Glasstoration Project.

[Wheatenheimer]

A few months ago I was out in the garage looking for something that I don't remember and I found this old Fiberglass fly rod that I forgot I had.

I thought, hey it would be cool to strip it down to a blank and put some new components on it..............make it fishable again!

So broke the old cork off the handle, cut the guides off and started sanding all the old varnish off the blank. When I got it all sanded smooth, I sprayed several coats of clear lacquer on the blank to get that shine back. I then built a cork ring handle on it.

Then I laithed it down to shape. I had a hard time finding a reel seat with a big enough inner diameter to fit the fat fiberglass rod. So I found one close and then filed the inside down till it fit.

Wrapped the guides, and threw some epoxy at it and called it good!

It's a 7'6" that throw's a 5 weight line pretty good. Think I'll use it on some smallmouth streams next year!

[timsfly]

Looks good, should make a good smallie rod.

Rod looks like new, good way to bring an old

rod back to a new life, I really like fishing my

glass rods.

[Wheatenheimer]

Looks good, should make a good smallie rod.

Rod looks like new, good way to bring an old

rod back to a new life, I really like fishing my

glass rods.

Tim, thanks for the compliments! Like yourself, I really dig the glass rods. I have a 7'6" 3 weight Lamiglass that I built over a decade ago and have about 60 bucks in it. I have got more mileage out of it than any other rod I have ever owned!

Pretty jazzed up about the "new" addition! Thanks again for checking it out!

Kevin

[Flysmallie]

Tim, thanks for the compliments! Like yourself, I really dig the glass rods. I have a 7'6" 3 weight Lamiglass that I built over a decade ago and have about 60 bucks in it. I have got more mileage out of it than any other rod I have ever owned!

Pretty jazzed up about the "new" addition! Thanks again for checking it out!

Kevin

You suck.

I really like the new grip. Looks very cool.

[Danoinark]

My, my, its amazing how some of these young whippersnappers figure out that glass truly has class and discover its finesse. I definitely have hope for you Kevin. You overhauled a fine piece it looks like.

Dano

[eric1978]

The grip is really cool...unique. Well done!

[ness]

I skipped over this thread several time because I didn't get the subject line. But, I finally figured it out (doh!) and think that sounds like a cool project. I can't see the pictures at work though. Can't wait to get home and see this one.

I've been kicking around the idea of doing a fiberglass rod, and have an old and very ugly glass 8-weight that is a candidate for a makeover. This may just be the inspiration to do something with it.

[ness]

Finally got back to look at the rod. Nice work there!

I'm curious what you finished the blank with, and how you applied it.

[Wheatenheimer]

Finally got back to look at the rod. Nice work there!

I'm curious what you finished the blank with, and how you applied it.

Hey Nessie!

Thanks for givin' it a look! When I stripped all the old hardware off, I sanded and sanded and sanded some more. I started with 600 grit and worked it down to wet-sanding the blank with 2000 grit to make it nice and smooth. Then started putting very light coats of Valspar Hi-Gloss Clear Laquer that I picked up at Lowes in an aerosol can (wet sanding with that 2000 grit between coats.)

After maybe 8 to 10 coats, I finally got a sheen that I was satisfied with.

I encourage you to get on that old ugly 8 weight and make her pretty! It really wasn't that hard and cost very little, not to mention it was a lot of fun!

Thanks again and good luck!

Kevin

[ness]

Thanks for the info. I would have been scared to sand on a blank like that, fearing I'd get down into the fiberglass. But, really I've got nothing to lose with that old war club of mine. I'm gonna put that on the (ever-growing) list of things to do this winter.