rod building and rebuilding

[Kracker Jack]

Does anybody build rods on here? Im thinking about building a couple trolling rods just to say I did. My buddy has a wrapper set up and im gonna buy some blanks and give it a shot.

Im currently testing the waters by upgrading 4 daiwa beefsticks they seem to be decent heavy action blanks but the grips and reel seats are freaking junk. Im putting new tapered 12' EVA grips, Fuji hd reel seats and converting the butts to gimble. I bought 4 of these beefsticks at bass pro for super stupid cheap (on sale for like 14.00) like 6 years ago and they are tough as hell and troll my heavy Mojo and parachute rigs for striper nicely. They just have short grips.cheap reel seats and a rubber butt cap. So im gonna upgrade them.I will post pics of progress tomorrow.

[phatdaddy]

i used to 10 or 15 years ago, but the components just got so exspensive. it s a fun project in the winter. i gave all my stuff to a buddy, so now when i need something repaired , i just take it to him. i still have 3 0r 4 of the rods i built and it means a little something extra to bring in a fish on one you have built.

and when you get good at it, you'll be amazed at how many of your friends will have a project for you.

[macojoe]

Before I lost my hands I use to build some rods. Nothing great but was getting pretty good at it! I made a few for friends and I made for my dad, son, daughter, also still have like 4 or so of mine.
It is fun and additive once you start. But as stated above the stuff is getting $$$ and nothing beats a Ugly Stick for the money! I use the Tigra Ugly's they are about $60 and take a beating!

Good Luck on your build, can't wait to see your work!

[Kracker Jack]

Was going thru my rods today. I have a couple Fenwick rods that we had set up for wire lining. They are missing roller guides and butt caps, I might make them my first test dummys for wrapping eyes. I will strip them down and start from scratch.

[wellcraftv20step]

I built rods for many years and loved every second of it . like macojoe said it is very addictive. after a while you will learn to do wrap fish , flags cheverons and such. Then youl find yourself re doing the ones you first did because you'v learned so much . and like phat said your friends will keep you busy. the only reason i stopped building was arthritis in my hands! nothing like realing in a 30 lb bass on your a rod you built with your own hands. i'd be happy to give you some pointers. enjoy

[Kracker Jack]

Here's the up grade I did to some cheap yet decent rods. I put up graded 12 inch tapered Eva foregrip and rear grip and a pac sun HD reel seat. I also put a roller top on it. I have some 4/0's and 6/0's laying around I'm gonna set them up with.

[wellcraftv20step]

I find that using a rheostat or speed control along with an old sewing machine foot switch is the best way to go. It allows you to spin the rod at the speed you want without the leg cramps, no worring about how much pressure your applying to the pedal ,this lets you control the speed of the wrap simply with pressure of your thumb and index finger

[Redneck]

I built a few My Dad has just about become a Master at it. he has box's of stuff a nice adjustable rod holder. He still uses a BBQ roticary to spin the rod while curing the epoxy and spins the thread by hand still. if I had to guess he probabaly built 60-70 rods so far. He used to go to grage sales and buy old rods redo some of them and turn the rest into custom icefishing rods or small/short boat rods for the kid's. Very satisfying and addictive like the othes said and you cane match the colors to your gear.

[Kracker Jack]

Well I finally got around to it like a month ago ago built that manual rod wrapper. It about 1/2 day to build it. The bobbin is made to slide back and forth to get to those odd guides, the thread tensioner armature is actually a stainless ARM cut off a small dredge we use for striper fishing. She turned out really cool.

[Kracker Jack]

Practicing a little on some single foot guides. I'm gonna make me some speckle trout rods first.