first rod build

[Red]

well i decided to build a rod.  first i have to say that i had a great teacher.          keith(fletchero) invited me to come to his home and show me the ropes.  i went down to belton last wednesday evening and we picked out a blank, glued up a grip and a few other things(including pizza!).  then i went back saturday and spent the entire day turning the grip, gluing the grip and seat in place, guides, the whole thing.  keith showed me a lot, i learned a ton.  he answered all my questions and explained everything we were doing.  he showed me how to wrap the guides and let me try once.    then i brought the rod home saturday evening.  i spent saturday night finishing the wraps.  i cant get my stupid camera to ake a close up of them, but here is a pic of the grip. this was taken before the butt cap was in place.  this weekend i will finish the wraps then it will be completed.

keith provided everything i needed for the rod from his own supply.  and he sent me home with the thread for the wraps plus tom kirkman's book so i can do some reading on the subject.  the rod is an allstar 6'6" Heavy, fuji guides and reel seat(will be primarily my jig rod).  i just did black wraps on the guides(figured that was a good idea on a black blank for a first try).  anyway keith is a heck of a guy and i cant thank him enough for taking the time from his schedule to show me how to build a rod, i look forward to many more!!

thanks keith!!

Cliff

[Alpster]

Awesome Cliff!!!!!!!

Way to Git er Dun!!!!

Your in big trouble now. Keith is like a heroin dealer. The first one is free. Another fisherman prisoner to rod building. Good for you man!

Ronnie

[flechero]

Keith is like a heroin dealer.

Not sure I have a response for that! ...LOL

Cliff,

Glad it's going smoothly! I enjoyed it also. I would much rather show someone how to build, than to build a rod for someone. It's just different. I can't wait for the pics of fish caught on this rod!!

Let me know when the finish is cured, we'll try to get out and cross a few eyes with it! Maybe I'll have that CTS ready at the same time... for a dual, maiden voyage!

Tell Mrs. Red- it's time to get out the summer weight PJ's! ;D

[JayW]

Looking good! I think black was also a good choice for a first time rod build as long as you can keep the dust away from the rod while it's drying. Let us see how it turns out when you're done!

[Red]

yeah we will have to do that.  my nephew was watching me finish off the butt cap tonight and i was telling him how i built this rod....he came up to me a few minutes later and asked me if i would build him a rod.  so now i am thinking about that!   anyway i will hopefully have that finish done this weekend.  

thanks

Cliff

[.RM.]

Red,

Good looking grip.

Keith has gotten really good, and has come a long way in a short time.

Good luck on your next, and your next, and your next rod/s.  

Oh did I mention it's very addictive....

Good Luck & Tight Wraps!!!!

[Red]

thanks, yeah keith is the man!!  i just picked up the finish for the rod, i hope i got the right stuff, here is what i got.

rod wrapping finish, flex coat.  it is two syringes with some brushes, sticks, and cups.  says it will finish 4 average rods.  

thanks

Cliff

[Alpster]

Cliff,

Flexcoat is what I used on your rod. Go to their website and look at "how we do it" and follow those instructions. Here's the link..........

http://flexcoat.com/measnmix.html

Good luck.

Ronnie

[.RM.]

Yeah FlexCoat HighBuild is what I have been using since I started building. DG Rod Works

I also use the FlexCoat Rod Builders Epoxy for gluing up my burl rings for turning, and mounting all my grips and seats. Great stuff.

A tip for you when you start mixing the finish, always mix a 10CC amount (5cc's each), and don't stir, always fold just like making cake batter. You will have less bubbles in the finish.  

Tight Wraps!!!  

[Red]

10cc's huh?  i will do it, the package calls for 3cc's of each part.

thanks

Cliff

[Chunkie]

3 cc is a good number of each part; you will have left overs on you flat sheet of tin foil

[flechero]

10cc's huh?  i will do it, the package calls for 3cc's of each part.

thanks

Cliff

I could be wrong but ReelMech probably buys it in bigger quantity than the syringes come in.  (and that would be consistent with the flex coat instruction page)

[.RM.]

flechero,

Is right I do buy in the 32oz sets. I over looked that your syringes were pre-filled. If the instructions call for 3cc's ea. then use those measurements.

I use the 5cc ea mixture because i'm not just coating guide wraps but building ramps and such, on split grip, no fore grip rods. I also don't hand mix I have a mixer, the reason I posted "don't stir always fold" your mixture.

Tight Wraps!!!!

[Red]

well thanks to keith and ronnie, my first rod build is complete!  it came out ok but certainly nothing special, it was my more difficult than i had anticipated it would be to apply the finish.  but i am sure of one thing, i dont think i can get worse!!

thanks guys!!

Cliff