I just wish that I could find some one local to where I live to help me install it. I just bought a new computer with Vista hp and I am technologically challenged with these confarned computers. My old pc was windows 98. Guess I would be up and running by now with that but I just don't understand the changes that have to be made to get it to run. Well if nothing else it's just another target at t
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I am using a strap or clamp on reel seat for the first time and don't know whether to epoxy the bottom of the reel seat to the base that I created? I am not convinced that it will stay on secure if I don't epoxy the bottom when I pull it down and wrap it on. Thanks for your help. Bob/Ambler rodcraft
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Dan, Don't get caught up in all the intracies of rodbuilding. Seek out a seasoned builder in your area and see if he can guide you through the process that you are going thru. It can be quite confusing but once you can find a builder/mentor that will help you it will all become much clearer and much less expensive. Most rodbuilders are more than anxious to show off the talents that th
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Go to your local CVS or large drug store and look in the nail section. I have used a tool that is used for cuticles that has a plastic body and has a pointed end and a round curved end. It fits in your hand perfectly and is much easier to find on your bench than the small packer tools. I have never found anything easier to use. Mine is made by Cutex if that helps.I would post a picture if I could
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Great to see someone as young as Tyler get involved. You will never have to go looking for him, just look in the rod shop.I might have him do my next closed wrap-it looks great-he is extremely talented. I have been doing this for more than 4 times his age and I don't mind admitting that I would take a long time to recreate that perfection. Maybe his own booth next year with all his work displayed
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Thanks to everyone for your responses- more than I ever hoped for. Visual Wrap does seem to be the way to go. Thanks again Bob
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Les, Next year look me up as I am a professional guard and definitely carry more than 6 rounds. It takes that many to get sighted in then all you can do is through your gun and hope to hit something. I too felt your apprehension down the street at the drive in car wash as a pack of @#$%& Angels pulled into the stall next to me and started carrying on. Turns out it was all noise and no ex
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Think about this for a moment. There are thousands of young soldiers overseas that would gladly swap your cold water retreat if only for a weekend. Somehow seems to put things into pespective.Sorry but this is a passion of mine as an ex military man. Really if that's all that went wrong over the weekend that should be great. Someone found my GPS to be more fitted for thier vehicle than mine but I
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Seth, I have fished with one of the east coasts best shark captains that I have ever seen ( Capt Bill Verbanis, Reelistic) and if I remember correctly all of his rods were custom made and were all 130 # stand up tackle. That's not a misprint as he had no chair on his boat. Some rods were straight butt but the majority were curved butt. The majority of the rods had roller guides but some
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Does anyone have any information regarding layout software for center spacing on closed diamond wraps. There was a program that I remember that would allow you to see the actual proposed wrap but I don't know if that included center spacing. I don't remember a seat of the pants rule for spacing without a computer. Any help would be appreciated.I know that the spacing shrinks as the blank dia. ge
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Years ago there was layout software available for butt wraps, mostly for closed wraps but some programs would show you the proposed look of the wrap. Nothing was perfect as colors are not identical to thread colors. Tom suggested that I post this to try to find someone with a layout program for staggered center layout. The one that I had on an old computer worked really good but died along with m
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Go to Harbor Freight and buy a lathe meant to turn down wood. I build almost all of my cork handles out of rings but I wait to glue them on the blank until after turning them down. I would hate to lose a couple hundred dollar blank while whipping around at the end of my 12 ft bed. Remember that old fart Murphy. It seems he is always hanging over my shoulder when I venture far for the proven track
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I am outside Phila. PA and am looking to rent and old Army half track so that I can get South( actually just to get out of my driveway.) I am looking forward to driving south just to see 20 ft snow piles disappear.On another note : I can't believe the wealth of information that appears on this site every day. It seems that all I have to do is think about a problem and go looking for it and my ans
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Tom, You must have been reading my mind as I have been wondering what to substitute for Crystal Coat since Clemens closed shop. Is Klass-Kote a direct replacement and where is it available. I will be at the expo. Do you think it will be available there? Thanks
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My advice would be to continue looking for a local rod builder in your area. Has to be someone in your area or someone on this site that knows a builder. Try going to a local sporting goods store and ask if they know anyone as the usually have someone to do repairs. I learned from an incredibly patient friend of mine that taught me everything I needed to know. I left his workshop every time with
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Jeff, This is my method that works every time for me. I have dozens of large hard paper cut outs longer than most of my butt wraps. I measure the blank and predetermine my design whether 90 degree axis or a compressed or elongated spacing. I then lay out my center marks along the 0 and 180 degree axis of my underwrap. I use this to mark my diamond centers and as a reference once I start w
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Bill, Do you clear cote every rod that you refinish. I have a black 14 ft heaver that my customer wants dark green. The paint is not a problem but I just can't decide whether or not to clear cote or not. I would hope that clear would help protect the finish but I am worried about the cracking that will probably happen when flexed. This rod is used more in long distance casting rather than
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A good salesman educates his customers to allow them to make the best educated purchase. As custom rodbuilders it is inherent to constantly point out the differences in product and why our products seem to be more expensive than store bought rods. By the time most of my customers come to my shop to talk about custom rods they are already fed up with poor quality and performance. All I need is a l
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With such a large expo, will there be a schedule of seminars and demonstrations posted somewhere inside the center to try to keep track of events? Do you also know whether the expo center is handicapped equipped with power carts as I have a back problem that keeps me from walking long distances and standing the same for long stretches?Thanks Tom
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If you have a Clemens lathe it is unlikely a Renzetti. I have had mine for 25 years and called Renzetti on Monday about replacement O rings and they informed me that they still use the same roller O rings that came with my lathe. They cost $2.00 each but they are available. Commercial O rings don't quite seem to fit tightly enough and have come off at times.
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If you have a Clemens lathe it is unlikely a Renzetti. I have had mine for 25 years and called Renzetti on Monday about replacement O rings and they informed me that they still use the same roller O rings that came with my lathe. They cost $2.00 each but they are available. Commercial O rings don't quite seem to fit tightly enough and have come off at times.
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If I just joined Rodbuilding on Sat. 1/23/10 will I have my first magazine in order to get my reception ticket or will you have a way to cross-check my info at the door. I joined on-line at have no receipt as of yet. Thank you
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I have used a Renzetti rod lathe for twenty years or so and I have found that as the rubber o rings age they get harder and will mark or groove a finish, therefore I always adhere to taping the blank where supported. I was taught this way by a long time builder, Harry Irrgang. He always used tape on every rod. With painted rods I try to position my supports in the center of guide marks to cover u
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On really thick wraps I find that a warm 50/50 mixture of water and C/P works great. I take a small hyperdermic syringe and inject the watered down mixture along the side of the guide foot on both sides and immediately spin the rod and level out any excess. It has always worked for me to solve inconsistent finishes as it also fills the void created by the wrap going over the guide foot.
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