Casting Lightning Rod Conversion

[islandbass]

After learning a lot from my first conversion, I decided to do a casting rod.  I chose my hardly used Lightning Rod.

What I realized after making the first one was that not all split grips are equal in the sensitivity department. The ones that enable you to have your hand touch the blank should be more sensitive that those on which your hand is solely on the cork.

Berkley Lightning Rod

This time, I made certain that my hand would be touching the blank.

This time, my palm is in direct contact with the blank and let me tell you it was nice to feel the feedback from the blank to my hand.  It also feels very comfortable to hold.

As for the overall feel, I have to say it has greatly improved for me.  The Lightning Rod has felt heavy in hand and the factory cork grip was a tad to thick for my hand.

So if you're going to convert a rod, make sure you do so in a way that your palm is in contact with the blank.

This is probably the last rod I will convert.  Why? Because Spring is here and it is now time to get back to fishing.

-ib

[.dsaavedra.]

very cool!

i converted one of my lightning rods too!

bottom:

[islandbass]

D,

Great job on those rods.  Did you have fun converting them?

[.dsaavedra.]

D,

Great job on those rods. Did you have fun converting them?

yeah it was very fun! when i was finished i wanted to do another rod but i dont have any more rods that i would be willing to potentially mess up/void the warranty.

i think i might adjust the taper on my hands. i like the looks of yours how they are tapered all the way down the handle, instead of just at the edge like mine.

[Bass n Bows]

Man, I really want to make a few conversions on my cheaper rods.  It makes them look pretty cool!  How did you guys do that?  Just use a knife to cut the cork and then taper the ends with a file or sandpaper?

[bhorlings]

Do a google search on George's Custom Rods and look for the article on how to split your grip.

[.dsaavedra.]

Man, I really want to make a few conversions on my cheaper rods. It makes them look pretty cool! How did you guys do that? Just use a knife to cut the cork and then taper the ends with a file or sandpaper?

thats what i did. took a sharp box cutter and cut around the circumference of the handle where i wanted the two cork sections to remain. it helps if you select a spot in between two cork rings. then i ran the knife down the length of the section that i had cut. then i took pliers and just started tearing the cork off. then i sanded the glue off the bank, didnt work too well, what would work better is quickly giving it a few shots w/ the heat gun and then taking a dull knife and scraping the glue off. the i tapered the cork w/ a dremel tool.

[basspro96]

Do you think you could heat the glue off with a torch?

[bhorlings]

I would be cautious of that because you don't want to heat the epoxy holding the graphite fibers together... i.e. damage the rod itself. With a heat gun you heat it up a little and then scrap it and then heat a little more and scrap.

In other words... you can control the heat a little more than with a butane torch. Just my opnion though... I have never been good with a butane torch.

[Bob Kavanaugh]

Looks good all. I did a BPS spinning rod that I use in the creek for funsies...

[islandbass]

Do a google search on George's Custom Rods and look for the article on how to split your grip.

Yep. George is a really great guy. I made a tutorial about how I did it, and in it, I refer to his great article. My approach is a low tech and simple way. If you're interested you can see it here:

http://www.americananglersfishing.com/index.php?page=21

I just want to mention that I am NOT a rod builder nor a rod expert. I did what I did to see if I could do it and split grips I like quintessentially for its aesthetics.

-ib

[blhablahlowrefwer]

great posts very useful info

[islandbass]

Looks good all. I did a BPS spinning rod that I use in the creek for funsies...

Beautiful work, Bob!!