Super User S Hovanec Posted April 4, 2015 Super User Posted April 4, 2015 Oh, the lengths people go through to get their perfect rod. Some may find these pictures disturbing. Others, like myself, find great satisfaction in seeing a $500+ rod cut to pieces! The first project was sorta tame, but morphed into more than intended. It started out as a foregrip trim on a 923S MR. I can understand why. The thing was 4" long and you couldn't put your finger on the blank without dislocating it. After some finessing with a pair of pliers and finish work with sandpaper, it was a much more comfortable length This rod was quite tip heavy. In order to get it concentric in the lathe, I had to remove the jerry-rigged balancing system that was installed. These weights also added unneeded length to the already excessively long rear grip. I discussed this with the customer and he said to "do whatever I had to" I like when people tell me that! This was what I removed. This is what I re-installed. I know it's more than I took out, but it had to be to achieve the same balance point with the shorter rear grip. He also dislikes split grips and fills the gap with pipe insulation and wraps over with Rod Wrap. I installed some rod-appropriate materials to fill the gap and he can now wrap it and it won't be squishy. One final finishing touch. A thread wrap to clean up the area where the foregrip was removed. Didn't have matching Blue Dunn NCP so I used black. Black goes with everything! Project #2 was a repeat of one preformed on a GLX about 2 years ago. This one started out as a 843C MBR Someone has a date with a miter saw. OFF WITH HIS BUTT!! Naked and humiliated. The OEM reelseats are ungodly uncomfortable, and it had to be removed anyway, because the seat location was changing. Over the butt reelseat replacements aren't the easiest, but it can be done. Slide on the reelseat, ream an arbor to fit a blank of similar dimensions, split the arbor, glue in place and wrap with thread to hold it. Once the arbor is set, slide the new seat in place. This is a 17mm Fuji Comfort Touch. They were discontinued years ago, but I still have a couple stashed. New Winn full grip in place Butt cap installed. Finish wrap in front of the winding check and it's better than when it came in! 6 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 5, 2015 Super User Posted April 5, 2015 Nice ~ and I like that full Winn Grip. A-Jay Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 What do you think makes the loomis tip heavy In spite of such a long handle? Do they use a lot of guides close together at the tip or does it have to do with the wall thickness and taper of the blank? Quote
Super User tomustang Posted April 5, 2015 Super User Posted April 5, 2015 It's probably because they wanted to make the lightest and most sensitive rod and disregarded balance and aesthetics Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 5, 2015 Author Super User Posted April 5, 2015 What do you think makes the loomis tip heavy In spite of such a long handle? Do they use a lot of guides close together at the tip or does it have to do with the wall thickness and taper of the blank? I don't think its the guides. It seems like a proper layout. Nothing excessive, and even if there were an extra or two, I doubt it would throw it out this much as they are Recoils. The fact that it is an inshore rod with a 2500 reel may have some play in it. It was probably meant to have a 4000 or bigger, but it just felt bad even without a reel. You know, that first impression you get when you grab a rod for the first time and immediately say NO, and put it right back on the rack and walk on.....that's what it felt like to me. Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted April 5, 2015 Super User Posted April 5, 2015 I don't think its the guides. It seems like a proper layout. Nothing excessive, and even if there were an extra or two, I doubt it would throw it out this much as they are Recoils. The fact that it is an inshore rod with a 2500 reel may have some play in it. It was probably meant to have a 4000 or bigger, but it just felt bad even without a reel. You know, that first impression you get when you grab a rod for the first time and immediately say NO, and put it right back on the rack and walk on.....that's what it felt like to me. That makes a lot of sense because I have had the pleasure of using my friends NRX spinning rod and it wasn't tip heavy at all but it also was short, it is the 803S JWR. Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Scott, this is total Blasphemy! Who would ever take a factory NRX rod that is very tip heavy with a cruddy split grip and a foregrip that is longer than the rear grip on most rods and have it balanced perfectly with a full rear handle and the foregrip shaved back to a normal length? These modifcations sound like they would make it the greatest rod ever made. What a waste. ;-) 5 Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted April 5, 2015 Super User Posted April 5, 2015 I really dig that last one, looks sick. I wouldn't cut up my G. Loomis, but to each his own! Quote
BasserJim Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 I really dig that last one, looks sick. I wouldn't cut up my G. Loomis, but to each his own! Hey, it's just a Loomis! Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 I finally had a chance to pick up the NRX rods Scott modified for me. All I can say is INCREDIBLE! They really look and feel great. I am just so happy to finally have a NRX jerbait and tube/silver buddy rod (God knows waiting for G Loomis to release them would take forever). Thanks again, Scott!! Great work (once again)! 2 Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 10, 2015 Author Super User Posted April 10, 2015 I really thought this would be a post with pix of the rod wrap applied already! Thanks again for the Vision 110+1. Can't wait to throw it!! Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 I really thought this would be a post with pix of the rod wrap applied already! Thanks again for the Vision 110+1. Can't wait to throw it!! Haha...don't worry, I plan on making that post, but I have yet to be home (still driving around). 1 Quote
Dypsis Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 I really thought this would be a post with pix of the rod wrap applied already! Thanks again for the Vision 110+1. Can't wait to throw it!! Haha...don't worry, I plan on making that post, but I have yet to be home (still driving around). I'm surprised he didn't put the rod wrap on in the car before he left! Or maybe he did... 2 Quote
BasserJim Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 All I have to add is this: Steve, you have good taste in jerkbait colors. That is all. 2 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 All I have to add is this: Steve, you have good taste in jerkbait colors. That is all. Haha...Well, let's just hope the Smallmouth think so and Scott nails a 7 pounder! Quote
BasserJim Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 Alright Scott, how is this? I have to ask. Why spend the money on the Winn grip if you were just going to tape it up? Why not just put the cheapest thing you could find in there? Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted April 11, 2015 Alright Scott, how is this? Looks good except the reel handles are on the wrong side! Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 I have to ask. Why spend the money on the Winn grip if you were just going to tape it up? Why not just put the cheapest thing you could find in there? There are other things I like about Winn grips besides the tacky grip they give. I like the contour and the rounded end of the grip. I also like the very slight "give" they have to them. Plus, even though I wrap them, I just couldn't put on a cheap handle on that NRX. 2 Quote
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