I just used a spatula that I made from a tongue depresser. I based it on the spatula article in Rod Maker. Its not exact, but close. It worked great!! Especially on the area that will have the inscription. On this rod approx. 4in. long with finish. The spatula leveled it out so much better than a brush. I don't think I am ready to scrap the brush all togather, but I am glad to have another tool t
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The weakest link in my rod building is my never-ending epoxy challenges! Every time I apply epoxy I have to pray to the gods that it will cure and not end up sticky or have a dull finish! No matter how careful I am with my measuring, sometimes it's a hit or a miss? I carefully measure out 2.5cc of part A to 2.5cc of part B? What is going on????? I live in the Pacific NW and it rains a lot, s
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St. Croix's new series of Avid Solid Carbon Ice Rod Blanks are now in stock and we'll be carrying these to offer the custom rod builder. Please email or phone us for details and prices. FREE SHIPPING on quantity orders. We've also received a nice shipment of new models of St. Croix blanks including the long awaited SCV fly blanks. Gift Certificates also available just in time for Chirstmas.
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Does anyone have a good substitute for Clemens Haze Enhancer? I dropped the open jar on the bench this summer. I shouldn't have opened it over the bench covered with cork dust and balsa turnings but hind site is 20/20. I stopped by Clemens and they were out so I asked that they give me a call when they got some more. I now see why I didn't get a call and know why it wasn't in my order last or
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I have been using A Guidbod thread to wrap inshore popping rod guides. I have used two coats of color preservative and waiting one day between each. The rods have been finished with three coats of Flex Coat Lite and I have been quite pleased. The rod that I am presently working on I used C Nylon Black for the firs time to wrap the guides and used the above procedure. The wrap on the one doubl
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I have a client that has several rods that need tip tops replaced. These are I guess what you'd call "Microlite" rods. The tip of the blank measures about .042" in diameter. Rich of Richard's Rods and Reels helped me out last time, but states he doesn't have any more that size. John Britt sent me some he had, but they are too large. I have gleaned my various supply catalogs an
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Andrew, I do agree with you that while the majority of factory rods may not meet the aesthetic standards that we custom builders hold ourselves to, this does not mean that the employees at these companies are not craftsmen/craftswomen in the highest sense of the word. I really do have to take issue with the statement that there is a difference in craftsmanship and a production op
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Following is the RodMaker Magazine Index for the first 5 volumes (years). I did not include rod building news items nor the Q&A columns that ran in each issue. Everything else should be there. For a list of topics in an issue by issue format, see the back issue page at www.rodmakermagazine.com I have tried to break the topics down into specific categories where possible. ................
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Good snowy morning everyone. Now that winter is here and ill only be fishing on the weekedns before the lakes freeze I have lots of time for building. Id like a slow delicate 3wt blank for New York small stream I have built several 4wt only to realize they are too fast for streams that are less than 60' across.a few experienced anglers , a few guides and one well known Custom builder Dave
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I'm trying to finish a rod with thin Flex Coat and when the epoxy sets there are parts of the epoxy that are ever so slightly foggy, not the true gloss? Anybody ever have this problem?
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I wanted to post a HUGE thanks to everyone on the board! You have restored my faith in the internet, and in "vendors". I practically live on the internet, and try to help those who seek help on boards such as this as much as I can. It is REALLY great to be able to post what I know and not have to worry about getting flamed because someone else has a different idea. As far as vend
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Hey Gang- I'm hoping someone can help me. I have used 5-minute epoxy to mount my tip tops ever since I had one mounted with thermal cement move on me. Using SIC or Alconite tops exclusively for about two years now, I have had very few come back to me with problems. However, I have had two rods in the last couple of months that needed new tip tops. I also had a standard wrap casting rod that
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Can you build a light weight spinning rod on a multi-piece fly blank? A friends father is into backpacking and loves to fish remote areas, but isn't into fly fishing. He would like a light spinner that will break down into sections small enough to fit into his pack. I have no experience with fly blanks and was wondering if this would be practical? If so, could someone suggest a good reasonably p
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I havn't used permagloss allot, but the few times I have, I've had problems with something (not sure what) in the application process. I always ensure the area I'm applying is clean and wiped down well with ISO before I apply the perma gloss. I seem to end up with specs or bubbles or something in the coating when I apply it to a blank (A fairly good amount of it). I suspect they're bubbles, but I
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As a gunsmith and a hobby rodbuilder, I had a question concerning epoxy. Occasionally when bedding the action of a rifle, tungsten powder will be mixed into the epoxy for much added strength over plain epoxy. The 2 part Acraglas epoxy I use on guns is real similiar to Rod Bond. I just wondered if anything is ever added to rod building epoxy especially on big game boat rods that might be really st
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What do you do when you're working with a mix of epoxy and it starts getting tacky so you want to re-mix. I'd imagine that you don't want to dump the rest into the sink or anything. I only have 2 mixing cups so I want to try to clean it out and re-use them. Is it possible to clean it out and re-use? Thanks! Also I don't have acetone but I do have lighter fluid. Maybe I can use that to thin it and
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Pardon me if my post appears twice. I might have turned my computer off too early the first time. My fishing pardner and nephew (one and the same ) were tying small flies this afternoon and the subject got around to the best rod to use for bream, crappy, small bass and white bass. My nephew has a 5 weight that he uses for casting small muddlers and ants. What length and line weight do you fly
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Could some one tell me where you can find a small spatula for applying finish?
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Where can one obtain a thread spool tension device? - One that placed tension on the spool - not the thread. I am currently using a device that places tension on the thread and does micro-damage to the thread (creates micro fuzz - even with the best of threads). I would appreciate any advice or sources of such a apparatus.
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After I wrap my guides (I utilize a magnifying glass to make sure there are no fuzzies) I still get fuzzies (real small parts of thread) that show up after I apply my two part epoxy. How can I avoid this? Thanks for your time and info.
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What is the cause of the little white flakes all through my flex coat high build? This has happened the last two times I put on finish. Thanks in adnance.
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Working on my system for tank retreival, wondering if any of you have found any straight-out-of-the-box solutions that dont require much tinkering to acheive a 3" per second pull rate. I have one motor geared to 330:1, but still thaink thats too fast. Trying a potentiometer for speeed control, but not much luck yet fine tuning it. Suggestions? Thanks...
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What do you use? In the process of building a 5'-0" UL spinning rod but never have built one. Was looking at the Pac Bay Tich with gold ring Spinning guides but then saw that the high foot guides are better suited for Ultra lights. Any input would be really appreciated Thanks Joe
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I am struggling with the search for a metal lathe to complete my workshop - 15-18" between centers is ideal, with power feed and a tool slide that can be moved / reduced in height if need be to facilitate wood and cork turning by hand. I have a budget of about $750.00. Any suggestions on which companies / products to look at OR avoid would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Sean
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I've seen every methodology for getting 2 equal amount of resin and hardener measure out. When I started building rods, I used syringes twice. Ick. I found out that my 4oz Flexcoat Lite bottles could be fitted with pumps from Flexcoat. Simply cut the siphon tubes to length, and no more worries. One or 2 pumps each, mix and apply. Never a bad batch. Then LS Supreme hit the market. For those of
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I'm currently in the military stationed in Puerto Rico, on a recent trip upto Virginia Beach, Virginia I stopped in at a custom rod building shop trying to find some epoxy when I told them what my problem was (air bubbles in the epoxy) they told me to use a butane torch (plumbers torch). They said to use the flame directly on the epoxy and to rotate the rod. In the basic rod faq's on this page
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If I use a longer 8' fly rod blank for a spinning rod would I gain any casting distance using 4 to 6 lb line. compared to if I just used a light action 7'-0" spinning rod blank? Thanks Joe
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I recently tried using an artist's pallette knife to apply the finish to my latest rod. It worked great for me for the most part. I was able to apply a pretty thick coat of finish relatively quickly and with relatively few bubbles. The problem I'm having is that with a thick coat of finish, it seems the smaller bubbles would't rise up where they could pop. I tried flaming them and blowing on
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Hello, I applied LS Supreme to my guide wraps and have too much finish around the base of the guides. I am using SIC single foots and there is a glob of finish from the base of the ring to the blank. What is the best way to remove this finsh. I may have gotten a little on the inside of the ring as well. Do I have to worry about damaging the finish on the rings? I also have quite a few probl
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Hello again gents.again thanks for all the help Im working on the project that I asked about the blueing down below and wonder if Ishould use real copper wire for trim? The company I work for rewinds electric motors so we have lots of copper wire on spools hanging up. I asked one of the guys in the shop what was the finest wire he had and it tunrned out he had 36 and 38 guage wire both are as
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