$14 Reclamation project

[thorhammer]

A lot of what I do is not so much rod restoration as reclamation of cast-offs. Resto is usually only worth it on say, an old Fenwick, Harnell, etc. This doesn't include repair; I'm talking about the Full Monte.

Rod: This particular project came to me as a broken off Ugly Stick with three smashed guides....say what you will about US, one would have to about intentionally try to hurt one in this manner....I bought it in a $1 each barrel at a pawn shop. Added some Pac Bay guides from another broken Daiwa I was given and repurposed a Fuji boat tip from another pawn special....all total about $4 in materials including finish and thread for a powerful 5'6" jigging stick. When I come up on such an orphan, I usually rewrap in black / red / silver because sooner or later a Penn will need a home. Not too shabby.

Reel: Penn 160 bought for $5 at a junk store this past summer. Cracked tailplate replaced courtesy of our Harry K; thanks Harry! Harry owes pictures of the Cardinal 4 body resto I traded him He really hooked me up on a cache of parts! Reel cleaned, nice steel gears inside, lubed, and I cobbled together a decent drag out of bits I had laying around. Finished off by replacing old crank with a shiny red one I had in the handle bin to match. I've not used Cajun Red to have an opinion on it, but my father liked it and it looks cool....so I'm in $9 and four of that is line....$14 total.

[coastal_dan]

Wow!  Well done...$14 for a lifetime combo..WIN!

[thorhammer]

Thanks! BTW you are responsible for the "Red Kick" I've been on for the last year....This rod is strong enough I may put my red Abu 8000 two-speed on it but I kind of like the $14 pair.

[49Freak]

WOW is right, nice work!

[ReelFishingProblems]

Very nice work! Looks like you've been doing this a while.

[thorhammer]

About 25 years on and off, I suppose. Your guides should arrive today or tomorrow, Nick, and then your purpose build will move quickly. At a stopping point without them.

J

[ReelFishingProblems]

I'm in no immediate rush John, won't be putting it in water until January anyways. I really admire your ability to envision a new life for that broken rod. Makes me want to start learning

[STRIPER LOU]

Nicely done John and at a bargain price to boot!
................Lou

[mo65]

   I love these low-dollar projects. It takes just as much skill(sometimes more) to produce a nice usable rod or reel from trash bin scraps...three cheers for the frugal!!

[thorhammer]

Thanks, gents! I got into the whole rod thing starting with a tip, then replacing a guide here and there, then cobbling up usable stuff from other's junk when I couldn't afford to order blanks. Of course, like most on the site, I love to see a Phoenix rise from the ashes be it reel or rod. More of these to come.....it's possible I may have been sandbagging a bit.

[Shark Hunter]

Nice work John,
No more sandbagging. 

[foakes]

Great job, John --

Doesn't get any better than that.

Best,

Fred

[Bill B]

Outstanding John....makes the Nep-Tuna Im doing seem grade school level, compared to the Ph.D. you have in talent....Bill

[steelfish]

excellent John, those are my favorite builds

by chance do you have closeup pics of the crosswrap and the guide wraps?

[thorhammer]

Outstanding John....makes the Nep-Tuna Im doing seem grade school level, compared to the Ph.D. you have in talent....Bill

Naw....I went to Jon Vadney's house....I'm making tomato stakes compared to what he is doing, and some others on here, but I saw his in person. I can barely even see some of the thread counts Jon does. Getting your tip out today or tomorrow, Bill; I keep forgetting to bring it to work.