I'm guessing that your "bleed through" on the black going under the gold is a packing issue. Scales wraps have an awful lot of packing points and unless you've packed the threads real tight you will see some of the underwrap through the gaps in the overwrap threads. Take a close look at the area with a magnifyer. The perpetual bubble is something I see quite often when carbon sleev
Forum: rodboard

As Steve said there are LOTS of things you can do in the split to add color. The area is big enough for a waterslide collage too...
Forum: rodboard

They're also good for trimming epoxy to a neat edge on guide wraps, working with waterslide decals, and a host of little clean up issues. While I'm shopping for the makup sponges I also like to check out their finger nail decals, glitter, etc. I don't think they believe I'm building fishnig rods :(
Forum: rodboard

You could also try one of the exacto knives that have a knurled knob that pinches the split tip to hold the blade. Just replace the blade with your hook holder.
Forum: rodboard

Not like glass, they can take a bump because the epoxy is flexible. Perhaps less brittle would be more appropriate.
Forum: rodboard

Tom posted a couple photos of Jerry "Buddy" Owens wrap designs: Mr Owens designed a different wrap for every client. Try doing something similar and have your client give some input into their personal wrap pattern.
Forum: rodboard

Just some thoughts... guessing mind you... Liquid Glass on thread wraps: it may possibly work as a color preserver but I'm guessing it will be difficult to get a good epoxy coating on this silicone product. As a main thread coating it would be like a very very very thin permagloss and a single coat would leave the thread contours open for abrasion. If you put on enough coats to get a smooth
Forum: rodboard

There has been a lot of discussion on this board about micro guide prep... I started with grinding the feet and soon found that it wasn't necessary unless the factory coating left the toe with a big hump I couldn't get the thread over; mayby one in twenty. What I do now is simply wrap up onto the foot and then pack and burnish to close up any gap at the toe. To hold the guides on the rod I
Forum: rodboard

OD with Black and Tan (sand) would be standard Army camoflage colors.
Forum: rodboard

As Tom mentioned the heat shrink method will certainly take care of the crease on the carbon fiber sleeves. Sometimes I'm working on small pieces or one with contoured folds that make it difficult to use the heat shrink tubing. In these cases I'll give the piece a very light coat of epoxy, cover with a piece of wax paper that sticks out past the end, slide the carbon sleeve onto the piece and p
Forum: rodboard

I'll put in my pull tie with about ten wraps to go; this way, when I'm ready to tie off I can snug the tag end up to where it's ready to pass under the wraps and I can use the sissors to cut it short enough that it doesn't go all the ways through to that tenth wrap. If I'm getting fancy with inlays and can't get ten wraps over the pull tie then I'll use the razor; pull enough of the tag through
Forum: rodboard

The software I like to use is called IPhoto Plus by Ulead. I use the original v1.1 that came with a scanner and it does everything I need. There is a new version that runs about $50 and it lists a lot of neat features but doesn't list a few of my favorite ones and I've seen no reason to upgrade.
Forum: rodboard

I like to exagerate the flare I'll cast with the right hand and reel with the left hand; the same as I do with the spinning rods.
Forum: rodboard

Green Acres.
Forum: rodboard

Yellow on a black background will be difficult because the yellow is relatively transparent and if it's too soft it will blend with the black epoxy too much. I've worked with yellow and orange on black background to create flames and you really need to let the lighter colors thicken a lot before adding it to the darker epoxy which should be just starting to set up. The timing is pretty tough.
Forum: rodboard

During a backcast your line isn't moving. It doesn't start to move until you release it when the rod is already forward and the tip is straightening out. Except for some oscellation your rod will be straight as the line is being pulled through the guides. As the line is pulled off of the spool it will spiral due to the spool diameter. Your butt guide and any transition guides will control the
Forum: rodboard

If by "same model" they mean the same manufacturer's blank then the difference is "everything else".
Forum: rodboard

Permagloss!! (not an epoxy but it's my favorite finish)
Forum: rodboard

Got it... you left off the last "s" in the first post and the result was the search site.
Forum: rodboard

The link you gave to americanheadhunter is a search site. I searched for snakeskin and I believe the page you ended up at is:
Forum: rodboard

"What do you do with 70 rods??" Mostly gifts. I only kept twenty five of them so there's still pleanty of room for more :) "love to fly fish" Pack rods, brush rods, float, you'll get hooked and wonder what you've been doing without dozens of rods to choose from to make for the perfect outing
Forum: rodboard

I started about four years ago, coming up on my 70th rod, and I'm still using the cardboard box with V notches and the spool in a coffee cup with phone book for tension. I used to sit back in my recliner with a freshly epoxied rod wedged between my toes and rotating it while watching TV. I got epoxy in my toes one time too many and decided to get me a small drying motor. I'll still turn manual
Forum: rodboard

"Sometimes we as builders and designers - change something for the sake of change." For my own rods I will change things for the sake of change. Some things work, some don't. I keep using what works for me and each rod has some improvement over the last or it gets re-built. I re-build a lot of my rods. The builder is the test bed for new ideas like foam core grips, spiral wraps,
Forum: rodboard

I found the Minima spinning seat uncomfortable too so I used the rods ferrule tool to make a hump for it...
Forum: rodboard

Any one of the sponsors (on the left of this page) that provide blanks and components would be more then happy to walk you through a starter build. Check out Greg Marshall's post "A Swampland education" just three messages after this one... You'd do well to find a sponsor in your area and go visit them so you can see and feel the available blanks and components that will make for a rod
Forum: rodboard

I just built a spinning rod with the Aero seat and considered uplocking until I dry fitted it. I didn't like the way the uplocking orientation placed the seats hump forward of where the reels foot ended up. It just didn't fit my style of grip and wasn't comfortable for me. I built it downlocking and it's very comfortable.
Forum: rodboard

I usually watch what I'm doing but yesterday I was in a tournament and working quick as I was into a decent bite at the time. When I re-tied I put the bead on the line and it proved useful on the next stack.
Forum: rodboard

Yesterday I was having some difficulty with my swivel catching in the 4mm tip top. I re-tied it with a plastic bead above the swivel; problem fixed.
Forum: rodboard

I've built quite a few rods for my own use with guides as tip tops. Most of them work very well but I have found that wet ten pound braided line has a tendency to catch on the ring of the unbraced tip top. Braced tip tops give the ring a "ramp" for the line to slide off.
Forum: rodboard

I've already got mine and, yes, it is beautiful. Seeing the photos from folks I know from this board makes it just that much more interresting.
Forum: rodboard