rod building ?'s

[atrocity]

so i was looking into rod building and i wanna build my first rod. i wanna build a cheap rod that im probably never gonna use, just to see if i wanna get into the art of rod building. im probably gonna go with the mudhole value kit and the rod building accesory kit,is that all i need to purchase? do i really need a rod wrapper for making my first rod? i was wondering if you build your own rod will it be cheaper than buying a similar one from the store?(don't get the satisfaction of building your own) and what can you salvage from broken rods?(grips, seat, guides, etc.)

sorry for all the questions :-[ im new to all this, there will probably be more ?'s so bare with me ;D and thanks for all the help!

[flechero]

I'm assuming you started with the sticky thread above, "Newbies with rod building questions."  

If you plan to make one you'll never use... you won't build it worth a darn.  Plan to make a rod you will use and it will turn out much better.  Most people can make a well-functioning rod with some cosmetic flaws the first time.  

I started wrapping with a cardboard box cut out for a wrapper and a book for a tread tensioner.  I have also hand turned for drying finish.  You can get started for virtually free if you want to spend a little extra time in the build.  Most of the tools are time savers, not critical to execution.  

You can build them cheaper if you don't count your time as labor... but you just can't build cheap rods cheaper, since even the blanks usually cost something and shipping kills the single blank costs.  I usually end up building a much nicer rod at the same cost and "don't count labor" on my own rods.  I think having the grip size, shape, length and spiral wrap as I want, easily justifies my time.

I have salvaged guides, seats and sometimes grips.  Grips are "hit or miss" when removing.

Good luck and have fun!  (because you won't save money!)

[flechero]

And by the way, Welcome to the furum!!

[roadwarrior]

Nice work, that's really something you can be proud of!

8-)

[atrocity]

thanks for the help flechero

yea i read/ watched the videos on mudhole's rod building 101 and it looks like something im capable of doing. I decided im not gonna go with a kit, i still need help with guide sizes, i want 6-7 guides. thanks again for all the help  ;D

[atrocity]

what do you think about this set up so far? http://www.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.3/.f

will that seat fit with the blank?

[.RM.]

All I get is an empty shopping cart with that link.

You still need to have the book in front of you as you work through the ins and outs of the first rod....

http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/Rod-Building-Books/Rod-Building-Guide-Fly-Cast-Spin

[flechero]

what do you think about this set up so far? http://www.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.3/.f

will that seat fit with the blank?

We can't see your cart w/o your user and password (don't you dare!)  but you can copy and paste it to a post if you want some specific ideas or comments.

when you buy a blank, you can tell them how far down you want the seat to fit and they will test it and send you the closest size.

[thefishingone]

Good luck Atrocity! Post some pics along they way so we know how your doing.

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck on the build.

[atrocity]

All I get is an empty shopping cart with that link.

You still need to have the book in front of you as you work through the ins and outs of the first rod....

http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/Rod-Building-Books/Rod-Building-Guide-Fly-Cast-Spin

forgot about that, yea the accesory kit comes with the flex coat rod building book, heres what i have so far:

RKAC1 Rod Building Accessory Kit   $24.95  

SGK-1 Mud Hole Split Grip Handle Kit (Fuji DPSD)   $21.50  

IS661M MH Special IM6 6'6" 14-18lb. B.453 T6.5 R1/B16   $16.95

yea i know im going with a cheap blank, but this is just a tester. also does anyone have a link for choosing guide sizes or tell me how that works? thanks again for all the help!

[flechero]

Are you going spiral or guides up? If you want a chart and suggested sizes for guides up, there are several available... but realize that they are not based on your rod.

I build all my casting rods in a spiral. I usually start with a 10mm butt guide and depending on a number of factors, use a 8,7 or 6 bumper guide and then if needed, a single transitional guide and use 5.5 or 6mm running guides.  I use several styles of guides, depending on the rod and the set up.  I know that doesn't help you much now.

There are some articles oveer at RBO on static testing and guide layout. You'll need to learn that stuff and I type too slow to give you a lengthy tutorial today. Kirkman's book also gets into the selection and layout.

[atrocity]

i think i can figure out the spacing but i dont understand how like th sizes go, like on mudhole they give you size option of like 1-8 and then sometimes theres letters. what do you mean by spiral? its gonna be for a spinning rod. sorry for my lack of knowledge :-[ and thanks for all the help youv given me flechero

[flechero]

my mistake, I was thinking casting rod.  Forget spiral.  The sizes are the ring diameter in mm's.  Some Fuji end in "J"  that designates the concept guides.  There is a great article on spinning guide set up on RBO, even has pics of how you want to choke the line down.  You'll need extra guides, since each rod is different.  That's the only bad thing about starting with a spinning rod.  I also did and had to order guides 3 times.   :-[  Now I keep a full set plus extra running guides in stock and reorder what I use, to replnish.

Start here:

http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/newguide.html

then here:

http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/staticguide.html

In fact most of these are short and many will be useful in your first build

http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/library.html

be sure to read surface prep and fit & finish.  

[MickD]

The advice to go to rodbuilding.org is golden.  Best advice anyone could give you.  Do some serious searching there for guide sizes, guide spacing, etc.

Second best advice you can get:  Do your first build with a good but inexpensive blank.  Blank price is the biggest part of your investment in building a new rod, and you will get better with every build.  Don't spend a fortune on your first build.  You can get good blanks for less than $50, many times a lot less if you buy closeouts/sales/etc.  Even with a good but not great blank your rod will be better than most factory rods.

Regarding guides, you can spend an average of $10 per guide, or $3 per guide, and the chances are you will never see the difference.  Use Fugi Aconites for about $3 on the small guides and somewhat more for the bigger ones, and you will have guides better than most factory rods.

Welcome to the club.