Nothing that I'm doing is breaking new ground. We've always known why and how rods break. The point of all this isn't to try and understand what breaks rods or why - we already know all that. It's old hat. However, few rod builders know how to look at a break and recognize the tell-tale signs that identify one break from another. Each type of break leaves its own tell-tale signs. That's the p
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Not much to see - things happen fast. I will mention this - a sound rod blank, even among very high modulus rods, is quite a remarkably strong structure in terms of simply applying a load to it and seeing what it will withstand. This afternoon we've been doing load limit failures. The rods are used properly and never taken beyond a 90 degree bend. The flex travels down the blank and the eventu
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It wouldn't sell well enough to offset the cost of producing it. The article will be in the Volume 12 #6 issue of RodMaker and hopefully that'll suffice. That was the purpose of breaking all these rods, which as of lunch today, had reached 142 broken blanks. ...................
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The Simple Spiral doesn't use any guides to get the line to the bottom of the rod - it simply allows the line to go where it wants to go if you'll simply let it. There are no transition guides on a Simple Spiral. You may, however, use a "Bumper" guide in-between the first 2 guides (0 and 180) to keep the line from rubbing the blank as it makes its way to the bottom. The Revolver/Rob
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It's not different - it's the made the exact same way. They're all just hollow tubes or shafts. You can use any blank for any task that you feel it's suited for. However, sometimes a blank is designed with a certain taper or action, or power, so that it would excel at a particular task. This doesn't mean you couldn't use it for something else, only that it's particular design attributes were
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What is a "slow spiral?" ................
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Actually, fly casting is very simple and not at all involved or complex. Most fly fishermen simply don't understand the relationship between line weight and line length. It never dawns on most of them that as you put more line past the tip of the rod, you're putting more weight out there. For most, a 4-weight line is a 4-weight line and they can't imagine what difference altering the amount of
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Ken, You're going to find the technique is really addictive, even more so than rod building or wood turning. The speed with which you can fabricate your own metal parts is really amazing. Once you get the hang of it, it takes only a few seconds to make a butt cap, hosel, winding check, tuna block, etc. Do heed the cautions outlined in the article and it won't hurt to check out some of the f
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The reel manufacturers have gone back and forth on this - it's a marketing thing. In the mid 80's many companies switched from larger diameter, short spools to smaller diameter, longer spools and touted them as being superior for casting long distances. Some of those same companies have recently gone in reverse, and are now touting larger diameter, shorter spools as being best for distance. A
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If you'll pick up or make a set of the reverse pilot bits, you can bore your own ID in about 10 seconds or less. Beats the heck out of hand reaming and provides a straight, true bore. ................
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I think Ken is talking about spinning reels. My experience over the years mirrors Ken's, although there is an optimum size spool diameter for the specific line. Your 6 lb test may achieve its best distance on that number 10 reel, but if you move to say, 12 lb test, you may find the size 20 or even 30 does better for you. ...............
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There is a relationship between the rated line and the amount of that line you have past the tip. Any rod rated for a 6-weight line will indeed cast and feel fine with a 6-weight line, at some distance. Keep in mind that 30 feet of a 6-weight line and 50-feet of a 6-weight line do not weigh the same thing. The fact that a rod may not cast the rated line very well at the particular distance you
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No, I think he's referring to Jon Bial at North Fork. ............
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Any rod will cast any line, at some distance. The trick is to find the right line for the distance you want to fish. I have no idea how much power that particular blank possesses. It may indeed cast a #7, 8 or 9 line, but unless it's very powerful it's not going to cast them a long way. Knowing how fly blanks are designed and rated in this era, I'd bet it will easily cast a #7 line at average d
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Most all of them run just under 1-hour. The exception are the basic rod building seminars in Room A and held both mornings. They run about 1-1/2 hour or just slightly longer. ..................
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Russell, You have a ton of builders in your immediate area. I have 18 builders listed on the RodMaker mailing list in Miami alone. I'd bet that within a 50 miles radius of you there are at least 50 to 75 builders. I understand that many don't want to share anything - and there's nothing wrong with that. Many guys have developed techniques and methods that they feel they make their living (or p
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Fisheyes rarely occur in ones or twos - if you have silicone contamination you'll have dozens, even hundreds of these small craters throughout your finish. You have small areas repelling the additional application of finish. Make sure nothing touches the surface of the finish when you move it around (best not to move it at all, if you can help it). You might also try applying your subsequent
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I have purchased another 20 copies of the Boyd Pfeiffer publication, The Complete Book of Tackle Making, and will be donating them to various public and high school libraries across the U.S. as part of the RodMaker Magazine Public Library Program ( ). Anyone that wishes to have one of these for their local public or high school library should send me the name, address and contact person of th
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You may be referring to the foam core, carbon skinned grips which debuted in RodMaker Magazine, Volume 10 #6. .................
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Joe informed me that retirement is not far down the road and thus he was cutting back on the business. He chose not to renew his sponsorship. ...................
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They're shouldn't be any appreciable shelf life on epoxy. All the hardeners will tend to amber or turn yellow over time but this doesn't affect the set, cure or long term use of the product. ..............
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No, sorry. Far too much cost for far too little demand. We've been down this road before. Not to mention that recorded seminars make lousy instructional videos and DVDs. Good instructional DVD's are done in a studio setting with "props" and scripts done specifically for that medium. ...............
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If you can figure out a way to present the same number of seminars in the same number of hours, and without any running at the same times, I'm all ears. ................
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These are the type programs that help ensure the health and well being of the craft. It costs a little now, but pays big dividends in the future. Far too few kids get hands on fishing instruction from a parent anymore, let alone any exposure to custom rod building, so it falls on the rod building industry to do this for itself. Good job, Bill. ............
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You'll lose some power and the action will become much slower. I'd recommend mocking up a handle, taping on the guides and letting the guy try casting it a bit. Get the feel for it and see how he likes it. ...................
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I have just put up our preliminary list of seminars to be presented at the 2010 International Custom Rod Building Exposition. You can find them at: The list is not quite complete - we have between 2 and 4 more to add once the preparations and presenters have been nailed down. We should have those finalized in the next 2 to 3 weeks. .................
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If you're satisfied with the line path under load with the 7 guide (plus tiptop) set up, then go with it. ...................
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Removing 1/2 inch improves the appearance of the seat and still leaves enough opening for nearly any typical casting or spinning reel you'll run across. ....................
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Your MO arrived today, October 26th. ...........
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Almost any of the nylon/graphite seats are large enough in the hood department to accept any spinning or casting reel made. The only exception is the very small size 16 seat. As far as a seat being too large (hood width) that can happen, but the seats generally tighten down so well that it's not an issue. .....................
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