7wt fly rod build

[ejtaylor822]

Finished up this 7wt fly rod a few days ago. It's a St. Croix SCV blank from the elite series - awesome blank. Used Fuji Alconite guides that look really good on the blank.

[BassinWill301]

That looks sick man.  Awesome job.

[ejtaylor822]

Here's another view of the blank/pieces.

[flechero]

That looks sick man. Awesome job.

took the words out of my mouth!  

Eddie,   you've been on a tear lately... this is like the 4th rod in 2 weeks!  Looks like pristine workmanship!!!

Any chance we could talk you into a close up macro shot of the wraps?  I'd love to see the ferrule reinforcing wrap and a guide or two.  

[ejtaylor822]

Hey Keith,

Like you and Alpster said, this is addicting.  And, I am hopelessly addicted.  I have tried to get some closeups but my camera takes terrible pictures up close.  Think I need to get a tripod and try it as I believe it is me moving too much.  I will see if I can get some good closeups and will post.  I was pleased with the wraps.  Used gold metallic for the trim bands on each end - after the forhan loops.

Thanks guys for the nice comments.  

Eddie

[flechero]

The close ups can be tough... if you have a macro setting, just rest your hands on a block of wood or something. That's all I ever do and can get some decent macro shots like that.

That's the salwater series in the Belize Blue, correct?  Canyou try to get a shot in the sunlight so we can see the blank color as well?

Thanks!

[spin king]

Nice work Eddie.

I have a fly rod on which one of my line guides tore out of the wrap.  Do you know what is commonly used over the wraps (epoxy, poly, glue etc..)?  I'd like to remove the old guide and install a new one, but I'm not sure how to take off the old wrap without damaging the rod, and I'm not sure what to use for the new wrap.  It seems like whatever you "glue" the wrap with would have to be flexible so it doesn't crack when the rod flexes.

I know this is a bit off topic, but it is obvious that you have a good handle on how to do nice wraps.

[.RM.]

ejtaylor822,

I have shot pics both ways with a phone camera and my Sony digital. The best way to get up close is to add as much ambient light (room light) as possible. Most all of the cameras (except for pro style adjustable focus) need a bunch of ambient light.

When I shoot my rods they are in my v-blocks and there is a white background, then 4 lights above the table with 8 more lit in the shop, the camera is on a tripod.

Then if you have a macro setting on the camera you should be able to focus up close, if no macro setting turn up the lights and get as close as you can....

Stole the image and lightened it up in PSP from what I can see ..Nice Job!  

[ejtaylor822]

Thanks, guys.

Keith, yes, this is that St. Croix Saltwater Belize Blue and it is gorgeous - very deep blue - good eye! Unfortunately, I built it for someone and he has it now. He wanted a 7wt to catch puppy drum/drum in the pamlico sound and tributaries. I was half way hoping he wouldn't like it and I would get to keep it, but, he loves it - which is good and bad. Just means I get to make another! ;D

Spin King, this is only my second fly rod, so I am by no means an expert. BTW, do not mind being off topic at all as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully one of the more experienced guys will speak up and help with this, but, I use just regular flex coat lite build and Gudebrod "A' size thread on the rods I have built. I know some of the "purist" fly rod builders use spar urethane or permagloss. The downside as I understand it is that urathane will change the color of the thread and "yellow" over time and the permagloss will not give you glass-like smoothness.

I have replaced a few guides - once again, hope some of the more experienced guys will jump in here - and to do this I have lightly scored the finish with a razor - GENTLY - cutting into the top against the guide foot (put the guide back in) to protect the blank. After scored and roughed up a little I use an old hair dryer to warm the finish and get it soft. At that point I grab where I have scored and just start peeling away. Sometimes, the string comes with it. If it doesn't, put the guide back in and GENTLY cut against the guide foot, and unwrap the string.

That's how I have done it. Once again, hope one of the experienced guys will jump in and tell you (and I) a better/easier/safer way to do this.

David G., got it. Actually printing out to put in my "notes" in the shop so when I start some more pics. That's the thing, though, don't have a lot of ambient light in my shop. Going to see what I can do to add some more as I want to get good pics. I will work with the macro and see if I can get better with them.

I am adding more pics here to show some of the wraps. Hopefully you guys can see the detail a little better with these. Sorry about the quality and that I don't have any really showing the blank. It is really a gorgeous blank.

This is the ferrule wraps. I did rougly 1/2 inch in black Gudebrod with 4x metallic gold (Gudebrod as well). I did a ring of gold for each piece of the blank.

Here is a pic of the ferrule and stripper guide

Second guide

And here are a couple of the fly gudes on the 3rd and 4th pieces. All the guides on the second and thrid pcs have 4x gold metallic trim bands; the 4th pc has three (I think). I used the Gudebrod Blue Dunn for the wraps. THought it looked good on the blank.

[flechero]

in a word- beautiful!  Thanks for the pics!

[Alpster]

Way to go Eddie. Workmanship is first class. Any of us would be proud to fish that rod. I love the gold trim wraps against the blue blank. I am also a fan of a fighting butt on a fly rod. Top notch work, you can certainly be proud of it.

Ronnie