Which is one reason why I went to U-40 Color Lock. A full flood coat while turning, keep it turning and you don't have to do a second coat. No problem doing an 8" long butt wrap with one coat, one time. U-40 does give a slightly darker finish compared to 811, but it's easy to use.
Forum: rodboard

If you stick with the Batson Enterprise line you could go with their F style guide. Smaller and lighter. I've never been partial to the high frame or match type guide, they just seem to get in the way of everything on the boat or in the garage. Single foot flys suit me on both spinning and casting rods.
Forum: rodboard

Or you could use a small crochet hook to grab and wrap the thread....no fingers...no chance of dirt or oils. If you've got fingers like mine, it would take more thna a few inches of slack to do the locking wrap. The hook lets you keep the thread very close to the guide, less slack, less loss of tension and it makes an excellent packing tool as well.
Forum: rodboard

The only problem with having the swatch book is that you have start doing wraps with fades....so many blues...greys....greens. It's possible to change colors without a noticeable line. I use U-40 Color Lock and have managed to get by with with one good coat.
Forum: rodboard

Small Tip OD .215 Butt OD .350 Medium Tip .350 Butt .500 Large Tip. .450 Butt .590 Ex Large Tip .575 Butt .650 Enough range to suit almost everything.
Forum: rodboard

EVA is softer and has not as smooth a texture as Hypalon. They both work well. More colors are available in EVA, also available in block form. I have some Hypalon grips that are more than 15 years old and aside from some fading and a few nicks and stains, they are still very comfortable to use. I don't think you'll have problems with either.
Forum: rodboard

I just picked up a set of the new reamers from Batson Enterprises. These are sweet, solid glass tapered shafts with steel mandrels attached, a carry bag (like they will ever get a chance to go in there!!) great instructions and a detachable handle. Four sizes as well. These should be great with a drill motor as long as the RPM's are kept low. Reaming cork??? It's just become a whole lot easier
Forum: rodboard

Telephone pole is close. I'm not sure what you mean "tip should be 32." 32 what? Tip size for a Rainshadow regulation blank for 130 lb. is a 25 and solid glass is 16 for the same 130 lb. rating. If they left the rods IN the gunwale, they weren't fishing, they were just horsing in tuna.
Forum: rodboard

Phil: you might want to get the headstock unit for the CPW. It's a bit pricey but seems to work ok for me. And they offer a different belt that turns the chuck counterclock wise for shaping grips. You just take off one belt and put the other on with a twist in it. Not a bad idea to get some extra Orings as well. Oh yeah, it's really hard to put together.....4 screws, uh is it lefty tighty or le
Forum: rodboard

That's what the Internet is about. Instant gratification, good OR bad. I had a problem with my Power Stroke, found out about an owners forum and asked for help. Got it right away, fixed the problem and have been an avid forum user since. Had I just searched through the site to find what I needed, a daunting task in itself, I more than likely would not have continued the forum use and missed o
Forum: rodboard

How about this? I just finished the fourth Rainshadow IF903 3 wt. Two as casting rods and two as spinning rods. The customer spends winters in Texas and fishes reds exclusively. Light? You bet . Do they work? You bet. The tough part is explaining that the warranty might be a little dicey!!! One of the casting rods spent this summer in the Northwest andI watched do very well on a 10lb steel
Forum: rodboard

Well ok. Can anybody post a pic of the burgundy woven graphite handle material, the red Texalium is too red for what I want to do. Not sure I can get more specific than that.
Forum: rodboard

Is there a big difference between the burgundy woven graphite and the red? I have red Texalium but want something "less" red. Any pics?
Forum: rodboard

There's all kinds of ways. A laser pointer will do it, or an overhead light reflection off the blank, use a piece of thread to mark the center line and scribe the locations, or just what you do now..use the ol' eyeball. Turning the rod over and looking at the guides from the opposite side will often show you an alignment error. I can't recall completing all the guide wraps without the need for
Forum: rodboard

You can't use the green with blue metalic!!!!! That's my color....arrrggghhhhh, now I have to hurry and get the guides.
Forum: rodboard

The RX8's that I've built have got excellent reviews. One 8 has been around the world now. One customer was a dedicated user of one of the other brands mentioned and now won't use anything but the Rainshadow RX8. Great blanks, great price.
Forum: rodboard

To me, they all perform well. The simple spiral is the easiest to set up and the three guide transition looks the best to my eye. But for performance, it's an even call, as good or better than conventional setup.
Forum: rodboard

CPW offers a belt that is more flexible and is designed to figure eight for reversing the rotation. Anglers Workshop has them.
Forum: rodboard

Sounds like you might have squashed the rings together a little too tight???
Forum: rodboard

I'd hate to be the guy to tell all the fisherman on the tuna, albacore, yellowtail, barracuda etc. etc. boats that the guides on their rods are going to break from the heat of a good run. Some of these guys have been using the same rods for years, and have caught a LOT of fish. Today's ceramics, and even most of yesterdays ceramics are good, all purpose and relatively inexpensive equipment. Bil
Forum: rodboard

The bumper spiral is the simplest to set up and I use it a lot. My "artistic" side, however, still prefers the look of the three guide transition. To me it just looks better?
Forum: rodboard

Coast Guard Aux. There should be a chapter in or near every major port or marina. Cost is low, and like Lou, I'd give them an A. Lots of of valuable info and work books that you keep.
Forum: rodboard

Start with paying a visit to the sponsors listed on the left. They have everything you'll need to start and finish your rods. Several good books are available, try searching this site for "rodbuilding books" and use all dates. Subscribe to RodMaker Magazine. Don't worry about "big names", just start with what you want to use. And don't worry about making us repeat things
Forum: rodboard

Took me a few minutes Steve, a spiral spincaster???? until I remembered those Zebco's.....Did you keep the original guide size??
Forum: rodboard

This is one of the times when it feels soooooo good to say how great it is to live blocks away from Batson Enterprises. I've seen the new blanks with the TC finish. They are eye poppin'!!! You bass guys will have to start bugging them for your type of blanks, but the line of salmon and steelhead sticks in the TC are beautiful. When Bill says they have 17,000 pieces in stock, I believe him....fl
Forum: rodboard

Let us know if it worked. There are plenty of people that have tried medical syringes and found them to have silicone plungers. Hope your's are ok. If your next finish coat has fish eyes, junk the new syringes. I'm not sure that the marks on them make a difference, just so that equal amounts of the two components are mixed. Mick: I wish someone had laid some of those words of wisdom on me,
Forum: rodboard

I don't think you ought to clean the blank after (if) the tacky finish does come off. You'll most likley just add to your problems. If it looks like stink after it's off, bite the bullet and rewrap. Mick's advice is perfect, I wonder how he learned the "mix it more" trick!!!!!
Forum: rodboard

Ah...that's " I HOPE he hasn't been beaten up...."
Forum: rodboard

Cody has found what works for him, that's a good thing. I just he hasn't been beaten up so much that he won't want to post any more. Sometimes we all need to lighten up a little, just remember, one man's D thread is another man's rope.....or an open butt wrap is only half done. Welcome to the Board Cody, there has to be something somebody can learn from you. Keep posting.
Forum: rodboard

And it's good to see ya posting Jesse, you've been missed here. Welcome back!!!!!
Forum: rodboard