I'm not sure how many folks caught the CBS Sunday Morning piece on rod builder Tom Morgan but it was a true inspiration story. This was true heart tugging story about a man with Multiple Sclerosis still building rods and positively impacting our craft. I have never met the man but my respect and honor has never found a more deserving soul. To see someone like Tom that has been unable to we
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Tim every once in a while I see something posted that gets my attention. You wrote " I do 2 coats color preserver and one coat of one of the urethanes(@#$%& or permagloss)." This is a new one on me. Are you putting an Epoxy (Flex Coat etc..) on after the urethane? If so please explain. I missed the boat on this one. Gabe
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Barry I'm not sure where you're located. I'm in the Kansas City area and I would be glad to help. I'm sure there are others on this forum willing to do the same. Gabe Neal's Custom Rods
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Last i bought were from Anglers Workshop. Great folks.
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Hey Tom I had the same issue with my brother in law. I ended up going to couple major stores and comparing the Falcon rod (lizard dragger) with St. Croix. I compared line and lure specs and general feel. I did this for two reasons St. Croix blanks are a great option and they are also commonly used in our in our craft. You will find it a lot easier to get a comparable blank recommendation
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I know the name Shawn Engel....are you in the railroad industry?
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Fred I used tape on my cork grips and reel seat etc.. It helps greatly with clean up. But for any new builder, be careful the tape will pull out the filler from the cork imperfections. If it occurs just have some pit paste handy.
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Carlos, Tom is dead on as always. But we should also mention prep. The rod blank needs to be scuffed up for lack of a better word. Mark the location of the grips and the reel seat then use a scotch brite pad and scuff the blank. There was an article several years titled the water break method... In essence you want to sand the blank (lightly) until the point a drop of water breaks and s
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Signed up via the Web. Anything I can do to promote you guys and the Rod Building craft please sign me up.
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I love the idea from John. " I would also recommend you consider the possibility of a sliding wrapper and fixed person vs. fixed wrapper and moving person." Interesting idea if a person has space for it. A universal slide that could be used under any wrapping device would be nice!!
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Guys I’m looking for advice or opinions on North Fork Composites IM or SM series vs St. Croix SCIII. Looking at building a 7’6” Carolina Lizard Dragger 15-30 lb line, 3/8 to 1 ¼ oz lure. Looking at the 3C76MHMF St. Croix or the NFC 769-1 IM. Thoughts?
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See we can all learn from this site. Roger's method applies only the required amount of heat and sounds like an improvement. it may add a few dings in the wall LOL. Thanks Roger. Also for my two cents, I have used the hot glue method and had rods come back. A rod lying on the deck of a bass boat can get pretty hot. That combined with a beefy hook set and you have an offset tip.
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Mike I use Devcon 5 min epoxy on my tips all the time. Just put your rod on turning stands or your wrapping rack. Get a lighter and a small pair of needle nose pliers. Heat the tip top as you turn the rod (short time frame and don't hold the heat in one place, focus it on the tube) then drop your lighter hold the rod with one hand and pull the tip with the pliers. I use needle nose and put
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Thanks guys for the help. You guys never cease to amaze me.
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I’m building an 11’6” Sage switch rod. To be honest, me being a Bass guy this is the first Sage build for me. With all other fly rods I wrap the ferules. However, I noticed that Sage has the white alignment dots. How do you guys manage them? As info the guy does not want translucent thread work. So wrapping allowing the dots to be seen through the thread is not an option. Do you wrap over
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Guys what scripts can be printed? How about business logo? I'm assuming it's peel and stick, if so, how thick is the film. Gabe
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thanks Bill. The R. B. Meiser site had a pic of a Struble U-26 that fits the bill. Now to find one....... Gabe
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Thanks Bill but apparently you missed my question. I need a nickle silver seat with two nuts. I have researched MudHole and Andlers Workshop websites and found nothing. Thanks Gabe
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Hey guys I’m building a 10’ Switch style fly rod. The customer wants an uplocking reel seat in nickel silver with two (2) locking nuts. Maybe I’m missing something in a catalogue or website. I don’t see a nickle silver seat with two knurled nuts. Any options available? Gabe
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good replies and great feedback. But can i assume no one knows who manufactures thier blanks? Are they available to us? Gabe
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Guys I have a perspective customer that I just can’t get to commit. He is a great friend and we have had discussions through the years but he is sold hook-line-and-sinker to Falcon Rods. I know I can out build them meaning quality, design, personalization etc. If I could just compare specs and get similar blanks. Does anyone know who manufactures their blanks? Can we get the same blanks? Gab
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James this is a great topic. And one that brings allot of differing opinions. I was frustrated when I stated building and through “many” telephone calls to Bob McKamey (then with Custom Tackle now with Mud Hole) I came up with a method that works for me. Thanks Bob!! First: as stated above mix the epoxy slow using something round. I typically use the end of one of my brushes. Another issu
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Karen I am not interested in the braided bands. I simply want the electra in the spools, size A and D. But can you send me an email with the cost of this tread. You should have my email on file. Gabe
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Boy Tom you know how to make a guy nervous. LOL We put allot of faith in these motors to help in the curing of $300 – $600 rods. I know you are correct; but, it makes me wonder how can I ensure this motor will get me through the critical drying time short of watching it….. As Arsenio Hall would say…things that make you go HUM….
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Talk about fun….Try it at night with a full or medium moon with a glow-in-the-dark popper. They are made by Betts. You hold the popper under a flashlight and then lay it out close to the bank or stump. All you hear is a pop when the big bulls hit it. Back to your question fishing so close to the bank you get hung on a side of a tree or bush. That is why I like the 6wt. It is easy to rol
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So I was putting my latest rod build on the Drying motor set up and I left for work. I often put a coat on a rod, put it on the dryer set up, and go to bed or work etc.. On the way to work I thought “what is the life expectancy of a dryer motor” “what if the motor quit”? Anyone have a guess how long one should last? Yes the obvious question is how often do you use it? I build severa
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Thanks for the help.
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Guys I love the look of Gudebrod Electra. I’m very happy with ProWrap and others but I was curious if any manufacture was making or had plans to make a product similar to Gudebrod Electra Hologram Metallic Thread. Gabe
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Thanks Tom. I don't know how hard it would be; but, it would be awesome to have a search engine in your RM Magazine blog section.
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Guys I was thinking there was an article in Rod Maker about under wrapping with silver tread and over wrapping with a regular thread to create a candy apple look. Can anyone tell me if there is such and article and if so what volume and issue number it’s in?
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