That's because it's a little stretchy. I had the same problems, it does take some gettin gused to - I've only done 2 rods with it for guide wraps so far, and am still in the process of adapting to using it for that.
Forum: rodboard

MAybe they were casting lures too heavy for teh blank? Did they ever say what they were using as a rod?
Forum: rodboard

Here are examples of what you can do, if you look around the Photo Page, you'll find a few other guys who have done this in cork & wood
Forum: rodboard

It's the Inlay jig Clemens used to sell. You can make checkerboard patterns. Place a length of grip, line up the lines on both teh disks. Take a hacksaw, exacto saw, slice lengthwise, keeping the blade inside teh slots on each side of the jig. Repeat with another color. Glue up these pieces in alternating colors, to form a circle with contact cement. Place new grip on a manderl/spare blank, s
Forum: rodboard

I know, I've gotta see what my wallet lets me do. I'm going to the Charlotte Show this year. I think if I went West I wouldn't want to come home though, lol. Coincidence - I'm placing an order for GUSA blanks, and am e-mailing a bunch of guys prices, letting them know about the new GUSA's available, etc - one of the guys is looking for a 15wt fly blank for BFT, and the new Predator Lite for a
Forum: rodboard

No problem Jim, I hope you're able to do that, you earn it! I'll be making a GUSA 20-40 or 30-60 2-piece rod for travel (I only "travel" once per year, but it's an excuse for a new rod + a new technique).
Forum: rodboard

Duh. That's a pretty good point, way past common sense. I'll stop being cheap & just buy a seat and figure it out when I get it. lol. My quest to have one of every component continues, lol.
Forum: rodboard

Based on my last Q, it doesn't seem like too many have used this seat. For those who have used it, can you tell me if I can build the rod to be uplocking, or do I have to build it downlocking. Can I put the reel seat on the end of the blank, or would I have to put it onto the extention piece/butt grip side of the contraption? I'm looking to make a GUSA SW70H, 70HP or a 70Monster Mag into a Flo
Forum: rodboard

My guess is that you pick a point on the blank as the center where all teh threads will cross over. Mark a whole bunch of axis's on either side of the centerine, say 1 inch away. Make believe you mark the blank like a clock face. On one side you wrap a thread from 6:00, all the way around the blank to the other side 6:00. Then 5:00, all teh way around to 7:00. 4:00 to 8:00, 3 to 9, 2 to 10, 1 to
Forum: rodboard

BIll - that's a GREAT last paragraph of GUSA's. With teh heavier SW blanks, I have described it as a graphite rod when you're working a lure, but a glass rod when you get a fish on. Although they feel stiff when you bend them on the cieling, pull on the tip and teh rod has a beautiful bend. Everyone that I've had pull on them agrees - there are no blanks like it ou tthere. I had a 6'6 & a
Forum: rodboard

Even with lighter colors the overlapping is not notiecable unless you post a picture on the net 5 times larger than the wrap is in real life, or someone relly loks close. TEH epoxy build up will "hide" the hieght of the threads. Custom Rod Thread Art is the book you want, make sure you focus on the first 6 chapters as this is the most important section in the book. Tom, aren't you fr
Forum: rodboard

Bob - try making 4 or 5 turns with teh tag end, then starting your wrap over the first turn. After you spin the blank 2 or 3 times, you can pull the tag end out from under, and you'll be on your way. Easier said than explained.
Forum: rodboard

Well, as long as we've given Steve a headache...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, lol.
Forum: rodboard

Very true, lol - thanks for pointing that out. I mean one side of the Parabola, not teh entire one from one infinity point to the other. From the Origin to positive infinity where X is teh variable of the derivitive, lol - nevermind. Calculus was way too long ago to try to remember. We shouldmake it more confusing for Steve, maybe send him a decal of teh Quadratic Equation & the slope of a
Forum: rodboard

Depends on the rod. I usually aim to make the wrap go from the foregrip to about 4" from teh end of the first guide wrap. This gives me some space to tie off, and add a decal between the end of teh tie off & the guide. Long Spinning rods with far away strippers I'll look to make teh wrap 1/2 the distance fro teh grip to teh guide. FWIW - Most of my wraps are between 175-300millimeter
Forum: rodboard

When a rod bends into teh handle, that's what I consider Parabolic. Think of a Parabola from 11th grade Math, a Parabola is some sort of a U shaped curve which is a gradual bend - like this: Basically, teh rod has no shut off point, the more weight you add, the more it will bend. Glass rods are an example.
Forum: rodboard

Practice, pactice, practice will make these problems go away. I need to practice spelling, so don't feel bd. 1. THere are a lot of ways to prevent this from happeneing, the way Fred explains is one of them. When I tried that I would cut the tag too short, the wrap would fall apart, too long it would stick up. What I do is pull the thread through, hold it tight, almost stretching it (I wrap lik
Forum: rodboard

Yellow guy will be ready for Charlotte. He's all glued up, but I've been extremely busy trying to coordinate things & put stuff together, as well as prepare for the classes. I've got about 15 Inlays to do, and will do them all at once after I hop over to a friend's to use his Bandsaw. I do the same thing, except the microwave because I havent done anything since October (until Saturday wh
Forum: rodboard

Thanks. If that's the case then I did a poor job of inviting people, will make sure that's not the case next time. I usually send out an E-mail to my friends & people I've had contact with regarding the NERDs,or guys who have expressed some sort of interest. I give them first crack, then I post it on the internet - I'll add your name to the E-mail list. It's about teh fairest way I can do
Forum: rodboard

Mike McGivney Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > (I'm just kidding, I didn't steal anything) Not that I'd be able to notice, lol.
Forum: rodboard

Save plastic spools for Metallix.
Forum: rodboard

I didn't mean to discredit anyone - I just wanted to make sure that Rayon = no good for Rodbuilding in my experiance, and seemingly the experiance of a few others.
Forum: rodboard

John - I'm just gonna order like 10 rolls of tape and 20 Thread tools. I'll put aside a roll to go with the NERDs Madeira order. So far 6 guys are "poisoned" with Madeira, lol.
Forum: rodboard

Fred & everyone else. These are open to everyone. NERDs is a FREE "club" - there is no registration, no fees/dues, nothign like that. Just have fun - share info, eat some food, go fishing together (I have a few fishing charter ideas for the year). Is there something that indicates these events are not open to everyone? Maybe I need to word the notification e-mails differently so
Forum: rodboard

I'm sure he's a great guy and all & he is a great @#$%&, but I have to wonder about someone who says they use Rayon for guide wraps. I've tried Rayon from a few companies, and it's no good for anything to do with Rod Wrapping. Most of it was touched on previously, but to re-iterate: it's weak, fuzzy, and if you post a link to teh picture of what this thread is you like, maybe someone can find
Forum: rodboard

Mike - do you build rods constantly, or do you have them sitting there for a long period of time untouched? do you keep your epoxy in a controlled temperature? When I'm building and finishing rods daily, this rarely if ever happens, but when the epoxy sits there for a couple of months untouched, and the temp drops - the Resin will gum up inside the syrnges.
Forum: rodboard

Thanks to all who were able to attend, I had a great time and am looking foward to seeing the wraps you guys come up with in your next few rods. Madeira order will be placed the second week of February. I was 3 for 3 poisoning guys yesterday, lol. I will also be ordering the Thread Tool I use & Doublestick tape from C&G, provided he still stocks the tape.
Forum: rodboard

Temps cooling is causing that. I pull the plunger out and wipe the "gum" off of it, put it ack in and suck up some Denatured (full syringe full) amd let it sit for a few minutes. Then I push it out into a cup, suck it back up, push it out until it's clean. If they are that much of a mess, use new Syringes, they only cost $2
Forum: rodboard

Geoff Hanson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > One more thing to consider is fighting fish. Eva > and other "foam" grips tend to twist a small > amount in the hand when fighting fish, thus > causing you to grip the rod tighter. Might not be > a consideration for some but if you are fighting > hard pulling fish or fish that requir
Forum: rodboard

I believe there is a Western PA. CLUB which had at least one meeting I know about. MArk Crouse aka Munich Rod Man had a gathering at his place in West Virginia. Maybe tht is something you could consider attending? I'm not even sure if he is doing these anymore, but it can't hurt to look into it.
Forum: rodboard