Guest ks.rodbender Posted August 17, 2006 Posted August 17, 2006 Greets again everyone, I am an amateur rod builder and have been doing it for about 5 years. How many other rod builders do we have here on this fine forum. RM you don't count, I already know about you... Wrap um tight!.......ks.rodbender Quote
Super User flechero Posted August 18, 2006 Super User Posted August 18, 2006 I think there are about 8 - 10 total. Quote
Guest DavidGreen Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 ks.rodbender, flechero is right there are about that many.... flechero, ks was one of my customers in the late 90's, until I let him use my bench about five years ago. Now he's hooked you might say...... Tight Wraps All!!!! Quote
justtrying Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 so, not only do you have customers turned competitors repairing reels, you've also got rod-builders too! LOL ...but, hey, keep in mind, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." i hope that brings you a great deal of satisfaction, for, if you had not been doing something good, then no one would have cared to duplicate you. in my business, i began two or three things that became pretty profitable, but, after just a short while, there were so many "copy cats" til what could have been a "unique" thing, became just another one of many. ...it used to bother me quite a bit, until i realized that if i weren't doing something good, then no one would try to copy me. and, my dad always taught me to Never do anything unless i did it well. Quote
Guest DavidGreen Posted August 18, 2006 Posted August 18, 2006 justtrying, Yeah it is hard to be an original anymore. But back when my shop was big enough to have about 10 - 15 anglers sitting around a table drinking coffee and talking bass gear. I always gave them my reel 101 and rod 101 speeches for nothing. So it was only a matter of time before some took the ball and ran with it, besides not to much bothers me anymore at my age. Now I do it via my website and this fine forum. It make me feel good to be able to help, and if someone gets better at maintaining a reel, or being able to learn the art of rod building, and be able to make the rods they dream of having then that also makes me feel good. Well almost as good as making the rod and catching a good one on it.... Tight Wraps!!! Quote
Guest ks.rodbender Posted August 19, 2006 Posted August 19, 2006 ReelMech Quote But back when my shop was big enough to have about 10 - 15 anglers sitting around a table drinking coffee and talking bass gear. I always gave them my reel 101 and rod 101 speeches for nothing.Hey ReelMech that was back in the late 90's, those were good ol times, I remember you had four of us hanging over your shoulder when you were building those GL2's. What have you been working on lately? Quote Now he's hooked you might say......Not really. In the last 5 years I have only built 7 new rods, the hands get tired and the eyes aren't what they use to be. I think it is more fun fishing them than building them. The wife still hasn't forgiven you for turning me on to wrapping... Wrap um tight!.......ks.rodbender Quote
Guest JoshKeller Posted August 19, 2006 Posted August 19, 2006 built this all star for carolina rigging. I just ordered 8 blanks to complete my arsenal Quote
Guest DavidGreen Posted August 20, 2006 Posted August 20, 2006 ks.rodbender, Quote What have you been working on lately?Just finished up a custom for an old client that still had one of my GL2's that I wrapped for him in 94, he brought it in for me to see and it looked brand new, it was encased in a custom rod bag. Needless to say I was quite pleased with how he took care of my custom builds.The new rod is built on an SC3 6'6" Medium Heavy Fast blank. Components used were ECS Fuji seat, Custom Red Burl with Burnt Black Burl 1/8" accent rings, 7" rear and 2" fore grips. It was set up for a conventional guide configuration (all guides on top), 9 guides plus tip top, 1 #10 double foot, and the rest were #7 single foot, all Fuji Hardloy. The rod was balanced for a Chronarch 100 MG, at a balance point for a really light tip down balance as the reel was palmed. His colors were Gudebrod "A" #326 Scarlet, with antique gold "A" double inlays, for the guide wraps. Then in front of the fore grip the wife did a flame job that matched the red and yellow custom grips on the reel handle. Turn out really nice, and balanced to perfection. The day he picked it up, he took it out to field test and called me from the waters edge to brag about the half dozen 3 to 4lb bass he had just caught on it, and how sensitive the rod was. Quote The wife still hasn't forgiven you for turning me on to wrapping...Well she holds a grudge for a long time huh...At least you didn't take it as far as you could have, and had to sell the kids....Tight Wraps... Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Here's a couple of pics of my latest build. American Tackle Matrix 783 blank, Fuji Alconite New Concept Guides, Burl grip with slight palm swell, no foregrip, knurled metal winding check. David Quote
Super User flechero Posted August 23, 2006 Super User Posted August 23, 2006 I like the colors! Is that dark green without CP or is it a metalic green thread? Your wraps and finish look perfect. Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 Thanks for the kind words Fletchero! The thread is regular nylon Gudebrod #521 dark green with Gudebrod color preserver and ThreadMaster finish. I took the photo in direct sunlight, really makes that thread sparkle. David Quote
Guest DavidGreen Posted August 23, 2006 Posted August 23, 2006 David, Great job!!!! What is the burl, looks like a red burl, or is it some of Andys exotic burl, it looks great I would like to get some of that color. Did you add a sealer or Tru Oil? The finish looks flawless? That is truly a fine job. I have a couple of rod orders coming up for one of my regular reel customers, and can't wait to get to them.. I have to give this project a big 10 Very well done....... Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 Wow ReelMech, I really appreciate those kind words! The reason I emailed you is that I have such a hard time judging my own work and I hold your opinion in high regard. Thanks again! That burl is just regular old burl cork that I have been buying from Cabelas (best price for basic burl, seems to be permanently on sale @ $10.99 per 25). That grip does have Tru-Oil applied, good eye David! I have some of Andy's exotic burl on hand, just been sitting on it until my skills improved enough to use the more expensive stuff. I'll probably use some of it on a light-line bass rod I want to build for personal use. I really like Andy's ThreadMaster finish too. Thanks again David, David Bethlehem, GA Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 I should acknowledge publicly that it was due to some of ReelMech's posts on this forum and a couple of email conversations with him that I started to build again after not doing any building since the late 1960's as a teenager. I started building again this past February and have built about 8 or 9 rods so far. Thanks for getting me started again, David! ReelMech's knowledge & skills, along with his tutorial posts are tremendous assets to those of us still learning this craft. No matter what, every time I have asked him for help or advice he has been there for me. THANKS REELMECH!!! David Quote
justtrying Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 david/kudzu, WOW!!!!! now THAT is a beautiful finish. just think, after i wrap another thousand or so, mine may look similar to that! LOL ...hey, do us a favor, give us a "step by step" on your wrapping. ..do you measure your wrap length, or, do you have a standard length? how many turns of silver? how many coats of threadmaster do you use? (and, YES, that Threadmaster is "some good stuff." ...looks like a glass coat ..andy's really got him a winner.) ..do you flame it? and, note to reelmech (our "other" david) ...now "that" sir is an example of why i know that my work is a long way from a 10. but, hey, one day!!!! Quote
Super User flechero Posted August 24, 2006 Super User Posted August 24, 2006 Quote I have some of Andy's exotic burl on hand, just been sitting on it until my skills improved enough to use the more expensive stuff You'll kick yourself later for waiting... the exotic burl is much easier and (IMO) better to work with. It works much more even and is very consistant. Quote ReelMech's knowledge & skills, along with his tutorial posts are tremendous assets to those of us still learning this craft. No matter what, every time I have asked him for help or advice he has been there for me. THANKS REELMECH!!! Same goes for me. He was a real wealth of info and help for me in the beginning as well. (and still is when I think to ask!) Quote ..do you flame it? I hope not. Mysterious things are reported when people flame threadmaster.... works for a few but lots end up with fisheyes and other ailments. Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 24, 2006 Posted August 24, 2006 Quote david/kudzu,WOW!!!!! now THAT is a beautiful finish. just think, after i wrap another thousand or so, mine may look similar to that! LOL ...hey, do us a favor, give us a "step by step" on your wrapping. ..do you measure your wrap length, or, do you have a standard length? how many turns of silver? Justtrying, thanks, I really appreciate that! I don't do anything special on my wraps. On double-footed guides I use a pair of dividers to make sure both wraps are equal in length, but as far as wrap length I just use "eyeball proportions", making wraps on successively smaller guides successively shorter. I don't even count turns on trim wraps, I just wrap them till "they look right". Don't sell yourself short, I've only built 8 or 9 rods at this point. I do take pains getting the wraps tight. I use a Flexcoat wrapper (manual) and am constantly packing the thread as I turn the blank slowly. My right hand is in constant motion packing with a Gudebrod burnishing tool. Yep, I'm slow... and glad I don't depend on this for a living. Quote how many coats of threadmaster do you use? (and, YES, that Threadmaster is "some good stuff." ...looks like a glass coat ..andy's really got him a winner.) ..do you flame it? I use 2 coats of finish (no flaming). The first one very thin so when it cures I can trim off any thread nubs that show up. I've been practicing marbleizing after reading ReelMech's tutorial on his web site but don't think I'm ready to go there yet. Using his sticky tutorial on this forum I'm going to start doing some single thread inlays though. Maybe some spiral wraps too. David Quote
justtrying Posted August 25, 2006 Posted August 25, 2006 kudzu, following david's advice, i started doing the "single thread" & then would wrap 4, 5 or 6 wraps of the single thread. it really looks neat & adds a little "something special" to the wrapping. as far as spiral wrap, i spiral wrap EVERY rod i build. ...i agree wholeheartedly w/some of the post(s) on rb.org & others about the advantages of the spiralwrap. once you get used to it, it's kinda awkard to use a rod that's not spiral wrapped. ..esp crankbait rods, etc., that have pressure (torque) on them. ....i've even taken the guides off all the rods i have & re-wrapped them w/spiral wrap! i know, i know, too much free time on my hands ;D ;D ;D Quote
Super User flechero Posted August 25, 2006 Super User Posted August 25, 2006 Quote once you get used to it, it's kinda awkard to use a rod that's not spiral wrapped Amen to that! I sold most of my factory rods for just that reason. ( and I needed more blank money!) ...lol Quote
KudzuLander Posted August 25, 2006 Posted August 25, 2006 Well it looks like it's time to do a spiral wrap then. I've never fished with one so I need to try it out anyway. Thanks for the "kick in the pants" guys, the next rod I build for myself will be a spiral wrap. David Quote
Super User flechero Posted August 25, 2006 Super User Posted August 25, 2006 The only drawback is once you build the first one and use it.... you will want to replace all of your rods. I was lucky in that I built my first casting rod spiral wrapped so I never had to redo or replace any, I just kept building spirals. (I've not built a single conventional casting rod) Quote
what Posted August 25, 2006 Posted August 25, 2006 i just finished my ten wieght fly rod about two week ago and its preet cool. Quote
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