mikeandronda
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- May 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,888
I am curious if any of you out there build your own rods and if so how hard and exspensive is it to get started? Any links or info would be great.
<br />My brother in law does, and I am getting started.<br /><br />You can make a little wrapping stand, or use a cardboard box to start.<br />Get a little motorized drying rack for $25 on ebay.<br /><br /> http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/Sa...building&from=R10&catref=C0&basicsearch=&sore cordsperpage=100&sosortorder=2<br /><br />This guy sells these everyday:<br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3621616412&category=384 <br /><br />Not knowing what components to buy, I decided to get a kit from Cabela's. A St. Croix blank, and all components, epoxy, and finish, $80. <br /><br />I went with STCroix because I could check out a rod at Gander Mountain, and then order the exact blank used in that rod. I also got some extra spools of thread, so I could use the colors that I liked, instead of the ones in the kit. I still need a clamp to hold the handles and seat together while gluing, but I will make that.<br /><br />So for $115 I am set and ready to start. Been practicing wrapping the thread on an old rod of mine. <br /><br />I also bought a book, The new Advanced Custom Rod Building, by Dale P Clemens. 350 pages !!! Lots of tips and info and history lessons in there.<br /><br />Been to a million websites. Here are the best ones.<br /> http://www.distantwaters.com/onlstore_aw/aw_home.asp <br /> http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/ <br /> http://www.mudhole.com/ <br /> http://www.shofftackle.com/default.html <br /> http://www.flexcoat.com/tipdex.html <br /> http://www.decalconnection.com/ <br /><br />I searched 8 websites and 3 catalogs before I realized that they all had the exact same price on StCroix rod blanks, except for Cabelas which was a little higher. <br /><br />I like this kind of crafty stuff, but have been putting it off till the weather gets cold and rainy. Man has it been a dry couple of years around here, this summer especially. <br /><br />I still have and use my original rod holder. It is a 36"X6"X½" pine board with a "Y" notched piece of vertical wood on each end. The "Y" notch is padded with some moleskin like you use for blisters on your feet. The rod sits in the "Y"'s about 5" above the board and there are a several bent pieces of coat hanger on the board to hold spools of wraping thread. I usually run the thread between the pages of a book to keep tension on the thread. I turn the rod by hand as I am not in a hurry, I only make rods for myself.<br /><br />When I got started I checked out a book from the library, and used to visit the local sporting good stores and ask if they had any damaged rods for sale. You would be surprised at how many get broken by people looking at them. They would usually let me have them for about 5 cents on the dollar. I would take the parts from several and make one good one. I seldom build a rod now, as I have quite a few. But I still repair them and try out some fancy thread patterns.