Rat Rod

[pureinsanity]

Just throwing this one out here in hopes of some creative suggestions.

I am basing a rod off of a Rat Rod Hot Rod. Rusty, Several colors of paint and primer, and basically stripped to the bare bones or cobbled together with things. Essentially, my goal is to make this rod very appealing to the eye such as that old rusty looking hot rod driving down the road. I know we've all see one or two in our day and you always do a double take!

I picked up a 7' E glass blank and I'm just starting to put things all together and try some ideas. I am doing a simple spiral wrap and started laying the under wrap for one of the eyes.

My under wrap consists of a rusty brown, then I added a few other colors as I went.

My over wrap is going to be Fish Hawk Variegated Thread in the color "Sand"

I am contemplating adding things such as a piece of duct tape, or a band aid around one of the foot guides to give it the appearance it is securing the guide to the blank as if the thread it self has failed.

My handle is just cobbled together but feels nice!

Anyone have any ideas? Anymore color suggestions? I am open to color suggestions on the over wrap. I even contemplated just going with sand for the over and under wrap. Any ideas to put under the finish to make it look more cobbled together with parts from home?

Thanks

[CAMAN]

I would have used a flat black unfinished blank instead of the glossy painted one.

One thing that might be cool is homemade guides. Take a piece of spring steel (like used for large bucktails) bend it around a stick and bend a couple guide feet on each end.

I like the handle, that looks pretty cool.

[pureinsanity]

Unfinished blank would be cool. I could always scuff the finish off. I think most E-glass blanks will be in a gloss though.

[pureinsanity]

after wrapping, re-wrapping, wrapping again with other colors I just wasn't happy. I finally just decided to keep it simple with tan and black.

[TooTallTom]

Is it possible to leave the tag ends on the wraps? If that doesn't cause problems from a durability/ longevity standpoint, it might contribute to the "cobbled together" look you're after. And what about using some larger-diameter string for the wraps, so it looks like you just used whatever was lying around? The handle looks good, and I like the duct tape/ band-aid idea.

Maybe try a thought experiment for brain storming: "I'm out fishing, my rod just broke/ the guide came off/ some other random problem. How do I fix it and keep fishing?"

[Northlander]

Hose clamps for reel seats? I guess having the actual bolt and stuff on it would be painfull to the hands but maybe just use the band? Maybe a radio tuning knob on the but end?

[pureinsanity]

All great ideas! Perhaps I better order another blank