Any Rod Builders Out There?

[hoglaw]

I'm looking to get into rod building. Anyone here involved in building rods? Anyone given it up and have supplies/tools they want to sell? Anyone have any words of wisdom for a newbie?

[rps]

Mudhole sells supplies, materials, tools and their website has tutorials for free. Their service is excellent.

The wrapping of the guides is the easy part, and handle building with kits is fairly straight forward. Decorative wraps and the epoxy finish can be tricky. I have never lathed or machined my own handle from scratch.

The part I like is being able to customize the rod. For example, I add weight inside the blank at the base of the handle. The rod weighs more, but the casting and fishing seem like less work because of the fulcrum factor.

Good luck.

[hoglaw]

My main line of thinking here is that this will be a hobby that may take off into an obsession. I like the idea of being able to learn decorative wraps for gift rods. I also like the idea of being able to build on top of the line blanks for less money than getting a retail rod. Like fly tying, I'm sure it takes more than a couple of rods to hit that break even point, but I know offers on bulk blanks come up every now and then.

In my internet searching, I did come across Mudhole. Looks like a wealth of information and pretty good prices to boot.

[Bittle]

I have gotten into rod building within the last year and it is addicting. Its pretty easy and there are several forums that are loads of help. I'm really wanting to start building bamboo rods. Good luck.

[hoglaw]

Bittle:

Any advice on what to buy/avoid during the first few months? I don't need to get into lathes and all of that jazz, but do I need a specialized rack? Tools for winding thread?

Should I just stick to components the first couple of times around? I'll get involved in a dedicated rod building forum at some point, just figured I'd angle for some easy pointers first.

You're not related to Larry Bittle in Fayetteville by chance, are you?

[Rolan Duffield]

I can send you a writeup I made for building a fly rod. This includes a list of the materials most likely used in making a fly rod. Email me your address, if interrested.

One of the most important steps is to locate the "Spline" of the rod before you start construction. OK. do you know what the spline is?

Cabelas also makes a booklet titled "Cabelas rod building instructions." I have seen these in the Cabelas store near the rod building materials. They also include a copy when you purchase one of their kits.

Rolan

[ness]

Like others have said, it's not too difficult to do. But I'd add that doing it *well* takes some practice.

You can get by without a rod wrapper by cutting a couple v's in either side of a box, setting the blank in. Drop the spool of wrapping thread in a glass behind the box, run it through the pages of a heavy book and up onto your rod. (I don't know if you understand what I just wrote ...) I did a couple like that, then built a wrapper out of scrap oak and a few wing-nuts, screws, springs, etc.

The guide wraps are fairly straight-forward. First file down the tips so they taper nicely to the blank. Start the wrap by looping the thread around the blank, then secure the tag end by wrapping over it. As you near the end, place a separate loop of thread down (loop out), put on 3-4 more wraps then cut it off. Put the tag-end in the loop and pull it back up under the wraps. If you screw it up, cut it off and start over.

The key to epoxy is to resist the urge to put on too much too fast. Warm it to thin it, and do multiple thin coats. Your patience will be rewarded. Place the rod back into the v's between each coat (thin, remember?) and rotate the rod 1/4 turn every few minutes until it sets up. This prevents the wet epoxy from sagging and creating a thick spot.

I've never jacked with turning my own handles. I just buy the preformed ones. Use a round rasp to expand the hole so your blank fits through. Build up the circumference where needed with rings of masking tape.

Reel seats run the gamut from aluminum/plastic cheapies to nickle silver beauties with burled-wood inserts.

It's a really rewarding hobby. And, like you said, you can get a quality blank and the hardware for a fraction of the retail cost of the rod. Many of the top-end manufacturers give lifetime warranties on blanks as well as their rods.

Bamboo blanks are becoming easier to find too. I did one a few years back and really like the rod. It's got pretty sexy hardware: nickle-silver sliding-band reel seat with a burled ash insert; n.s. ferrules, silk wraps, agate stripping guide.

Rod Building Forum is a great resource with tutorials, photos, helpful folks. Angler's Workshop is a good source for stuff.

[Gavin]

Ness offers some good advice, and he wraps a mighty fine rod...Bought all you really need are some files to fit your grip, a notched out cardboard box as a wrapping jig and something to apply tension to the thread while you wrap.

After that...you might want to add an electric motor to spin you rod while the finish cures, and look for a friend with a lathe if you want to do your own grips.

Mudhole & Angler's Workshop have a good variety of components at all price points..If you want high end, take a look at Goldenwitch.

[grizwilson]

Tonight, March 5, 2009 at the Missouri Trout Fisherman's Assoc. meeting at the MCD Springfield Nature Center there is going to be a presentation on Rod Building. Fly tying starts at 6, the meeting and presentation to follow. I am a memberand plan on being there, you are invited as my guest. I plan on attending then boucing next door to see Bill Babler's talk, should be a great evening of information. Also note Charlie Reading at Reading Fly Shop, between Bennett Springs and Lebanon is a great resource.

g

[crappie crippler]

My Dad builds rods. He does have a fancy rod wrapper machine and you can spend lots of money on start up. But one of the pros to doing this is satisfaction of using something that you built yourself as a tool to perform your favorite pastime of fishing. I still get as giddy as a schoolgirl when I catch a fish on a jig I made and I have been tying them for years! Also if you choose to sell them, you will make your initial investment back in a hurry. Many folks like to have a rod made just for them. It can be a booger starting out though. I would go with the simple V-shape wooden wrapper to practice. Check online with www.barlowstackle.com , www.jannsnetcraft.com , wild river distributing for blanks and components. Also lots of books, videos, and web sites out there for instruction. Good Luck