Rookie builder

[laughterin]

How to get a smooth flat finish on guides and decorative wraps. Can I use any epoxy for the reel seat and cork. Distance from reel to stripper guide? I know its alot ask.

[luckycrank]

what blank are you using? do some reasearch at mudhole or various

batson has a guide spacing chart available on line at Batson Enterprises.

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[unfrozen]

Buy yourself the book by Tom Kirkman, Rod Building Guide. Lots of good information in there for the beginning builder. You can also do a search on this forum or other rod building forums to get opinions regarding the different aspects of building rods.

[upnorth]

Welcome to Hotspotoutdoors Laughterin.

Smooth flat finish on wraps? I start out warming the epoxy, then mix/fold it slowly for a couple minutes to keep bubbles to a minimum. I put the epoxy on the wraps with a brush but more of a transfer device, I don't really brush it as much as gob it on and use the brush to kinda move it where I want it. I od have a turner/dryer, but the first hour I turn it by hand and allow it to sag a little and wick off the spots where it looks uneven. That allows the epoxy's self leveling properties to do there thing.--

I like to use 30 minute epoxy for the reel seat and cork. I keep some rubbing alcohol nearby to clean things up. Way back I just used waterproof wood glue, I have a 25 year old fly rod that I beat to death steelhead fishing that I did that way that is still holding up, I wouldn't do that today, but heck it worked.

I like to have the first guide/stripper about 24/25 inches from the center of the reel seat depending on the blank, that is for a spinning rod.

Both Batson Enterprise and St. Croix have good guide spacing charts on their websites.

[Heartman]

Look up guide spacing online and you'll find all you need. Also, look up rod-building online and you'll find a wealth of information about glue, thread, wrapping and everything else associated with rod-building.

Never made much money building rods, but after 25 years and probably several hundred completed rods, I own maybe 20 high-end custom built rods I use for everything from sunnies to muskies, fly to 9' spinning rods. Feels darn good to know the rods I build for others catch fish too - a great hobby to work into.

Good luck!

[laughterin]

Thanks for all the info. I bought a kit from mudhole as a starter. 6' light action split grip. I have a home made wrapper that seems to work fine. I have messed around on an old rod wrapping and finishing guides. Where do you buy the 30 min epoxy for the reel seat and do I use it on the cork as well? Also, is a 6rpm motor efficient for drying?

[upnorth]

You should be able to find the 30 min epoxy at almost any hardware type store. I get mine at the local fleet supply store up here. I use the same epoxy to attach the cork also.

6 rpm motor should be perfect for a dryer. Mine is 18 rpm and I wish it was bit slower.

Here is a post I put together a while back that show some of the equipment that I use.

Supplies and equipment

[laughterin]

I notice the blank I have has a bend in it. But the spine is not aligned with it. So how should I build on it. Also, are there any pics around of a static test setup? Is there an equation as far as grip size to the length of the arm or how do I choose for the proper fit and balance?

[upnorth]

Best bet is to build along the straightest axis. If you are building a spinning rod put the guides on the bottom of where it curves up. Rare is a completely true blank.

Rule of thumb for the butt end would be from where your wrist to the inside of you elbow, no longer or it gets a bit tiring. I would go a bit longer on a rod where you plan on doing a lot of 2 handed casting.