Jumping in with both feet. New to rod building

[haleywp]

Well I am going to jump in with both feet.  Yesterday I ordered an Advanced Rod Building Start-Up Kit and CBR Freshwater Rod Kit 7’0” Med-Heavy Power graphite from Mud Hole.  I have been practicing using some rod supports built out of 1” X 6” pine boards on wrapping guides.  Have not applied any epoxy yet or reel seats.  I am going to retire the end of June and thought I needed one more thing to add to my list (that is growing by the day) of activities.  I have watched many hours of vid’s on YouTube and think I will start.  If there is anything you can tell me to look out for and/or give a beginner tips all would be appreciated. Thank in advance

Pat

[MickD]

Everyone who builds rods knows everything.  But our knowledge does not always agree.  But it works for us.  Will it work for you?  Whose advice will work for you?

 

Part of this is due to the fact that people work differently and under different conditions, but often don't realize it.  So two builders who give you conflicting advice are not lying, but what works for one may not for another.  You take all the advice, consider it carefully, try things out , and see what works for you.

 

I'll give you a couple of what I consider important tips: 1. check out https://www.rodbuilding.org/list.php?2  2.  Before executing a decision, consider if there is a way of testing it out before getting into an irreversible condition.  Like going down a mountain.  Don't drop into a place where the only way out is farther down, then you find out you can't go down that way.  But you can't go back up.  For example, if you think that cutting 6 inches off the butt of the blank is the thing to do, don't start by cutting.  Start by taping a reel seat on where it would go if the blank were 6 inches shorter, and try it.  3. At least at first , don't even consider tweaking epoxy mixing instructions, just do it like the maker says.  Don't thin it, don't heat it, don't alter the proportions, just use it as intended at the temps intended (cold can be your enemy) until you're much further along.  It will work well if done right, as the maker intended. 4. Don't ever cut off the tip of a blank.  Doesn't take much to screw the action up, and there are thousands of blanks our there, designed by experts, that should be the length you want.  5.  Record the specs of the rods you build, guide spacing, guide details, thread specs, epoxy used, component specs and spacing (reel seats, for example).  Then if yo have to repair you have the details needed, or if you build another off that blank, you don't have to go through the guide spacing process again.

 

Oops , more than a couple

 

 

 

[haleywp]

Thanks MickD. I have read many of you post and enjoyed them all.

[Bob Grundy]

On ‎1‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 5:25 PM, MickD said:

Everyone who builds rods knows everything.  But our knowledge does not always agree.  But it works for us.  Will it work for you?  Whose advice will work for you?

 

Part of this is due to the fact that people work differently and under different conditions, but often don't realize it.  So two builders who give you conflicting advice are not lying, but what works for one may not for another.  You take all the advice, consider it carefully, try things out , and see what works for you.

 

I'll give you a couple of what I consider important tips: 1. check out https://www.rodbuilding.org/list.php?2  2.  Before executing a decision, consider if there is a way of testing it out before getting into an irreversible condition.  Like going down a mountain.  Don't drop into a place where the only way out is farther down, then you find out you can't go down that way.  But you can't go back up.  For example, if you think that cutting 6 inches off the butt of the blank is the thing to do, don't start by cutting.  Start by taping a reel seat on where it would go if the blank were 6 inches shorter, and try it.  3. At least at first , don't even consider tweaking epoxy mixing instructions, just do it like the maker says.  Don't thin it, don't heat it, don't alter the proportions, just use it as intended at the temps intended (cold can be your enemy) until you're much further along.  It will work well if done right, as the maker intended. 4. Don't ever cut off the tip of a blank.  Doesn't take much to screw the action up, and there are thousands of blanks our there, designed by experts, that should be the length you want.  5.  Record the specs of the rods you build, guide spacing, guide details, thread specs, epoxy used, component specs and spacing (reel seats, for example).  Then if yo have to repair you have the details needed, or if you build another off that blank, you don't have to go through the guide spacing process again.

 

Oops , more than a couple

 

 

 

Been building rods since 1992, this is some of the best advice I have seen or heard and totally agree.  Very good.