Thanks for sharing. I think that is the only area on a rod I would consider repairing. I dont care how good of a builder or repairer someone might be, they cannot restore a broken blank to original condition and performance. Just my personal opinion.
Forum: rodboard

Neat fix Fred. I'll have to remember that one.
Forum: rodboard

St Croix has a sale of 25% off at Mudhole according to my flier. I built one spiral wrapped on the 13' St Croix center pin blank so the owner could use a baitcasting reel. He loves it and I think it is lighter than my rainshadow 13' spey rod.
Forum: rodboard

You dont need current to spey cast. There is a great casting demo for lake casting on you tube. I don't have time right now to find it and post the link but you can spey cast anywhere with some adaptation.
Forum: rodboard

I agree with Tom. Seems David was on the defensive when he saw incorrect information attatched to his name and his business. Honest mistake and with all the identity theft going around it would be unnerving for it to happen to anyone. Could have been a little more tactful on the post but I get it. Not everyone is a computer whiz so not knowing why the information came accross as it did is an hone
Forum: rodboard

There was someone fishing in that video....I didn't notice that!! : ) : )
Forum: rodboard

I've never had this problem and the cold pack is new to me so I'm wundering do you put the cold pack directly on the furrell or above or below it. I have seen the problem posted elsewhere and grasping the rod above and below the furrell, lay the rod accross your knees with your hands tight to your knees and use your legs to help pull the rod apart. Now I have two sollutions if I encounter this pr
Forum: rodboard

I don't worry about length anymore, my wife broke me of that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forum: rodboard

Phil, I dont normally use CP but have on occasion and can get a very smooth thin finish when I do. I dont like the thought of the epoxy not soaking through to the blank and guide foot though. But even on NCP thread the preserver helps fill the gaps between the thread and makes it possible for a smoother thin coat of finish, just brush the CP on lengthwise.
Forum: rodboard

Herb, Guided Steelhead/Salmon trips in Michigan usually run pretty close to what you are paying and is for one or two anglers and 20% tip is the norm. They usually provide a tasty shore lunch and provide all the snacks and cold beverages. Not too bad if your sharing the expense with another angler. If it is a one angler trip I'm not sure what I would do, probably at least 10%.
Forum: rodboard

What Roger said, about 120 rpm is where I try to keep it.
Forum: rodboard

Arent the gator blanks from Mud Hole similar to ugly stixs
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the tip Bob, Cant believe I didn't think of it. We do it the same way to save an reuse nameplate lettering on vehicles. Sometimes my stupidity amazes me..
Forum: rodboard

Chad Huderle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When ever I apply any label, even waterslides, I > always trim the label edges while holding the > cutting blade at a 45 degree angle. The resulting > tapered edges lay down on the rod blank without > any ridge. Also a good tip. Thanks Chad
Forum: rodboard

I assume it is peeling down to the base material (abalone). I've never used abalone, but do you scuff it so the finish has something to bite onto? My background is automotive finishes, I know it is not apples to apples, and the base coat never getssprayed on an unscuffed surface except FOR additional coats. As to the top coat, more is not always better. Too much clear coat is brittle. It looks g
Forum: rodboard

I've only put a few of those decals on but I've always put them directly on the blank and burnished the edges hard and that hides them pretty well. Hardest thing for me was not to leave a finger print or ridges from tweezers.
Forum: rodboard

I dont know what type of guides the article is using but Ron's idea of micros would be good. Mono would cut into guides without inserts and especially a tip without an insert.
Forum: rodboard

I built on a Batson Rainshadow 8wt spey and took it on a guided trip. The guide casted it and asked if it was a Loomis blank. He said it cast just like his Loomis Dredger. He advised me not to sell the rod, build another one to sell and keep the curent rod. Built a switch rod that the owner took on a guided trip with a different guide and he thought it was a Loomis also. Set them both up using th
Forum: rodboard

Built a 13' St.Croix from mudhole. Spiral wrapped concept casting guides and the owner uses it with a casting reel. He fishes from a drift boat so casting wan't too big of a concern to him. He caught a 7 lb skamani first trip out. Loves the action of the rod. I would build a straight pin rod and use a spinning reel for now and when you want to graduate to a pin reel your all set. If you do a spir
Forum: rodboard

Any harbor freight stores in you area? They carry the "good enough for what I need" tools.
Forum: rodboard

WOW! The color scheme is on the money, from the grips to the thread and reel. Awsome theme rod.
Forum: rodboard

You shouldn't have to "sand it off". Scuff the wrap and makes sure you get down into the fisheye. If you try to sand all the epoxy down to the level of the bottom of the eye you risk hitting thread. Just scuff good, wipe with DNA and recoat, the additional coat will fill the eye.
Forum: rodboard

I like Pro Bond, it is a paste type epoxy and pretty much stays where you put it.
Forum: rodboard

Thank you Kurt!
Forum: rodboard

Water brake free is only a test to see if there is contamination....If the water beeds up there is something causing it and surface needs to be cleaned better....Water brake free is not a condition. There is a product for eliminating fish eyes in automotive finishes and I cant understand how it works because it is pure silicone. You add to your spray gun cup and mix with the paint before spray
Forum: rodboard

Jeff Shafer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Every now and then I'll see a fisheye/crater > forming while the finish is still flowing. In > those cases I'll use a bodkin/needle to scratch > the center area of the crater which usually causes > finish to flow back in and avoid the fisheye. > > Jeff Great piece of information....Thank
Forum: rodboard

CONTAMINATION..... Here is the proof from the article you cited If the water breaks free across the surface, all is well and we proceed to the next operation. But sometimes the water will not break free, it will bead up or draw back from the edges in spots, indicating a contamination of some sort and the cleaning operation is repeated until the water breaks free in the rinsing operation.
Forum: rodboard

Bruce, A fish eye is a circular crator in the finish caused from contamination of the subsurface. I couldnt find a good picture of one for you. Are you still having a problem? If you continually get them you need to determine what is causing it. Did you clean the blank before building? I do not allow any wax or silicone products in my building room. Furniture polish is a big NO. Gun cleaning s
Forum: rodboard

Randy Sasaki Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I wrapped a rod with NCP size C Gudebrod scarlet. > Used same thread for under wrap and double top > wrap. Applied Flexcoat CP and when I applied the > finish I noticed that it 's kind of milky > looking. I let the CP dry overnite. What am I > doing wrong? Did I put to much CP on? NCP on thr
Forum: rodboard

Jeff Gross Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I can spline a single blank pretty easily but I > have a two piece 10 ft surf rod blank. How do you > spline this? The bottom segment is too stiff and > the top segment does not seem to settle to the > spine when rolled on the floor. I figure you > should not try to spline with both segments &
Forum: rodboard