I'm trying to wrap my mind around this after playing around and hoping a few of you engineering types can help - Most methods of measurement use a set standard for deflection. Two rods can measure out at the same point with the same weight. Here's my dilemma... How do you measure how the blanks loads? Bill Stevens' photo (http://www.rodbuilding.org/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/9985/c
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I've just received some great looking, new rod racks from Batson Ent. They've just been added to my website and the link to a photo is posted below. Please call or email if anyone has any questions.
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I'm thinking about a light, long spinning rod to throw light jigs and grubs or light floats over crickets/worms; so that means for panfish mostly. A few questions: 1 - would the SH1081 compare to a mid-weight fly rod or is significantly faster than that? 2 - how does the 1081 compare to the 1082? The specs make the 1081 looks lighter in the tip and comparable in the butt. Any other observatio
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Here ye, Here ye, Attention one and all. I have one simple question! In reguards to a post (Rumor-Part 2)I have read with great concern of how hard it is to compete with the big guys who are now using your developments in rodbuilding to attract new customers. How can they sell rods for those prices after rewraping all those guides? How! They buy thier compoents in large quanites. They get deep d
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I hope you guys are planning on being in High Point "in force". My wife has decided that she really likes doing those ' fancy - dancy' butt wraps. She's been going through Billy's book as well as my old Dale Clemens' Thread Art book. She doesn't care for doing handles nor does she like the mundane tasks of wrapping guides. She's caught up in the patterns / colors! I've already tol
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Good Day.... I have a blank that i got from a friend who passed. Is there anyway to test a blank to guess its specs? Line weight and lure weight.
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I was wondering what you guys do to keep your guides straight? I have built about a dozon rods, and sold a few of them. I find that my guides are straight, but they are not perfect. I really want to sell my stuff, but I want to perfect it first! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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So I talked the wife into allowing me to convert the upstairs in a rod room. The space is 8 x 16. How would you seasoned pros layout the ultimate work area? Any "dusty" tasks will still be done in the garage so it will be just for wrapping, finishing, and assembly.
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I just got back from the NERBS gathering in NJ. OK I lied when I say i just got back. I spent the first 45 minutes on the phone with my girlfriend telling her how great it was. I was fortunate enough to be in the area on buisness and was able to attend. I have to say that if you get the chance to attend one of these events DO IT! Billy V was running the show and he did an amazing job. Paul
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West Coast Custom Fishing Rod Show Saturday May 2nd 9AM - 5PM Orange County Fair and Exposition Center The West Coast Rod Show is getting near and we are finalizing our booths and the seminars are now in place (see the updated website). We are expecting a bigger show than last year and thus far, everything is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year. One addition to this year
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I ran into a couple of guys that are trying to open a hunting, trapping, and fishing store in a town a few miles away. This is deffinately a small operation. one of this areas best bass lake is just five miles away. and they currently offer a very low inventory and I was thinking I may be able to put some rods in there shop on consignment. I have never had any thoughts on this and wodered what
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Three days, but who's counting?????????????
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Is it best to go a little past the edge of the thread wraps when applying finish? I've gotten in the habit of covering only the wraps. I use permagloss, but this could apply to other finishes as well. It looks good, but I'm wondering if this leaves the finish too thin at the edges to protect the thread. This could explain some fraying I noticed on a recently completed rod...
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Each year I end up turning some potential vendors away. While it would be nice to take their money, I try to keep the exhibitors in line with things that are directly related to custom rod building. This year, I have already turned away a chammy cloth pitchman, a potato peeler guy, a jewelry company, a knife sharpener salesman and a company that wanted to take volunteer DNA samples from attendee
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I have never built a rod, but have been tying saltwater flies for several years and think I would enjoy rod building. I want to try a 6 or 7 weight fly rod as my first attempt. I have read the FAQ section, a couple of books, and other on line sources but would like a little more feedback on what I need to get started. I obviously want to save money, but want to avoid being frustrated as well.
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I am going to building some 15' one piece graphite blanks in the near future and I was wondering if anyone knew of any options on blanks you can purchase ? The one I was thinking about is a LamaGlas, does anyone know any other blanks you can get one piece 15' by any chance ? Danny
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Kind of late putting this up, but The NERBs will be busy this wrapping season, with 4 planned gatherings before the ICRBE in February. The first one is this Saturday at my shop in Staten Island, there was enough of a demand that I had to host an additional gathering next weekend the 10th. Admission is $25 and includes breakfast (coffee, donuts and real NY baglels), lunch (this Sat my wife is cook
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Lamiglas had a sale Saturday at the plant, they had people out the door waiting to get in. They had to whole back of the plant we use for the NW Rodbuilders Show in the spring full of racks. I found some great deals on blanks there also. From the amount of people I think just about everybody's rod under the tree has been already covered in the local area anyway.
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Can anyone recomend a nice wood rod display rack - looking for something for the rod shop. Somewhat compact would be nice, as room is always tight. Thanks, Marc
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I had a discussion with a guy from work, and once again I had to show my intelligence. I was almost embarassed by giving my ussual answer. i am so predictable. The question was: "Why do casting rods normally have double foot guides and spinning rods have single foot guides?" My reply was: "idunno". What is the reason and does it really make a difference? Thanks,
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hey guys, i'm preparing an area in my garage to put my rod wrapper. i'm preparing to build a table to sit it on and for a general work area. here's my question to you seasoned vets- how tall should i make the work area? i mean is most of your work done standing up or sitting down? thanks, brandon
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I would appreciate any tips on how to pack and ship a completed rod safely and economically. I have completed a surf rod for my son and it will require a container a bit less than 72" long and 4" in diameter. Thanks.
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Well Guys, I've posted about 10 times or so now and I'm not sure when the "newbee label" wears off but I have a question for you experts. Exactly how many fly rods do I need? When I made my 1st fly rod, I was 17 years old in 1969, it was a Fenwick 9' 2 peice 6 weight which I still have. Although I only started the habit up again a little over a year ago, I've built about 10 fly rods, s
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For those of you who choose to sell your rods on @#$%&: As a group of supposed skilled craftsman, can we get some type of agreement concerning the trade of "custom "rods on @#$%& sites? How about this: If you chose to sell a rod @#$%&, at a minimum, list it with a reserve price so you at least get a fair price for your labor. Last week I saw a very nice rod built on a St.Croix SCI
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Okay now I'm bummed. I got in a blank last week that I needed for an order. Today I found the same blank in my stash stacked in one of the corners of my garage shop. I didn't need to order it. I already had it! It was an oddball and I really wish I could have just used the one I already had. Now it will be here for another few years I guess. I can't find any good way to easily store blanks whe
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Of the sponsers listed to the left, are there any (excluding MFG's) that are not garage businesses? I know Mudhole is a real business and I have used them they are very good but down for maintnance at the moment.
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Just posted a photo of my first Tenn. handle built on a Texalium tube and wrapped on with "E" size thread. Takes a while to wrap even after removing the reel handle and spool. didn't remove the bail.
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I am very interrested in building durability in to rods, mostly freshwater spinning. I have found SF fly guides to be more durable for running guides, and stick to mid-modulus blanks. It also seems the shorter the rods, the less breakage I see. I just can't believe the abuse some rods get! Any tips or build styles anyone else uses to increase durability of rods? Thanks, Marc
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We received the rest of our blanks back from the Show yesterday, and as I began trying to put them back in the racks last night, I kept thinking about Phil Richmond's post yesterday inquiring about after show specials. Sounded better than putting it all away. lol I even went on to pull a couple of dozen other blanks to add to the sale list. There's even a "Shipping Special". 1-4
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The opening of the International Custom Rodbuilding Exposition is now seven days away. Swamplands' product selection for this years event will contribute to the yearly "Shock and Awe Effect" that awaits all custom rod builders when the doors open. Sorry, but this year Swampland will NOT have: Rod Racks, Rodmaker Show Plaques, Reamers, Grit Stix, Cajun Jerky, NASCAR Doo Rags, Small T
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