St Croix Legend Elite, my way!

[Tim Kelly]

I bought a current model 2 piece medium legend elite spinning rod from a friend recently. Love the rod, but I just detest most spinning rod builds, including this one. After using it for two sessions I couldn't get past the horrible handle. Too thin and the only part of the handle I hold is the reel seat, as I have two fingers either side of the reel stem and the heel of my hand is on the threads and the hump where it joins the cork. Just uncomfortable and no real control of the rod. What else would you do on a rainy Sunday than go and look in your rod building box and see if you had enough bits to remedy the situation? Turns out I had, and I'm much happier with the rod as a result. 

 

[spoonplugger1]

Looks good.

[Angry John]

looks like the american tackle reel seat, like on the original lamiglas excel.  I loved that Grip and it felt like i had a ton of control and it was very comfy for me.

[Tim Kelly]

It is, but with the screw part from a fuji seat. 

[MickD]

This looks very good for ergonomics.  I've done a simpler version using the Am Tak Aero seat uplocking with a big carbon fiber "ramp" off the front.  The threads are at the back and out of the way, and it works very well, as I'm sure yours does.  I think most builders underestimate the virtues of uplocking with the Aero and the regular seats. In both cases uplocking allows a smooth transition from the seat to the ramp, which can be about any shape you want, can be a hard material so that it provides very good sensitivity, and is still very comfortable.  Great ergonomic design, and it looks better than mine.  But a bit more complex.

[.ghoti.]

Here's an uplocking Aero seat, using a Fuji KDPS hood on the back end covering all the threads. Very comfy. The finger cut-out in the front cork piece is nice too.

[MickD]

Nice.  I've tried the finger slot but I prefer conical front ramps because they can be used in any orientation and still be comfortable.  On the Aero that ramp will be pretty large, and very comfy.  there is an EVA part available from Mudhole that fits the Aero perfectly and can simply be ordered, not custom made.  Do it in carbon fiber, with carbon fiber butt knob and small ramp off the back of the seat, and it's really ergonomically sound and as sensitive as it gets.

[.ghoti.]

I'm gonna try one your way, Mick.

 

[MickD]

I'll try to remember tomorrow when I'm on the other computer to post a pic of the carbon fiber ramps with the Aero.  I didn't cover the threads, but my hands seldom get back there.  I'll bet one of the new Fuji sleeves would work well there.

 

One thing that surprises many is that a hard surface is not necessarily uncomfortable.  If it's the right size and shape it will be fine for comfort.  Like carbon fiber fly rod grips.

[MickD]

I'll try to post a pic of my reverse Aero rod.  It fishes great, looks a little goofy.  Would look better proportioned with a sleeve over the threads.  I hope the pic shows up well, but in case not, the ramps and butt knob are carbon fiber.  With a sleeve over the threads, I wouldn't put a rear ramp on.

 

The blank is a Rainshadow Immortal WS72ML, and it works well for Ned rig in open water, where you don't have to horse fish from snags or weeds.  It's my only rod with Microwave guides.  

[.ghoti.]

I like those ramps. Looks like I'm gonna have to do some research. Do you make your own, pour the cores, etc?

 

I really like that blank. Ive built two spinning rods and one casting rod on that blank.

[MickD]

21 minutes ago, .ghoti. said:

Looks like I'm gonna have to do some research. Do you make your own, pour the cores, etc?

 

I don't pour cores; I buy from Riley.  Before ordering from Riley, call to make sure they are there and still active.  Another forum reports problems. 

 

What I do is to figure out how long all 3 parts will be, add 4 inches (provides an inch between each piece + an inch at each end.  Then mount it on a mandrel and use coarse sandpaper to form the three pieces to the sizes and shapes I want, all in one long piece of core.  Then I seal it with one coat of Riley epoxy, then do the carbon fiber tubing application.  Riley has very good directions on their web site.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that you need to really get the carbon fiber cloth wet with epoxy; you don't want it to lack epoxy.

 

You will have to have the ability to spin the part with the axis horizontal for "drying" the epoxy, and you will need to spin it fairly fast to sand it after it dries.  I cobbled a variable speed drill for the former and I have a rig that uses my drill press for the latter.  If you need details on the latter I can post pics and details.

 

Note that it is possible to make gentle, smooth, curves that are very comfortable and don't need winding checks, so the rod can have very clean, simple, lines.  I really don't like those dimpled, decorative checks.  When you use three on split grip designs it ends up looking like a transformer toy, or phony bolts on some truck wheels.

[.ghoti.]

You make it sound easy, Mick. I have a power wrapper, an extra rod dryer and a small wood lathe, so I can spin it at whatever speed is required. I also have mandrels from 1/4" through 5/8" in 1/16 increments. My little rod shop.

[MickD]

Man would I love to have that shop.  I turn my components on my drill press rig in the garage and my wrapping/finishing station is in my bedroom on a 4 foot resin table, Amtac manual wrapper.  But I'm a hobby builder who makes only 3-5 rods a year, just for me, family, and the charity rod.  One advantage of having separate turning and epoxying sites is that the dust from turning doesn't get onto my wet epoxy.

 

I would be reluctant to do the epoxy part of carbon fiber grips in your shop as it can get a little messy.  You want to plan and set up your work carefully to prevent getting epoxy where you don't want it.

 

Carbon fiber grips are not that easy for me, with all the steps.  The hardest part for me is to get the "glass-like" finish that I want.  Next it is the applying the cloth, clamping the ends properly, with the right amount of epoxy.

[Tim Kelly]

On 19/03/2017 at 1:27 PM, MickD said:

I'll try to post a pic of my reverse Aero rod.  It fishes great, looks a little goofy.  Would look better proportioned with a sleeve over the threads.  I hope the pic shows up well, but in case not, the ramps and butt knob are carbon fiber.  With a sleeve over the threads, I wouldn't put a rear ramp on.

 

The blank is a Rainshadow Immortal WS72ML, and it works well for Ned rig in open water, where you don't have to horse fish from snags or weeds.  It's my only rod with Microwave guides.  

That looks very smart! For a person who holds a spinning rod  in front of the reel stem, that would be nice. I like to hold two fingers either side of the reel stem, so the heel of my hand would be on the threads and get none of the benefit of building a rod that way.

[.ghoti.]

Mick, I'm lucky to have the space for a shop. My first rod building experiments were done on our dining room table, when the wife was away. I had to keep what little stuff I had store in a box in the garage, and get it out when she was not at home.

 

i keep the dust out of the epoxy first with timing. I do my turning when no epoxy work is in progress, or will be in the next couple of days. I use a home made dust collection system, clean up well after turning, and run a whole house HEPA filter non-stop. The filter I have is large enough for a space three times the size it's in. I turn, clean, and two days later no dust in the finish. Ive had several comment on the close proximity of lathe and wrapper.

 

i made 18 rods there last year, and only had a dust problem once. And that was my fault for getting in a hurry.

[MickD]

6 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

That looks very smart! For a person who holds a spinning rod  in front of the reel stem, that would be nice. I like to hold two fingers either side of the reel stem, so the heel of my hand would be on the threads and get none of the benefit of building a rod that way.

Different strokes.  Yes, it is different, but I find it easy to adapt to.  If you haven't tried a big ramp off the front, you have not yet had the full experience of different proportions of rod grips.  I do not ever get my hands onto the seat threads of this rod.