Benefits of custom rod making?

[BassAssasin2]

What are some of the benefits of making your own rods? Is it cheaper? And what would i need to get started in it. Thanks in advance!

[FishingBuds]

What are some of the benefits of making your own rods?

You actually custom fit the rod to you, so if done right its a perfect tool, until you actually have one made to YOUR specs and size you won't know the feeling, it will spoil you.

Is it cheaper?

No

And what would i need to get started in it. Thanks in advance!

Tom Kirkman's book. Its a highly recommended read for beginners. It will tell you everything you need to know on making your first rod and some.

good luck with it, hope ya do it, its great

[flechero]

Start here:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1242835952/0#0

search "lathe" in tacklemaking under posts by flechero, and check one post per thread and all posts. That will give you a bunch of threads containing the tools and how to get started.

[BobP]

Advantages: you can fish a rod that is EXACTLY the way you want it. The more expensive the components, the more you will save on a self-built rod. JMHO, when the component costs get under $100, you aren't saving money compared to a rod sold by BassPro or other vendors. The required equipment is not expensive. You can wrap rods on a pair of V blocks and rotate them as the guide epoxy hardens using a homemade turner with a small electric motor. My rod building setup cost about $15 and has been fine for 20 rods so far. Buy the Kirkman book. Rods are not hard to build but you need some design knowledge if you want a rod that fishes well.

[AndrewVT]

I agree with Bob, that you can build extremely high end rods for about 25% cheaper, and I mean titanium guides and $100+ blanks, and build it to your exact specification.  I built my first 5 rods using a cardboard box and an old Chemistry book from college (figure I should use it for something).  Also, you will spend ~$50 on tools, thread, epoxies, etc. at the start up, but these last a very long time.  The price tag on the first rod will usually be more than expected, but you will use these same tools on every rod you build.

I will say the secret is to keep the wraps simple for the first couple rods until you get the hang of tensioning multiple threads at once.  You will end up with a much nicer rod if you take it slow, and spend more time building it right than making it look fancy.  Another site I found helpful was Mudhole, and they have a section full of videos that will go over each step of the process.

[hmongkidBee]

use rodbuilding.org.  those guys are very helpful and can answer all your questions.