up on one rod. Sanded and cleaned butt cap with laquer thinner and wrapped and applied finish to another. Both look great. Finish seems to be sticking to cap well. Maybe thinner is solution? Will see which one holds up. Mike, ID of slick butt is 1.170 so bumper would be too small, but great idea. Next time will try to use a gimbal cut o
Forum: rodboard

Tom, The problem is not the inside. I used foam arbors. The problem is the OD. The butt caps are larger than the OD of the butt by about 1/8 of an inch. What I want to do is build a ramp with Rod Bond from the butt to the cap and wrap over it. The caps get knocked off by fishermen not being careful removing the rods from the tubes they are held in while not in use. The ramp should do away with t
Forum: rodboard

Does anyone know how to prep a rubber vinyl butt cap to get epoxy finish such as Flex Coat to adhere to the surface? I would like to try to add a wrap over the seam between the cap and a slick butt. I think that it would help to secure the cap to the rod. The customer did not want gimbals and the caps are not a real close fit to the butt. Thank you, Larry
Forum: rodboard

Billy, I live in Soldotna. Maybe we can hook up and wet a line when you are up here. I have a river boat with no guide sticker so we can fish all night. Email me if interested. I am right now building eight rods for a charter and am using Pac Bay X2ST56XH-B blanks and American Tackle Turbo Boat Guides. Blanks are rated 50-80#. This particular guide doesn't want guides on the bottom of blank be
Forum: rodboard

Mine works great. After mixing I pour epoxy and rod onto aluminum foil. The rod stands straight up and is easily removed from foil after coating is complete. Larry
Forum: rodboard

Thanks, I was just looking for comfirmation. Larry
Forum: rodboard

If a blank has a size 15 tip and the only available tip tube size is 16 what is the correct way to fill the space? What I have been doing is wrapping tip with E thread and then epoxying tip in place. Is this the correct way or is there a better option. Thanks, Larry
Forum: rodboard

Alex...Loomis GL-2 factory rods are blue with dark blue thread on wraps. I use GL-2 blanks and they are Granite color. I have not seen any blue blanks offered.
Forum: rodboard

Another great finish is what my junior high school shop teacher called French Polish. It is 50% shellac and 50% linseed oil. It is applied with a rag while turning piece. A very nice and waterproof finish. I have used it on two homemade foregrips and all is well after a year and a half. Larry
Forum: rodboard

Thanks everyone. Dumb questions are easier to deal with than dumb mistakes. Larry
Forum: rodboard

I build light rods for trout and soft mouthed kokanee. I use a ball bearing type spine finder. My question is that on some light tips I find two distinct curves 180 degrees apart. The last blanks were St. Croix 3S80MLM2. Even trying rolling on the bench with the old method I can get two positions. Is this normal and what am I doing wrong? Any help is welcome. Thanks, Larry
Forum: rodboard

I know not everyone has one, but I use my Food Saver and vacuum seal bottle after every use. Have not had any PermaGloss go bad since. Larry
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Barry, Spencer and Bob. I used graphite arbors last time but they were pretty fragile after reaming inside. This will work a lot better. Thanks again, Larry
Forum: rodboard

Could someone please tell me what is the prefered material to fill the space between blank and slick butt on a stand up rod. Thank you, Larry
Forum: rodboard

Mark, Thad and Bill; Thank you all for the good advice. Will get to glueing now. Regards, Larry
Forum: rodboard

I am building my first stand up rod. On the rear grip should the gimbal be installed first and the grip slid to it or should the grip be installed first leaving room for the gimbal? Thanks for the help.
Forum: rodboard