That would be Happy Easter Y'all, from down this way.
Forum: rodboard

Larry, I believe you are correct in the use of kevlar thread, couldn't hurt but more important to note is that in a custom rod we have the chance to correct these problems before the occur. I have always added a wrap to the female end of the ferule of any rod I do. This is something I have seldom seen on any over the counter rod even some of the high quality rods. If there is a problem with
Forum: rodboard

Tony, Can't compare the to the Rainshadow but I can compare the to H&H IM6 blanks. I have built several of the IM6 rods. The color is almost the same but the action is a little faster to me. I just finished a 10 foot 9 WT. for a steelhead customer in Ohio. He called me after the first day on the stream and was delighted with the rod. I have no hesitancy in buying any of the H&H bla
Forum: rodboard

Bill, Don't know how big the split is but if its very small I would rod bond it and wrap over it and epoxy over the wrap. If it is split a little worse try a sleeve of fiberglass from an old rod and wrap that and epoxy it. Be sure you use fiberglass and not graphite or it may split out. Good luck .
Forum: rodboard

Kris, I fully agree with Bill and if you send a sample of the silk thread to Golden Witch they will help you match the original. Original wrap is hard to tell the color of just by looking at it. I have had rods I thought were one color but due to aging, varnish and fading I was on hundred percent wrong.
Forum: rodboard

Jay, I have an old barbeque rotisserie motor that I have used for about 27 yrs. It turns at about 8-10 rpm and I have never had a sag in hundreds of rods. It finally started to wear out and I replaced it with a Power Wrap combination and have had no problems with that so far.
Forum: rodboard

Kris, I use a citrus type stripper from Lowes. Follow the directions and procede with caution. Cover trade markes etc. with masking tape. I let it set up about an hour and wipe off as much as i can with cloth and then use scotch brite. Do not use steel wool as it can permanantly stain. It may take more than one application to get all the old varnish off. Do not attempt to refinish until at
Forum: rodboard

Gary, Book by the name of Antique & Collectible Fishing Rods, Antique and Value Guide by D.B. Homel has a fair section on bamboo and a very good identification and valuation guide in it. It is definitely not the last word but I use both it and the bamboo resoration book mentioned as a sort of guide.
Forum: rodboard

Fred, Several of the the sponsers of this phorum can help, particularly Golden Witch and Angler's Workshop both have helped me from time to time. As to chroming, I'm sorry I have no experience in that area, perhaps they can lead you in the right direction.
Forum: rodboard

The diamond wood is not offered in large enough sizes for handles but can be used for reel seats. If anyone knows of a supplier for diamond wood in at least 1 1/4 inch X 9 or greater inches in length please let me know as i have been wanting to play with it. Diamond wood for reel seats is a little brittle and you have to tape it up and drill it out very carefully. It buffs up to a beautiful
Forum: rodboard

Rich, Not too sure on this one but I did remove some permagloss from a handle without harming the wood. I used a citrus type stripper from Lowes. I had 3 coats of Permagloss on a walnut handle and it took three applications of stripper to remove it. I have also used this stripper to remove old varnish on bamboo with no harm to the rod. I would follow the directions and try it on an old se
Forum: rodboard

Bill, When I first tried wood I used a hole saw and cut rings and glued them together with Titebond as in conventional cork handles. The pilot hole was enlarged by careful drilling with a pilot bit and the handle turned on my lathe. With some woods this gave me a good effect, I still use this method when I want to use two types of wood such as maple and walnut in alternating rings.
Forum: rodboard

Jim, Wouldn't care for hypalon on a fly grip myself but if the cusomer had to have it and I were building the rod I woud build up an arbor with fiberglass tape and fit the 3/8 grip to it with plenty of adhesive.
Forum: rodboard

I agree its's better to have an assortment of tips and get the correct size but sometimes in a small shop this is hard to do. I have on occasion drilled out a tip to make it fit. This is only practible when it is a very close fit and I had a drill bit that was the right size. I will caution you that I have also ruined a couple of tips in so doing this but then again if you need to finish the
Forum: rodboard

Just built a rod on a Cabela's X-fast tip blank, it has a matrix butt, beautiful green color and fast and extremely sensitive, customer is going to use it for crappie ( large Mississippi type) and bass. Price was right on the blank. You will find it listed in their new catalog, I believe in the IM-7 section. When you call the order in they will inform you that the blank has been changed to
Forum: rodboard

bruce, You might try a laser tool such as a straight line tool, line it up on your blank and it will cast a light down the blank. Any place you place an eye or interrupt the light with your hand will show you the alignment of the blank. Mine is flat on the bottom and I set it on the top of the power rod motor and line up on my blank when it is clamped in the chuck.
Forum: rodboard

Tony, Check out the hardware department at stores like Lowes or Home Depot and look for finishing washers, they come in gold and silver in several different sizes. You can use a tapered punch to size them to your blank. Use the punch slowly and carefully or you will split them out. You can only enlarge them so much.
Forum: rodboard

Martin I have been using this technique for about 27 years, did'nt know until the article in Rod Building that it had the name " spatula" . The way i learned it is to use the stick end (not the cotton)of a cotton swab. I prefer the wooden sticks, then use the same technique as described to flow the finish onto the rod, toothpicks are used to get into the small areas around the ey
Forum: rodboard

thanks a lot, i bought a variable temp heat gun and it works like a charm
Forum: rodboard

i need help or suggestions on how to straighten an old bamboo rod prior to or part of rebuilding
Forum: rodboard