Another Fishing Rod Rack

[The Rooster]

A few months ago I posted a picture of a rod rack I'd made but I never finished it with stain and varnish or anything. Anyway, a friend of my wife's came to the house and saw it and liked it so well she wanted one made to give to someone as a gift. She wanted her's finished with stain and varnish though.

The original one I had made was 36" wide and held 12 rods, 6 on each side. At that time I discovered my largest clamp was just shy of being able to open wide enough to be very usable in making it. This time I cut the dimensions back to 30" wide and made it to hold 10 rods, 5 on each side. My clamps worked really well, and after seeing it finished completely, I like it better than mine.

I finished it using Minwax wood pretreatment and Early American stain. Then applied three coats of satin finish Varathane like what's used on hardwood floors. I did this for looks but also because it's very durable. This piece must be functional as well as look good. The wood is actually just construction grade No. 2 common pine 1x6 and 2x4, but it turned out very nicely. It's being sold for $100. I loaded it up with my rods for the purpose of this photo.

[ww2farmer]

Nice work.

[Bluebasser86]

Looks better than most I've seen in stores. I have seen one with drawers built onto the ends of the rack also. I know that's a lot more work but just something I'd want if I had the ability to build something like that. 

[Tuckahoe Joe]

That things nice!  I gotta get me something like that.  All my rods are just leaning in a corner of our spare bedroom.

[BamaBassChaser]

Very nice!

[The Rooster]

Thanks guys. I'm planning to make a few more of these, maybe with some different features such as allowing for pistol grip rod handles, or have drawers in them, or whatever I can think to add. Maybe even engrave names to personalize them.

Is this something you might buy if you saw it for sale at a flea market or craft show? Was the price I sold it at fair ($100)? Considering materials to build it, I more than doubled my money. Considering time involved, I didn't make much. So I really don't think I could make and sell them for less at the current cost of materials and with the amount of time needed to make one. It takes about one full day to mark out, cut and shape, sand, and assemble all parts. Then pretreatment and stain are applied and left to dry overnight. The next day the Varathane is applied in three coats with 1 1/2 to 2 hours between coats to allow for drying. That's a good bit of time involved to only make about $60 in profit.

I guess I won't get rich selling these but I did enjoy making it, and turning a profit on it means it at least pays for itself and more.

[Bluebasser86]

I think you were being fair with the price. The flimsy ones at the stores are $60-$80 and not handbuilt. I feel the same about selling my jigs. The materials don't cost me much but the time it takes to paint, bake, tie and build them makes it so I'm not willing to sell them for what most people expect me to sell them since I get the materials cheap. 

[whitwolf]

Nice work Rooster! I'm assuming you purchased the wood from Lowe's or HD . If so you might want to see If there are any local furniture manufactures in your area that discard scraps and see If they are usable. 

 

I'm curious to know Is your lightly sanded (x-fine steelwool) in between the varathane coats? 

[The Rooster]

Yes, I use a 4000 grit steel wool pad between coats. But I've tried it before without doing this and as far as I can see it didn't make much difference either way. Sometimes the Varathane can slightly raise the grain after it's applied and before it dries. The steel wool does help with that to smooth it out again.

[tomustang]

Long as you spend one dollar to make two then go for it. But if you enjoying it and not going into the black that makes it better

Nice work

[bigbill]

Nice job. Bb

[Darren.]

Hey wow, that's pretty nice stuff!

[shootermcbob]

Very nice looking rod rack. I am not sure 100 bucks is enough. I recently spent 40 bucks for one of those round rod racks and it is a flimsy POS. Regular retail for that is 60. I am going to have to cut a couple wood dowels to reinforce it so it won't spin and possibly damage my rods....and I don't have reels on them.

 

What you made looks WAY better, and I am sure it is much more sturdy.

[The Rooster]

It is very stout. Made of all 3/4" wood (1x6) through the main frame and has 2x4 pieces for the feet where the casters are mounted. Wood parts are also glued together with wood glue as well as brad nailed. It will withstand any normal usage and the occasional knock and bang for many years. I'm not sure it would survive a trip down a flight of stairs or anything, but if taken care of, I could see this lasting a lifetime.

[Sam]

I think you meant to say "Another BEAUTIFUL Rod Rack."

 

Your work is excellent!!!

[Bankbeater]

Nice looking rod rack, but I think some of the guys on this site may need something a little larger.