Hi guys, Just built a spine finder this afternoon. Took a couple of ideas from a some units that I have seen on the web and in the library here. I must admit I was always pretty useless at finding the spine by hand (was never really 100% sure) and thats what prompted me to put my woodworking skills to the test. I had a dan craft blank (which was posted to me pre-spined) and put it into my n
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Thanks Tom.
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Hi all, I just read the article by Don Morton in Vol 4, No 6 of Rodmaker magazine where he discusses the techniques for determining optimum guide placement on any given rod. At the centre of this article (as I understood it) is the concept of "Equal-Angle" which states that all the guides in the tip section of the rod should be placed at an angle equal to all the others on a 120 deg
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Thanks Tom. Understood.
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Something else to consider if you are an ultra light specialist is the more pieces you have the more ferruls you have. As a result a 4 piece xyz rod will be slightly heavier than a 2 piece xyz blank (I say xyz because naturally different rods have different weights so this will hold true only to teh extent that you are comparing the same model blank). Please note however that this reall is marg
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I am in the process of building up a homebrew spine finder. I have one question before I commence - 1. Does the blank have to fit "snuggly" into the hole in the bearings (ie you do so by wrapping tape)? Or does the blank simply have to be inserted through both holes (without worrying if tehre is a snug fit) so that when you place downward pressure on the tip the section of blank
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Thanks Spencer
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Any reviews on the Batson RX7 spinning rod compared with the St croix sc111 (6'6 MH) would be much appreciated. Thanks
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Hi, anyone have any experience with Angler's workshop magnum taper spinning blanks? Looking to build up a 6'6
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Hi Steve thanks for the advise. The fishing will be for large mouth bass mainly (and at times probably some pretty big ones). I guess something like the 3S66MF2 should do the job.
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Thank you. I will use the pictures from the library in future. best regards, Gavin
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Thanks everyone - st croix it is!
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Thanks for your views. I actually dont live in the US so I pay shipping and excise duties on all my shipments from the States anyway, but I take your point about the minimum orders - that probably will be a proble given that I am a hobby builder and build mainly for myself. I have just been dissapointed with the last few cork orders I placed from some well know suppliers in the US. Paying $3
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Hi All, I have been building fly rods for a long time and as such have significant experience with various fly rod components and products, but I have no experience with spinning rod components and products. I recently received orders to build up two mid level/moderately priced spinning rods for larger bass and similar sized freshwater fish. I was looking around and was quite interested in t
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Hi everyone, Is anyone able to refer me to a supplier of premium cork rings in portugal. Thanks
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Thanks. Probably being optimistic thinking I'll ever have the need to turn a reel but fishing is a funny thing. Starts with buying equipment, then you make your own flies, then you make your own rods, then you make your own components for the rod, then...reels??? Gavin
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Hi Steve, I have had an opportunity to consider various lathes out there, one of which was the Taig Micro lathe. Just for interest sakes would one be able to turn a small reel on this lathe? Thanks, Gavin
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Hi Jeff, no at this stage I dont think I will be doiing cane rods. Just the graphite. Thanks, Gavin
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Thanks everyone. Will have a look at all the suggestions. Gavin
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Hi, Can anyone recomend a lathe that is suitable for turning nickle silver / aluminium reel seat hardware as well as for turning wooden / aluminium reel seat inserts. Thanks, Gavin
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Hi All, I am in the process of building up a new 8wt Dan Craft FT blank. I thought I would have a bash at incorporating some rubber rings into the grip (probably have a rubber ring at each end of the cork grip and then two or three pieces interspersed through the grip). Anyone had any experience with sanding the rubber and cork grip down after its been glued (ie do you sand the rubber down
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Thanks Everyone, FT it is...
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Hi everyone, I am looking to build a 9ft stillwater rod that will be well suited to casting larger flies (streamers etc) and capable of casting in the wind. Having been really happy with Dan Craft blanks in the past I am looking at an FT or FTL in 905 configuration. Any views/opinions/suggestions. Thanks, Gavin
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Great thanks Joe!
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It seems M.S is a denatured alcohol and is suitable for the above purposes from the research I have done.
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Hi chaps - dumb question. I am struggling to find denatured alcohol here in South Africa. Can methylated spirits be used as a substitute and if so will it "smoke" my varnish? Any experience. Thanks, Gavin
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Hi Rick, I am a small stream fanatic. 12" trout in tight technical fishing situations and I am in my element. That said, I have tried most of the big brand and (small brand) rod blanks out there to find my "ultimate" small stream rod and have only recently, after years of trying, found a blank I am truly happy with. My expereince with small streams and the blanks I fish is th
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Hi Guys, I have ordinarily glue my cork rings onto the blank piece by piece and then shape the grip once its is all dried. However I noticed on the web that some guys are gluing the rings individiually onto a metal maderil and then shaping thereon before gluing the preformed grip onto the blank. Does the cork not get stuck to the metal maderil if you do the latter? Obviously not but why...how
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Hi guys please let me know who I should contact regarding top grade cork for a fly rod grip. It seems there is a huge disparity between companies and what they call "flor" or "AAAA" Would like to get the best possible grade cork and your experience in this regard would be most appreciated. Gavin
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Hi Chaps, Thanks for your views. Have done a fair amount of business with REC in the past and always been really happy with their quality. Have a look also at ULTB660 or SMALL UPLOCKING 21/32. Think the bellinger is sweet but as you say may weigh a tad more! Gavin
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