building a rod

bassindago · October 17, 2006, 02:16:09 PM

i'm building my first rod for my dad for christmas. when i flex the rod and find the natural curve is the spine on top of the curve or underneath. and for a casting rod do i put the guides on top of the spine or opposite the spine. please if anyone knows i'd appreciate the help as i want my dads rod to be the best i can build

Dunham Fisher · October 17, 2006, 03:20:42 PM

bassindago, for a casting rod, place the guides on top of the spline. For a spinning rod, just the opposite. I think it's great that your building a custom rod for your father. The world would be a better plasce if more fathers and sons fished together. Good luck. and let us know how the rod comes out.

NEBassMan · October 17, 2006, 05:01:00 PM

just a suggestion, but check out rodbuilders.org....can find any info you need.

Jason

PBTriton · October 18, 2006, 03:12:39 AM

Bassindago,

take a piece of masking tape and wrap around the blank about midway up.
Flex the blank and find the spine and make a lengthwise mark on the tape showing you the spine.

For a casting rod, the guides will go on top of the spine,(180 degrees from your mark).
For a spinning rod, the guides will go on the same side as your mark.

What have you decided to do about the handle...?

The best advise I could give you is this: take PLENTY of time. Choose a good quality guide, reel seat, and handle configuration.
Practice your wraps and your finish BEFORE you do the actual rod.

Your dad, and you, will be proud of this rod, and he will keep it forever, so try and do the best possible job you can.

there is a ton of useful info@
rodbuilding.org and www.flexcoat.com

Let me know if I can help.

bassindago · October 18, 2006, 07:19:03 AM

i appreciate the information. will the spine be the inside curve of the rod or the outside. thank all of yall i love this site you can ask a question and not get made to feel stupid. this site is deffinately like coming home

PBTriton · October 18, 2006, 09:05:08 AM

with your tape in place, when you roll the blank on the floor, when you feel the blank "jump" to it's desired position, that's when you mark your tape with a length wise mark ( parallel, or the same direction as the blank (going from top to bottom).
Now.....this mark, shows you on which side of the blank in which the spine is located,(the spine is actually the opposite side of the mark). This is important, as it shows you WHERE the blank wants to bend and where to place your guides, depending on weather it is a casting or spinning blank.

Now....the answer to your question is....the spine will be on the OPPOSITE side where you place your mark upon the masking tape. If it is a casting rod, the spine will be on the OUTside (same side where your guides will be placed). The spine is on the OPPOSITE side where the blank "WANTS" to bend.

$:-\$

Ok....listen....there are no stupid questions when it comes to rod building. It is not an easy craft to do well on the first 5 or 6 rods. It takes practice, making and overcoming your mistakes, and more practice. As you do more, your understanding will become clearer.
Now, with all that being said, I would HIGHLY recommend that you take a step back, contact Flexcoat and get their little book on basic rod building, also get a book by Tom Kirkman "Rod-Building Guide".
You can find both of these over at the rodbuilding.org site.

I'll be gone for a few days to the Santee rally, but, let me know if you need more help.....and.....if your anything like me when I started.....you will.

Just don't make the mistake of trying to rush this project. Do your homework so that you can produce a rod that you will truly be proud of.

Good luck.......go to work.

jstrozier · October 18, 2006, 12:40:02 PM

this is something I would like to try. I checked a couple sites. anyone no a site were it breaks it down. I dont need step by step direction, just the basic process

bassindago · October 23, 2006, 07:33:00 AM

would you believe i found the spine got the handle on and when i went to attach the reel seat the epoxy that was sent with the kit dried as i had the reel seat half way on. i used denatured alcohol and heat to try and get the reel seat off and i twisted too hard and broke the rod between the reel seat and the handle. so i ordered a new kit. but i went and bought some slow drying epoxy for the reel seat so i dont run into the same problem. if this does not work then i think i'm gonna wait for a while till my wife gets over me wasting the money.

PBTriton · October 24, 2006, 09:06:58 PM

sounds like 5 minute epoxy.

I dont use it for reel seats, I would rather work slow, and have plenty of time for clean up.

Mistakes happen....file it in your brain. At least you wont make that one again.

What kind of epoxy did you buy this second time.....

??, I hope it is one designed for rods and not something out of a hardware store.

Take your time....go slow....Christmas is 60 days away.

Give me updates and pics.

bassindago · October 25, 2006, 05:42:55 AM

the glue is actually from walmart 2 ton glue. i learned of this from reading some stuff off of rodbuilding .org. but u r right i have plenty of time befor e christmas. and i do plan on taking pictures as i'm going to give them to my dad also when i'm done to show the start and the end.

PBTriton · October 25, 2006, 08:18:24 AM

I have not used any such epoxy from Wallyworld. IF you read that someone on rodbuilding.org had used it with GOOD results, then I might give it a try.
otherwise, I would use a product designed for the job....if for nothing else, the peace of mind.
I have always used "Rod Bond", have confidence in that, and have had excellent results, cleans up good, no failures.

good luck, keep me posted from task to task.

TackleTester · October 25, 2006, 06:28:07 PM

As has been stated, take your time and make it quality....Rod Building is tedious project and requires a high level of patience. I have built many and you get better with each one so just don't get frustrated and most of all enjoy it

bassindago · October 27, 2006, 07:31:17 AM

well i got my replacement rod in yesterday hope to do better on this one.

bassindago · October 31, 2006, 12:55:58 PM

PBTriton i hope this works here are some picts of the rod so far

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480038154/6
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480051953/5
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480029461/3

getting ready to start wrapping. ill let u know how it goes.

PBTriton · October 31, 2006, 01:11:06 PM

I cant get the links to work.
Make sure you use the "insert hyperlink" button above.

bassindago · October 31, 2006, 02:17:00 PM

i think i got this right this time
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480038154/6
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480051953/5
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/294928803480052039/2

PBTriton · October 31, 2006, 02:25:52 PM

still not working for me.
Are they working for you??? I may be doing something wrong.

T1A · October 31, 2006, 03:24:36 PM

no werky here either it says " something bad happened"

Andrew · October 31, 2006, 05:33:15 PM

Just saw this thread. Been wanting to try some and just purchased a rodsmith wapper and drier setup from cabela's and three cheap cabelas rod kits to practice on this winter. Figured i would get use to the wrapper and motor with the cheap kits then try some gloomis blanks. Got some dvds and a book to help also.

We needed a rod making thread somewheres.....

bassindago · November 01, 2006, 07:31:49 AM

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/giaconeiii/photo/
okay i did this and clicked it and it took me to the link. i hope this was just not cause my computer recognized it. sorry this has not worked for ya'll.

bassindago · November 01, 2006, 07:41:51 AM

andrew what kind of kits did u get? i got the 6'6" IM7 cabelas rod for $50. it's okay but what i've found is that the guides are too big for the end of the rod. they will work but it's going to be a pain in the but to put them on. so i might order some different type guides. i gonna try and i'll let u know how it goes. since i broke my first rod i have extra thread so i'll only have to order the guides.

PBTriton · November 01, 2006, 08:28:49 AM

Bassindago,

I still cannot get to the pics. It may a situation where you have to be a member of Yahoo, have a password, etc.....and I don't.
A lot of the folks use "Shutterfly" http://www.shutterfly.com/.

As far as yur comment on your guides. I am thinking you are speaking of the "tip top" or more commonly known as the "tip".
DO NOT use a tip that does not fit...!!! There should be NO "slop" in the fit. The tip should slide onto the blank with a very close fit. If it is too big....return it to Cabela's....or upgrade the guides.
You will have to look at the blank spec's and see what size tip it calls for.

This is a fairly common problem with kit type rods, they are mostly a conglomeration of things thrown together. As you progress in the craft, you will be ordering everything seperately to match.

Still want to see those pics......good luck.

bassindago · November 01, 2006, 10:24:24 AM

i wish it was just the tip, the tip actually fits nicely it's the rest of the guides. i'm going to upgrade the guides. any suggestions. i'll try the shutterfly.i thought about putting the pictures on this site but i did not see a place for miscellaneous pictures.

bassindago · November 01, 2006, 10:31:45 AM

PBTriton, sorry bout that i forgot to make the photos public u should now be able to see tham.

PBTriton · November 01, 2006, 10:55:38 AM

STILL.........no pics.

Forget yahoo.....go to shutterfly....make it all public.

I need more info in re: to your rod.
casting or spinning.......

?
why do feel like the guides are too big.....is it the feet, or the rings...

what sizes are the rings...(all of them).

I'm glad to hear you want to upgrade the guides...Usually in kits, you get a low end set of guides....your building an IM 7 rod.....pretty nice rod. So, I would suggest getting some Fuji Alconites. Very light, very strong, will hold up to braid, or any other line for that matter.

Give me the model # of the kit that you purchased, I can check it out and be easier to make suggestions to you.

Any guides that you use will require prepping. Have you studied up on that...??