Likely due to the stress of moderating this site and meeting publishing deadlines!
Forum: rodboard

Waltyer - I think you'll find that PacBay offers size 16 spinning seats. And Mudhole has their own line of wood laminate spinning reel seats in 17 and (I seem to recall 18mm) as well.
Forum: rodboard

Before there were "lite" mixtures I used to thin epoxy with a couple/three drops of either acetone or denatured alcohol. Now with the number of manufacturers who are making/marketing the "low build" // "Lite build" there's really no reason to thin epoxy. The thin or light build plus application with a spatula should be the first choice. The spatula even works v
Forum: rodboard

I got mine from Merrick Tackle. It comes in several inside diameters and colors (black, white, "powder blue, red, green). They also sell a product called "quick grip" as well as the "Economy grade" I'm pretty sure that American Tackle also offers it through MudHole. Here's the link for the Merrick catalog reference (page 34 / scroll down to the correct page)
Forum: rodboard

Schutzenfest is a german "thing" that they do up in the Barossa valley (my opinion the "best of the best" wine country). The area was settled by a large German community. Schutzenfest is just what it sounds like drongos with blunderbuses popping targets... Mostly it's just an excuse to eat and drink copious amounts of really good German BEER>>>
Forum: rodboard

Todd I'm sure Tom will answer too. There is definte reason to register - but it brings many features when you do: Seeing "new" when responses are added; the ability to follow a string (and receive email notifications when a response has been added - for those that stream off the bottom); Not having to enter your name / email address to each post.
Forum: rodboard

Yes - I've used the shrink wrap on surf rods adjacent to reel seats and as fore grips. I've also used it under the repositionable reel seats that Mudhole sells - works very nicely - very durable stuff. As was already pointed out you can do spirals, crosswraps under it for added designs and textures. I've also used it over damaged rear grips (through butt construction trolling rods) where the
Forum: rodboard

The only dye I tried on my FAILED attempt to dye solid cork rings was RIT. I even tried heating the mixture --- which resulted in tossing out the pan --- read very unhappy result.
Forum: rodboard

Been thinking about this --- while playing with marbelizing a rod blank... if you were to use high build finish you should also be able to marbelize the cork... you'd be left with a polishing job afterward (likely red jeweler's rouge) but it could be an interesting look. More experiments! Good thing I'm off work until January.
Forum: rodboard

Aha! Gotcha similar to "chopped" or "burl" commercial rings. Thanks, Bill.
Forum: rodboard

Cindy... Welcome to the board! Your posts make me giggle & keep it "light"...
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Tom Sure --- there's already more than enough for us (and for the moderator)!
Forum: rodboard

I did a search first but came up "aces and spaces". Does anyone get good results dyeing cork rings? What's the trick? I tried this ONE TIME and had miserable results. I used what I was "sure" would work - analine dye and the best I got was about 1/16" penetration of the cork -- and some really funky blue stains in the laundry tub that are permanent. When I shaped th
Forum: rodboard

It should be fine for handling - 12 - 24 before I'd fish with it.
Forum: rodboard

As part of the rebuild / consolidation I went through the thread collection. Cindy, I'll give you credit for "threadaholic" but I deserve to be grandfathered into the club. I had 10,000 yard bolts of thread (those big suckers) that I thought for sure I'd use. Wound up putting them all in a box and hauling them over to the lady that does embroidery (shirts/hats)for me. I think I brou
Forum: rodboard

Billy Looks like separate chat rooms - but none have been set up. Likley an administrator's function to establish them. Or it could be that separate "strings" could be started. Something similar to MudHole's site where there are separate message boards for rod building, reels and tackle.
Forum: rodboard

Nope --- maybe a chat room?
Forum: rodboard

My perspective having been a participant at several shows. Saturday is normally a crush of people and hectic - unless a vendor hasn't trucked in enough "stuff" there will be plenty on Sunday. Sunday is normally a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone attendees and sellers as well. Routinely by 2PM on Sunday there are few people remaining. Saturday for sellers can be tough. You don't
Forum: rodboard

I'm longing for the "hill country" and the red wines north of Adelaide. Must be lovely right about now. Nearly time for the Schutzenfest
Forum: rodboard

Well = at this point I'm looking at 1 8' long folding table; 1 4' wide x 8' high display rack; a slide projector, a screen for same; four to six rods to hang in the overhead of the cap and some other odds and ends / bits and pieces. So, SURE plenty of room in BOTH directions!
Forum: rodboard

Since the show is at the end of February I may have recovered from Christmas gifting... The cost of the shop was something that I had committed to at the beginning of last year. It was too crowded, too dimly lit and the lay out was totally inefficient. I HAD to make that change... my fear is that now I'll be sorely tempted to purchase all new turning gear --- I've always wanted a metal lathe (
Forum: rodboard

All joking aside - if the Israeli's (and their partners in Europe) have perfected a way to manufacture "threads" of spider silk it will bring a revolution in scrims/pre-peg, "silk" threads for wrapping guides etc. The only drawback will be, I think, the cost of manufacturing - and the fact that it will remain proprietary for some time .
Forum: rodboard

As earlier -- I did a search on the link I passed before. There are 3300 associated links from that "central home page". I did a search for "blanks" and came up with several... Here's one:
Forum: rodboard

Well Charlotte is going to be too good an opportunity for me to miss buying some of the goodies I've wanted to try out for awhile... Glass Coat CP, AFTCO finish, colored cork rings (best I saw last year were from Custom Tackle) gizmos and gadgets (that digital caliper) and an opportunity to re-stock some stuff like U-40 products -- and of course some rod blanks will inevitably also wind up in bac
Forum: rodboard

Bill --- How did you solve the problem of dye not penetrating cork very well? I tried dyeing cork ONE TIME and it was a disaster. I used RIT (analine dye). Obviously couldn't count on the cork rings sinking so had to put them on a steel mandrel ... then had to heat the dye. When I began turning down the cork - away went the dye. Seemed to only penetrate 1/16 of an inch or so... Tips??
Forum: rodboard

For gold I use "gold leaf" ink from a company called Sheffield Bronze Paint Corporation with a product name "Superlite" I got it at a Glidden paint store - but I imagine you could also find it at a craft store like Michaels. I use a metal quill pen to write (scribble in my case) on 'scuffed' blank surface. I've never had a problem with this paint running or smearing -- just a
Forum: rodboard

Ted (and anyone else). The software that MudHole is using is pretty temperamental (actually not the software per se but the manufacturer's specifications). As they did point out you should try to make it very unrestrictive and play with a couple of different searches. I've had the best success by sticking with # of pieces, Length (includes or starts with), line wts, Butt diameter / Tip
Forum: rodboard

Here's a link from my site. I think you'll find everything / anything you need through this link:
Forum: rodboard

Try a search using MudHole's rod blank search. Try the following criteria: Pieces = 3 Line wt (starts with) 10 You'll find several blanks that will do what you want.
Forum: rodboard

If you're running out of things to put flames on I'll send you a couple of rod blanks! LOL Seriously those are very realistic - wonderful work. Which is better yellow streaks into the red or red into the yellow?
Forum: rodboard