Building a Rod Rack

[nboucher]

This winter I'm going to build a rod rack. I found a pretty good design for one online, but I'm wondering whether any of you have built one and would like to share plans or post photos. The plan I downloaded has pegs along the side to mount reels, which I thought was a nice feature.

If anyone's interested, here's the link. It's from the Australian edition of Better Homes and Gardens, of all places:

http://www.bhg.com.au/display.cfm?objectid=85AA2F76-0E9A-4851-A1AE67E227670109&navid=A051D0EE-7710-4124-B241262E3DDA74D5  

[Siebert Outdoors]

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.SceneSeven?hvarTextId=262&hvarSourceName=images2/64000/64210.jpg&hvarType=0&hvarLinkEnabled=false

I built one similiar to this.  Very easy to do the way I did it.  Its not great to look at it but only took me an hr or 2.

Basically here is what I did

Build the bottom first.  I believe I used a 1 1/4" wood bit to make the recess for the butt section of the rod on a drill press.   You will have to measure the handle and figure out how much space you want between the rods.

after that take another board and lay it on top of the one you just drilled on and get the center line for the blank so your rods wont be crooked.  Good thing about the wood bit it gives you a perfect center area to measure from.   After marking the center drill  holes in the board you just marked then take a saw and cut the board from edge to the hole.

To keep the rods in the rack I used size 1 hook and tacks to form a compression lock on top of the board.  I used one tack in the eylet to be able to hold the hook and open up the area to take out the rod. and another tack to hold the J bend of the hook so the rod wouldnt fall out.  Works great.  I've had it for about 10 years.  

The more time you take you can make a real nice rack but I didnt care for looks.  If you want it all fancy you can put felt or something in it to make it more appealing.

[kbkindle]

kbkindle here here is a pic i dont have any plans i do woodworking in the winter plus crankbait making. i just made it as i went along , but if you like i will take some measurments

on the upper rod holder i used  gold willow leaf blades to hold rods in  the thing in the center is where i put spools of line to re spool reels  its made out of red oak  kb

[vtbassin]

:) Very nice kbkindle  ;D  Looks like a hiogh end tackle shop ;D

[Plastik]

kbkindle here here is a pic i dont have any plans i do woodworking in the winter plus crankbait making. i just made it as i went along , but if you like i will take some measurments

on the upper rod holder i used gold willow leaf blades to hold rods in the thing in the center is where i put spools of line to re spool reels its made out of red oak kb

That thing is beautiful.  Verry impressed man!

[nboucher]

kb, thanks, that is indeed a very very nice setup. The sloping shelves on the unit are a particularly clever touch. Very compact, and I see you put it on coasters, too. I think I can guesstimate the measurements from the photo.

A couple of questions:

Are those countersunk screws with plugs on the facing piece, or did you use pegs?

Did you use oak, ash, or stained pine? Or none of the above?

Is that more or less a box the rod butts are sitting in, and do they just lean back into the top slots?

I like those shelves with the reels in them, too. Are those glass doors?

Also, did you make that rolltop desk? You are a terrific woodworker!

[kbkindle]

 yes  nboucher    kb here

yes sir those are countersunk screws  with buttons on them,  i used red oak and put a light stain and cleared it all.

the bottom shelf is just drilled out half way through thickness of the wood  with a flat bottom drill bit they call a fostner bit  and yes they are glass doors in reel cabinet.  and the roll top is made with birds eye maple wood stained with same color as the rod case.  what also looks good to me when you see it up close  where it is cut out to hold rods in the middle i used gold willow leaf blades and you can slide the blades to one side and get gods out and it holds them in rack good   thankd  kb   show me a pic when you get r done    

[cart7t]

I'm thinking of making one this winter as well similar to kb's but a little more square in design.

[Raul]

Very nice Kb, very nice indeed, only problem I have is that if my stuff was neatly displayed like yours it would last a couple of nanoseconds......gotta have to wait a couple of decades until my kids are old enough to do me the favor of leaving the house.

[nboucher]

kb, what size Fostner bit did you use? I assume the butt ends of the rods sit in those depressions made by the Fostner? Red oak, bird's eye maple: very very nice materials.

I'm going to mull this over awhile and think over the design. I'll show you a photo, kb, but you've got to promise not to laugh. I'm an amateur compared to you.

Raul, I remember those days. I'm surprised those kids leave you any time to fish! Anyway, soon enough they'll be telling you that hanging around the house is the most boring thing in the world and can they go hang with their friends. . .

[K_Mac]

Very nice Kb, very nice indeed, only problem I have is that if my stuff was neatly displayed like yours it would last a couple of nanoseconds......gotta have to wait a couple of decades until my kids are old enough to do me the favor of leaving the house.

Beautiful work kb. Raul the problem is, once the kids leave it is just a mater of time brfore your house is overrun with grandkids; a real blessing, but a serious threat to fishing tackle.

[Raul]

That is a bummer, it means that the only time your tackle will be safe and displayed the way you want is a the short period of time between kids leaving the house and you grandkids storming your house like vikings thirsty for blood.

[kbkindle]

nbouncer   kb here  the hole size for butts is 1-1/2"  round   i think if i had it to do over  i would cut a pcs of oak about

2-1/2 in wide and then bore holes completely through  and then put that piece on bottom shelf making it a full 3/4 " deep hole. one for each side  the main thing is to keep them in line from the top cut out for rods so they stand straight

kb

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

2 cent suggestion (well, more like $10-$0 suggestion,lol)

For a REEL classy touch, pick up of these fuji plate type reel seats and mount to the side for reels.  Low profile when not being use and keeps them in perfect order.  They come in blk or silver and range from $3/ea - $20/ea.  The $5 ones would be perfect.

[nboucher]

KB, thanks for the details.

LBH, good idea, as I always expect from you.  8-)

[Raul]

This is Bass RESOURCE, we 've got a plethora of very resourceful members in here.

Including The BaitMonkey.

[Guest DavidGreen]

kbkindle,

Excellent work. That is the type of work that is not only a pleasure to look at, but very functional. What a great way to spend the winter.

Very nice.....

Tight Lines!!!