Started doing them like Mr. Hailey said and cut my wrapping time in half or greater. That is definitely the way to go on smaller guides. I have several 3mm guided bait casters and you are correct, they are the cat's meow!!!!
Forum: rodboard

I have used flex coat high build over testors and it worked fine. I made the switch to thread master lite after last year's rod expo and it to has worked well for me over the testors.
Forum: rodboard

How does one go about entering the casting competition? I would love to participate if I can.
Forum: rodboard

Folks I'm building my first surf rod and have a question. The blank is a Batson 11'9". How far from the reel seat should I put the stripper guide? The ferrule is about 38 inches from the reel seat. I would really like to put the first guide on the female side of the ferrule but not sure if that is proper or not. So what say the experts, Can I put the first guide on the female side of
Forum: rodboard

What type St. Croix were they using? A 6 wt St. Croix triumph is much heavier than a 6 wt St. Croix Avid. But both are the same 6 wt fly rod. I have a 9' ft 8wt and my buddy has a 9 foot 10wt. His is high end mine is low end. His is lighter and better but is the same diameter as mine. Does that mean he has a 8wt and I have a 10wt because the diameters are the same? I think not!!!
Forum: rodboard

I've had the same problem a few times. Everything is fine and then I go check it and one part has lifted. I have been fortunate enough to be able to trim with a razor blade and then apply another coat of finish and have it come out decent. I use the same finish as you.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks Kevin for the reply. I had it soak over night and still broke it I cut more and they have been soaking now for almost 40 hours. I'm going to try again after dinner. Mabe I just didn;t go slow enough.
Forum: rodboard

Decided to try my first abalone shell inlay rod. Got the abalone and cut it out. Soaked it Vinegar and all was well till I got toward the tip of the rod. The last three guides going up the rod I can't seem to bend the abalone with it cracking. I rotating the rod very slowly and apply gentle pressure as I turn and every time I get 1/4 the way around the shell cracks. I even tried cutting it di
Forum: rodboard

I was a non believer in micro guides. Thought no way a little bitty guide is going to cast farther than a regular rod. Then I met Bill Stevens at the rod expo. He took me outside the pavilion with one of his rods. He gave me a brief intro on how and why the rod was built. He had a 1/4 oz weight tied to the end. He handed it to me and said, bring it back when you're done and walked back into
Forum: rodboard

Not quite sure how to do that, but here you go cfreeman@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us
Forum: rodboard

Folks I think my problem is in the actual mechanism of the chuck. I have using masking tape on the butt section of every rod I wrapped, so I don't think that is the problem. When I tighten all the way down ( no rod in chuck) and then back off, it gets real rough and hard to turn just over half way to full loose. I can almost feel the grab or lack of grab as I turn the wheels. While wrapping, t
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the tips. Just something in my head about having to put rubber bands or tape on the mechanism of a almost $100 product. I will try what was suggested. If that doesn't work I'll just throw it in the trash and go back to the original chuck. Heck, maybe I'll win the renzetti at the 2010 rod expo and won't have to worry anymore!!!!
Forum: rodboard

I had taped the butt may not have been 100% level though. I'll try that next time. If the leveling doesn't fix it, I'm throwing it in the trash and going back to the stock one.
Forum: rodboard

Bought a pac bay deluxe chuck and rod wrapper at the expo. After 14 rods the chuck is slipping something awful. I can't even get one side of double footed guide down without having to re tighten the chuck. Did I just get a bad one or have others experienced this as well?
Forum: rodboard

I have a similar situation. A customer brought me a back a rod that they broke. They grabbed the rod in the middle and tried to cut the line. Had a skate on the other end. When she grabbed the rod the skate took off and the rod broke just above the second guide. I used the technique that Mr. Wilson described above and it came out decent. The rod has a "big spot" where the splice i
Forum: rodboard

Bought a new printer. Everything works fine now, just like it is suppose to. I'd like to thank all that replied. Especially Tom and Bill.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me. I'll try the ink setting thing, and if that doesn't work I may just hit the printer with a sledge hammer and go get a new one. Thanks again. Craig
Forum: rodboard

plain paper is fine, prints perfect. It is just when I use the silver shine.
Forum: rodboard

Tom I agree with you. Research and experience are hard to beat. Particularly the experience part. I started my subscription with your magazine at the expo. In fact the latest issue in touching my elbow as I type. As a relative newbie to rod building I wasn't aware of many of the resources available to me. The expo was great and I learned so much my head spun. . . . . Back to the problem.
Forum: rodboard

Something else to try. Never saw the tape demo and didn't have a subscription to the magazine at that time. I will try taping the leading edge. Thank for help. I'll let ya'll know how the taping works
Forum: rodboard

Hmmmmm? I have notice that the middle section of the leading edge of the paper has it comes out is krinkled a little. Almost as if it is peeling off. Guess that could be why I'm having problems. Thanks for the responses. Tom and Bill thanks for your expertise on the subject. I believe the print head is touching the paper and wiping the ink away. The first part is okay but then it progressiv
Forum: rodboard

Thanks guys. I use workable fixtif spray to coat the labels. After the rod expo this year I bought the paper and the first two sheets printed great. I was showing some customers the paper one day and how I would make decals and left the paper in the garage. I think the first set got moisture in it. (humidity) I order a new pack and got it yesterday. When the printer prints with the decal me
Forum: rodboard

Going to be getting a new printer in the next few days and was wondering what the best brand to use with the papillo holographic silver shine paper would be. I have an HP 2175 all in one now and it does good for most stuff, but for some reason it won't print the silver shine. The silver shine I have says for use with ink jets, but for some reason it just won't print it. So I'm going to get ne
Forum: rodboard

As I understand it, NCP thread is suppose to stay the color that it is on the spool. I have been using gudebrod NCP thread and when adding finish the thread gets darker. The darkness in the thread is causing just enough difference to change the overall appearance of the rod. The rod looks great before applying finish and then looks just ok with the finish as the gudebrod NCP thread is getting d
Forum: rodboard

Most of the stiffness is in the butt section. The tips have a good flex, but not what I would call really fast.
Forum: rodboard

Dude they are awesome for wreck fishing sea bass and eeling for big rockfish. I'm in the Southern Chesapeake bay region and use the 7' imu for several applications. Not sure how they compare to the ISWB but I have used them for sea bass, tog, pitching to cobia on bouys, and rockfish and like them quite well.
Forum: rodboard

I use the krylon fixatif instead of the matte and haven't had any problems with finish yet.
Forum: rodboard

Folks with ya'lls help I figured out my printing problem. I had left the pack of paper in the garage for a few days. Wasn't intentional I was showing a buddy the paper and talking about how great it is and left it on the work bench. I think the humidity got to the paper and made it swell a little. I looked at the bad print job closely and it looks as if the ink was getting put down then wiped
Forum: rodboard

Good idea on the recalibration, I'll try that. Paper is the same, size is same, only have the one tray. I tried a piece of regular paper and the labels printed fine so it specific to the silver shine holographic. Thanks for the response.
Forum: rodboard

Folks I'm in need of some assistance. I saw the Electric decals in the magazine and at the rod expo. I liked them and purchased a pack of silver holographic from texas craft. I clicked the rod maker symbol and got the right part number for the silver. I printed a set of decals for the first time and they came out great. Ever since then I cannot print a decent decal. I'm using a black backgr
Forum: rodboard