Upgrading Rods - Buy Or Build?

[MickD]

Yea. I have been following it as well. Ive made up my mind to get into it. Just looking and researching best way to get into it equipment/supply wise. Looking at getting an "all in one" kit to begin with that includes a threader and turner motor. Then i can see how fast i use what other supplys and order accordingly.

I have built for years using a home made wrapper, just V blocks mounted on a board and a Flex Coat thread tensioner, and have made some great rods.  I just upgraded to what amounts to a power wrapper without the motor.  I don't think I can keep up with a power wrapper anyway.  But what is, IMHO, necessary is a low speed power "dryer" motor.  (epoxy doesn't dry, it's a chemical reaction). This will allow the epoxy to harden without your having to turn the rod many times until it sets.  Some epoxies, like the American Tackle Pro Kote, seem to take forever to set.  Motors can be bought for very reasonable prices from Ebay, and you can cobble some kind of a "chuck" to grip the rod.

[junyer357]

Yea. I dont have the budget for a power turner. I was looking more at a simple dryer motor like you mention. I plan to get one i can also add a home made lure drying rod to as well for when i paint cranks. Im looking to keep my initial investment in building under $200, including a turner motor, threading jig, epoxies and such.

[BobP]

I wrap on V-blocks, a cup to hold the thread, and a phone book as a thread tensioner. Use a home brew rod turner to apply epoxy and let it cure.  It has worked on 20 rods so far, no problems.  A surplus 4-6 rpm motor, a chuck made from a piece of 2" PVC pipe drilled and tapped for 3 thumb screws works.  My expense for rod building equipment is about $20.

[Ben Eipert]

Build them! You will never want to buy a store bought rod again. The quality you can get for the price is crazy good.

[sarcazmo]

There are some nice off the shelf rods.  But dollar for dollar they can't approach the value you'll get when you build your own.

[FD.]

There are some nice off the shelf rods.  But dollar for dollar they can't approach the value you'll get when you build your own.

 

This is absolutely the truth.

[Tim Kelly]

Not sure that's entirely true. If you want to build yourself an exact copy of a St Croix Legend for example, using all the same bits, bought retail from Mudhole or somewhere similar, I bet it would cost you more in parts than the cost of the factory rod. 

 

The point of building it yourself is that you don't have to put up with those horrendous factory builds and can build it how you like a rod.

[Batson]

Just checking in.. What did you decide?

[junyer357]

Just checking in.. What did you decide?

Im going to build. Im just having to wait a month or so til after i get back from vacation. Seems you need money to order stuff and get started. Haha. Still looking at diffrent starter kits and lurking a few forums reading up on some things. Definitly will be ordering a drying motor pretty quickly into it. Debating on building my own threader.

[Batson]

Im going to build. Im just having to wait a month or so til after i get back from vacation. Seems you need money to order stuff and get started. Haha. Still looking at diffrent starter kits and lurking a few forums reading up on some things. Definitly will be ordering a drying motor pretty quickly into it. Debating on building my own threader.

 

Yes you do need some sort of money to order stuff Just remember when buying, you could go and buy a few different drying machines etc.. But its hard to beat a power wrapper with a drying machine built in thread carrier. Just depends on how much you want to get into it and how much you want to spend. Keep us up to date! 

[junyer357]

Yes you do need some sort of money to order stuff Just remember when buying, you could go and buy a few different drying machines etc.. But its hard to beat a power wrapper with a drying machine built in thread carrier. Just depends on how much you want to get into it and how much you want to spend. Keep us up to date!

A power wrapper isnt in my budget in the foreseable future. Looking at a simple 9-12ish rpm one and using it with a dowel rod with alligator clips for drying crankbaits and other lures i paint.

[Batson]

No Problem.. Buying a simple drying motor is probably the best for you. Good Luck. Let us know if you need any other questions answered. 

[Canyon explorer]

You are much better off making your own rods because:

 

1. You can make quality rods 40-50% cheaper than you can buy them.

2. You can build them better than the factory cosmetically,

3. Once you learn to do the wraps well you can repair and rebuild your own rods and in time repair them for others. This off sets the cost of your own.

4. I built my own hand rod wrapper out of a small used TV table having only to buy two thread tensioners

and one book shelf rail for less than $10.00. That was forty years and about 400 rods ago, and I am still using it.

5. Makes your winters a lot shorter.

6 I do the rod and reel work for two large BASS and FLW Federation clubs and some retail stores.

7. Makes your winters go a lot faster.

[junyer357]

You are much better off making your own rods because:

1. You can make quality rods 40-50% cheaper than you can buy them.

2. You can build them better than the factory cosmetically,

3. Once you learn to do the wraps well you can repair and rebuild your own rods and in time repair them for others. This off sets the cost of your own.

4. I built my own hand rod wrapper out of a small used TV table having only to buy two thread tensioners

and one book shelf rail for less than $10.00. That was forty years and about 400 rods ago, and I am still using it.

5. Makes your winters a lot shorter.

6 I do the rod and reel work for two large BASS and FLW Federation clubs and some retail stores.

7. Makes your winters go a lot faster.

Yea. Winter isnt a problem for me here in alabama. Actually more the opposite and i fish less right now since its too dang hot. I can fish basicly year round though. Guntersville is a lil over an hour away and goes from decent right now to amazing once it turns cold. I usually make my winter decision to hunt or fish based on weather conditions (hunt after rain and fish before it) and if i already have some deer in the freezer or not.

Ive been painting cranks and have done a few repaints for coworkwrs but jothing to offset costs. Im looking to do the same with rod building eventually. Its something i want to do to get exactly what i want as well as an enjoyable hobby.

[Batson]

Check out a custom rod builder in your area that can help educated: http://www.tigerodz.net