Rod Building The Rod Building Thread

[mcswny]

I swore I wasn't going to build another rod as I really didn't enjoy building the first. But here I am with a second.

7' 3" James Green Heritage Trout 3 Piece 4wt.
Snakebrand Lite Guides
Mildrum Stripper with Carbology Ring
6" Cigar Grip
Ray Lee Burled Maple Reel Seat with blued nickle hardware (I swore off these seats because I said there's no way at that price they could be this good. BOY WAS I WRONG. Ray Lee's seats are amazing, especially for the price)

This is still 100% a blue collar rod. The wraps aren't perfect and the finish is a bit lumpy but it's so much better than my first and I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to get it on the water.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Nice job! You really can’t beat the quality and price of Ray’s reelseats!

 

[mcswny]

Nice job! You really can’t beat the quality and price of Ray’s reelseats!

Thanks Steve. Most importantly, it should fish!

 

[Divad]

@mcswny looks real good! The invisible guide wraps is a cool look on that yellow blank and the red you chose made for a nice contrasting trim wrap. Look at that you even did alignment dots! Are you sure you aren’t having fun with it?

I feel like the real enjoyment comes when they’re fished and used. Something full circle satisfying knowing you made it.

 

[Herkileez]

Like the stealthy look of black against the flat black blank...and the guinea hen feather tops it off....

 

[Wetswinger]

No. Fork Composites has their FAF and Iconoglass blanks on sell for $83. which includes shipping. Gary Loomis b-day sell....

 

[Chonay]

I just recently rebuilt a rod and wanted to share this. I use the underside of an aluminum can to mix up and hold the flex coat epoxy for coating wraps. It makes a nice little cup and doesn't introduce bubbles when mixed also doesn't cost anything!

 

[Herkileez]

@mcswny if you build your own take my lesson learned, don’t go fast with the drill…
View attachment 87370
Will make a new one this week.

I epoxy a bolt shank (head cut off) into the butt of my DIY reamers...saves the drill chuck from eating up the reamer.

 

[Herkileez]

I just recently rebuilt a rod and wanted to share this. I use the underside of an aluminum can to mix up and hold the flex coat epoxy for coating wraps. It makes a nice little cup and doesn't introduce bubbles when mixed also doesn't cost anything!

Good idea !...I pick up aluminum tart baking cups at the Dollar Store for mixing epoxy. A word to all: NEVER use a silicon cup, or syringe, when mixing wrap epoxy. It does weird things to the finish, including not fully curing. Aluminum is the best way to go.

 

[Divad]

6wt 9ft NFC LMX FAF with REC titanium guides is finished. Now for cp when home and epoxy. I really like this color combo, fitting for a rod that’ll be used on the sound.

Next will be the NFC LMX 1103 that ill be turning into a trout spey or the Moonlit S-Glass 6wt.

 

[Wetswinger]

View attachment 119099
6wt 9ft NFC LMX FAF with REC titanium guides is finished. Now for cp when home and epoxy. I really like this color combo, fitting for a rod that’ll be used on the sound.

Next will be the NFC LMX 1103 that ill be turning into a trout spey or the Moonlit S-Glass 6wt.

Interesting stripping guide for a fly rod. Have you used this type before.?

 

[Divad]

Interesting stripping guide for a fly rod. Have you used this type before.?

I think it’s an illusion as now that I look at that photo it does look like a backwards single foot. But this is what it is:

It’s a Cerecoil in size 16. I did a comparison on my first build and I liked the way the 16 stripper handled double hauling large amounts of line. 16, 10, 5, 3s to the tip. Almost did 2s, but the REC single foot 2s are 5.75mm internal diameter, 3s are 6.15mm.

 

[Zissou Intern]

View attachment 119099
6wt 9ft NFC LMX FAF with REC titanium guides is finished. Now for cp when home and epoxy. I really like this color combo, fitting for a rod that’ll be used on the sound.

Next will be the NFC LMX 1103 that ill be turning into a trout spey or the Moonlit S-Glass 6wt.

Please post some pictures once you lay down the epoxy.

 

[Divad]

Wanted to cover the branding on this 6wt Moonlit S-Glass build so I tried my first dragon scale. Didn’t have size E or D thread so I used 8lb Maxima.

Used the new Fuji Prisma thread and it turned out great!

Haven’t decided on the secondary color for this orange blank, either yellow, orange or red. And I’ll do a trim band on each wrap of the prisma thread.

 

[Divad]

LMX FAF 906 is done! Can’t wait to cast this one. Very happy with the color combo, also the peacock feathers have a nice subtle glisten in the sunlight.

 

[Wetswinger]

Nice build.! That is a pro quality job..the ridged surface of the FAF makes for some good cussing, eh.? I bought one on their last sale to build for my stepson. The two I own cast sweet.

 

[Divad]

Nice build.! That is a pro quality job..the ridged surface of the FAF makes for some good cussing, eh.? I bought one on their last sale to build for my stepson. The two I own cast sweet.

Indeed a bit of a pain. I started packing just about every turn or two that way if a ridge tried to split the thread I could slide some of the tightly packed thread over.

That is a good gift, he is going to be very happy!

 

[Chinook Angler]

A really nice build Divad! Many custom builds I see look amateurish and just plain gaudy. Not this one. Good job!

 

[PhilR]

Nice build.! That is a pro quality job..the ridged surface of the FAF makes for some good cussing, eh.? I bought one on their last sale to build for my stepson. The two I own cast sweet.

I sanded mine to reduce the cussing. Hope they aren’t structural.

 

[Herkileez]

LMX FAF 906 is done! Can’t wait to cast this one. Very happy with the color combo, also the peacock feathers have a nice subtle glisten in the sunlight.

Classy job all around !