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I have never made my own rod but I might, kinda,maybe, thinkin I may try it.
So I have a few questions for you guys.
Is there a trick to line up the guides?
Can you paint the rods?? With what kind of paint??
What is the best epoxy to coat the wraps??
THanks Dustin http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
Dustin,
Your eyes are the best tool for aligning guides
You can paint the blanks with many different paints, or tinted urethanes.
A simple automative paint (preferably ones used for bumpers) like duplicolor will work fine. Use a quality urethane over the top (like Helsmann Spar Urethane).
Alternatively, you can mix pigment in with a urethane (like permagloss) and spread with cheese cloth or a foam brush.
Any of the brand name 2 part epoxies work great (flexcoat, threadmaster etc...).
Make sure you mix exactly 50/50 and mix thoroughly.
Do not use epoxy glues for guides, nor use guide finish as rod finish.
Good luck
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Obed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dustin,
Your eyes are the best tool for aligning guides
You can paint the blanks with many different paints, or tinted urethanes.
A simple automative paint (preferably ones used for bumpers) like duplicolor will work fine. Use a quality urethane over the top (like Helsmann Spar Urethane).
Alternatively, you can mix pigment in with a urethane (like permagloss) and spread with cheese cloth or a foam brush.
Any of the brand name 2 part epoxies work great (flexcoat, threadmaster etc...).
Make sure you mix exactly 50/50 and mix thoroughly.
Do not use epoxy glues for guides, nor use guide finish as rod finish.
Good luck</TD></TR></TABLE>
http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
There are different methods for lining up guides. The one that works the best for me is:
1. Put a reel on after you attach the first guide(closest to the butt) and align it.
2. Wrap the rest of the guides aligning them to the first one as close as possible. They don't have to be perfect at this point.
3. When you're done wrapping, hold the rod out with the guides on the underside. One by one align the guides going up toward the tip.
As far as painting, I think you know from a previous discussion what my opinion on weight is http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif , so i like my blanks naked. If you have to color them, the easiest and most durable way is the tinted permagloss method described above. Use Testors model paint to tint. Opinions vary on what is the best thread finish. I've tried many brands, but I keep going back to Flex Coat Lite. A little advice, don't buy an expensive blank for your first couple of builds. Practice on a couple of cheaper ones until you get a feel for it, then you can move up when you feel more comfortable with your abilities. Or, you can buy wooden dowel rods and practice on those. Once you find out what you can do yourself, you'll never buy a prebuilt rod again. Last, ask lots of questions in this forum. Good luck.
http://www.rodbuilding.org
You might not get around to building there is so much to read from lots of sources. As with everything, some good, some great, some you just shake your head and wonder...
While your at rodbuilding.org click on the Rodmaker Magazine link on the left side of the page. They sell a book by Tom Kirkman (publisher of Rodmaker) that has everything you need to know to build your first rod successfully. Once you build the first you will be addicted.