New To Rod Building...

[1099gl]

I am 15 years old and I think I finally have enough time and patience to make my own fishing rod. I have been looking on mudhole.com for rod building materials and blanks. I am starting with nothing, so I would like to know how much it will cost to start up building my own rods and what materials I need to buy. I have been looking at the phenix and st. croix rod blanks but there are so many different choices I can't figure out which one I should buy. I would like to make a 7'-7'3" medium heavy fast action rod. I also do not know how far to space out the guides and handle, or if it is my personal choice or they should be a certain length from each other. Any sources or tips you have would be much appreciated! 

[clayton86]

It's a money pit so be warned.

My GF got me the mudhole small business starting kit or something or other it ran her $175 it came with just about everything. I know they have cheaper kits and you can easily make one also with some basic knowledge of tools and how to read a tape measure.

Guide spacing there are charts for to get you close then you can test it and move them or go off the guide chart I've done it both ways.

I would go with s MHX blank for your build they are cheap but are great rod blanks I've built two 7' light spinning ones and 3 ice rods from MHX the fly rod I got going now is a rodgeeks blank(don't look them up if you like flashy shiny things).

There are a lot of threads here and other site forums just for building.

[BDfishing]

These are the 2 kits I'm looking at

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Supply-Kits-Tool-Kits

[FD.]

Start here

 

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building-101

 

Read everything.

 

No really, read EVERYTHING

 

Since you are 15 and I still have animals in my house like you...

 

READ EVERYTHING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

now watch all the videos and then let us know when you are done.

 

Everyone here will gladly teach you everything we know.  But you will have to put some effort in for yourself.  Most of the basic questions will be covered somewhere in the videos.  There are a bunch others on youtube but the mudhole series is pretty complete.

[Batson]

https://www.youtube.com/user/BatsonEnterprises

 

Depending on how expensive you want to get into it, depends on the equipment you choose. Most start off with some sort of Hand Wrapper then progress into a power wrapper. The supplies just depends as well. Several companies have starter kits to begin rod building and like most here say, we are here to help in anyway. 

[MickD]

Good advice.  Also, start following this forum:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/  A great resource, look at the Library articles there, ask questions after doing your homework, and you'll get good help.  But remember, we rodbuilders do not all agree on everything, and there are some of us out their that perpetuate myths like mixing unequal volumes of epoxy to get better strength that can definitely get you into trouble. After a while on the forums you'll recognize this.   So do all that homework, also do an internet search for "flex coat rod building videos.
"

 

I think I was about 15 when I started with a spinning rod and a fly rod, both tubular glass.  Still have them, although they cannot come close in performance to even the low priced blanks now.  It's a great hobby.   Won't save you any money though, because you'll just build and build and build.  Even if you don't sell.