I built a power wrapper and the plans and the bill of materials is in the Rod Builder magazine. I used square aluminum tubing with aluminum angle for a base. Also built a hand wrapper and it is also in the magazine. Maybe these could give you a good idea. Would get one of the newer aluminum 3 jaw end though. Sure you can find these. Think they may help.
Forum: rodboard

Have used the Batson 600 blank and also fly rod tip for rods for our grand kids. The fly rod tipped rod with a zebco reel is a great rod for bluegill and 4 year olds. Is as much fun watching them caught the fish as fishing for me. The kids really like stickers and a cheap tackle box with lots of sticker using their favorite people is a great way to complete their outfit with the rod. Some states
Forum: rodboard

A lot of rods get broken in travel that is were the 2 pcs rods has the big advantage over 1 pcs rods. The new ferrules are really good to use and good looking like part of the rod now. Better than the older ferrules that we made using another rod for the ferrules. It is your choose but the action on 2 pcs is as good as on a 1 pcs rod. The 2 pcs save a lot of broken rods and loose ferrules are eas
Forum: rodboard

I really like the SP721-2 blanks they work great for trout and for crappie for us. They are better to travel with than the one pcs. blanks. May want a little heavier rod for walleye.
Forum: rodboard

You can use a 9 foot fly rod blank for crappie rods Batson has a lot reasonlly priced as does others. You will have to select what you want. Handling them is the best way to make a selection. If unable to do that you may have to have somebody help you like Schneider's Rod Shop who have experiance with crappie fishing. I like the old Fenwich 721 6 foot 2 pcs blank but have had to go to the Batson
Forum: rodboard

When I say turn-over rod I mean a spiral wrap rod. Sorry for the misunderstanding. The spiral seems to work good for my wife but each person is different. She does not like the reels (underspin) with a trigger mounted under the rod. Although she learned on and first used a spinning reel when she started fishing. Have seen underspin (trigger operated) reels at Basspro.
Forum: rodboard

My wife also only likes to use the close face reels. However I have made the last few rods for her as turn over rods. She is really hard on rods and this seems to help in her use. She has broke one rod 3 time and have repaired it each time. You may think about doing that for the person you are building the rod for. It is a big improvement when they are fighting fish. She fishes for trout, bass, a
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I like to use the SP721-2 Forcast blanks 6 foot 2 pcs. Found the 7 foot are to much trouble with brush were that I fish. I think you could get one,but do not know if they are 2 pcs. May be over your $30.00 limit. Have caught a 5 # bass while fishing for crappie as well as some 4 and 5 pound channel so I know the blank will hold up. Know they have a 6' 6" blank ISP781 blank and the ISP842 is
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I have a old Orvis fly/spinning rod kit which I made in late 70's or early 80's and it it had a Phillipson reel seat that moved up or down the the cork handle and was held in place by tighting down the reel on the reel seat which locked it on the cork handle.. So it could be moved up to use as a spinning rod or down to use as a fly rod. However I have not been able to find another one of these in
Forum: rodboard

I do not have a lath yet and do as noted in the rod building book by using a hole saw to cut out the butt caps. On the butt caps I remove the pilot bit and use it on a drill press to cut out ones for the butt caps. I also have used some oak to make butt caps for the grandkids rods. After I cut out the but cap I turned it over and cut deep enough to embed a state quarter of the were they were bor
Forum: rodboard

Since I do not have a lath yet I still do as in the Dale Clements book I use a hole saw on the drill press and remove the pilot bit an cut out the round parts for the butt with out the pilot guide hole. I have also turned them over and drilled with a smaller hole saw enough to inlay the state quarters for the grandkid. I done four and three turned out very good but the fourth turned color after a
Forum: rodboard