Rod Building The Rod Building Thread

Went 0for 2 today. Went to epoxy some thread wraps, and the silk went super dark. Like chocolate to almost black. So cut it off and cleaned it up.

I had another rod all taped up for grip, reel seat, and fighting butt. Went outside in the shade to glue it up. By the time I had the grip on and starting to spread glue for the seat, the glue was congealing. Cup with glue was too hot to touch. So, took it all off and cleaned it up.

My disgruntled customer may have to wait a little longer ☹️

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Just a couple notes. This is not the end word, just a couple things I learned from my own disasters. The best thing for me was switching to gel epoxy for gluing things together. Doesn't run and slop all over the place. Easy to control.
Then, the very last thing I do, after the grip, thread wrapping, coating, etc.,, is put on the reel seat. It nice to have access to the rear of the bare blank while spinning on the thread and coating without a wobbling reel seat. Just me. Best of all going forward..
 

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Wetswinger said:
Just a couple notes. This is not the end word, just a couple things I learned from my own disasters. The best thing for me was switching to gel epoxy for gluing things together. Doesn't run and slop all over the place. Easy to control.
Then, the very last thing I do, after the grip, thread wrapping, coating, etc.,, is put on the reel seat. It nice to have access to the rear of the bare blank while spinning on the thread and coating without a wobbling reel seat. Just me. Best of all going forward..
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I too prefer a thicker building epoxy for grips/seats. Then again I glue up my seat and grip before wrapping for static line tests. Then curse myself when I do the butt wrap and have to spin on the reel seat 😁 your way fixes that issue.

If you ever want to try some of the U40 Rod Bond you’re welcome to take some from my tubs to mix. It’s more time consuming pre-mix since you have to eyeball the ratio but I haven’t had an issue and the sh*t is flexible and strong! I was sold on it when I learned it was created as an aviation adhesive. Dam marketing 🙃
 
After experimenting last year with birch bark and rattan grips, I was curious about using cottonwood bark. I finished these this past winter, using CWd bark, along with various accents...also did another, using rattan wrap while I was at it.

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I’m a sucker for a sale…

X4 Gammabeta 906
X3 LMX FAF 906
X3 Iconoglass 868
- One cut to 8’4” to test
X1 LMX FAF 908

More cork and REC guide trains on the way.

Just finished a 7wt Spey, and 1wt Trout Spey I’ll have to get pictures of along with the other builds during my hiatus.
 
After a five month wait, I finally received my order of three “classic” model, No. Fork Composite fly blanks. I’m a huge fan of these “classic” model rods. They’re made on the original G. Loomis GLX taper in Gary Loomis’s Woodland, WA. factory. I chose the Medium flex on all these rods. I made and sold a 8’-3#, and then built this 9’-6# for my own personal rod. That’s the third one for myself now. I still have a 8’6”-4# to build later.
The reel seat is a Garrison style seat invented by the renowned bamboo rod maker Everett Garrison. I get them through Proof Fly Fishing supply. This one is a down loading seat. I fish stillwater with my rod tip near or in the water most the time and I find the down loading reel seat balances things better for me.
Alright, I’m off to the pond, at least in my mine.

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