So I spent a little time this winter re-wrapping a few rods that I bought on the cheap. Picked up some budget guides from Jan's Netcraft and 1 part epoxy. My mother-in-law was a seamstress and had 80+ spools of sewing thread. I went through them and pulled the smoothest, non-fuzzy threads and got to work. Two of the rods are Penn Power-Sticks and the black is a no-name rock cod special. The Cod Special got new black pait and clear coat. I liked the color schemes. A few things I learned cross-wraps are more involved than they look, using thin thread over thick thread does not work out too well, and I need a rod dryer :P. I figure in about 15 more years of practice John V. and Alex (Steelfish) will STILL not have any competition from me.... :D
Before
(https://i.imgur.com/NgfejBl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/C0LQHl0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EKxqAVY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gMZmVyR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J6XqkhT.jpg)
After
(https://i.imgur.com/i5Fx3N5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cbpuP0N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EMkgZrZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8Q8VKF5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tIfR8tA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BI00W4D.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Xk5Ss23.jpg)
Amazing what talented hands can do with everyday materials
Nice work
Looks great Bill time to get them wet!
Look`s like you are off good start , stay away from the fuzzy threads "cottons " Now when you pick up the sticks you start thinking how about a diamond pattern here and a trim band there .
Hey Bill. Next time you get the rod building bug hit me up for thread. Sewing thread works but nylon is better. I'll set you up
Nice work! Great minds think alike--I'm just wrapping up a rebuild of a Shimano 6' 6" spinning rod; got rid of the old double-foot guides (only 4) and wrapped 7 replacement single foots; I hear your pain about the thin thread over the thick; nylon upholstery thread is non-fuzzy, although thick; some 100% polyester is pretty nice, but some is a bit fuzzy; get rid of the fuzz with a quick flick of a lighted match around the thread.
Need something to do inside; only 23 degrees here today for a high (Minn.)
Frank
Thanks bill for show n telling. Your doing good. Takes time to be a good musician, ask any old one... they even talk slow. You keep working on it, we are learning too. My best rod is only a tool, time will make you great. Keep doing what you like. Fishing 🎣 can be a good therapy for us all. 🚣♀️
cotton thread deteriorates with exposure to ultra violet nylon not so much. Cotton doesnt stretch much at all while nylon will, so nylon wraps are always tight where cotton will loosen with time in many cases. The most common nylon sizes are A and D. D is biggest. If you want a brilliant white use hollow spectra as an underwrap.
If you can use a very bright light while wrapping you will see a glare line along the top of the blank. You can use that as an allignment mark for getting all your diamond/chevron wraps alligned properly.
Just some tips to make life easier if you are building or repairing rods.
Hi Bill,
Looks like you kept out of trouble over the winter. Some constructive observations, not meant as critisism, but perhaps to help you down this very addictive road.
Get some 'C' or 'D' NCP threads, the colours will be stronger, and the quality of the thread will be less 'fuzzy'. Won't need colour preserving, so that saves a stage in the build process. Look up 'burnishing', which basically evens the threads out across the whipping to an even and consistant finish.
A simple drying machine would help immensely with the final stage, which would be to use 2 part thread finish, there are various makes on the market, all reasonable in quality. This allows you to seal and finish the threadwork, so that it looks like plastic encapsulated coloured thread, without seeing individual threads.
Lastly, try to keep trim bands smaller, it takes practice, but 'less is more'.
At this point, you have to make a decision, do you become addicted to rod building, or just enjoy your fishing. Get too hooked on rod building, and you might as well start selling your fishing tackle... ;) ;) ;)
Cheers from sunny Africa
Jeri
Quote from: Jeri on April 01, 2018, 07:04:00 AM
Hi Bill,
At this point, you have to make a decision, do you become addicted to rod building, or just enjoy your fishing. Get too hooked on rod building, and you might as well start selling your fishing tackle... ;) ;) ;)
Cheers from sunny Africa
Jeri
OR you wind up with a lot of pretty sticks , which bring up another problem , what stick is going fishing today
Great work Bill! 8)
Thanks for showing that Bill. Looks great!
Steve
Very nice Bill. Jeri has great advice about how to get the modern plastic-coated look, but I prefer the old-school look where you see the individual threads. High-build epoxy and rod turners cover up a lot of inconsistencies. Life was more difficult when we only had flat nylon colors, Weber color preserver and a thin coat of rod varnish to work with. Even that was a modern improvement over silk thread, no color preserver and spar varnish.
Keep up the good work.
-steve
Very nice Bill!...now show them in action. :)
Sal
Thank you for the kind comments and suggestions. I was lucky in the mom-in-law used nylon and poly thread for most of her work, and by being selective the major fuzzies were kept at bay. Used the lighter trick to eliminate the ones that did pop up. But also learned that if you use too much heat you'll burn the thread and POP the whole thing comes unraveled :-\. Also the budget guide prepacks from Jan's are very affordable, no where near the quality of PAC Bay or Alps but will do just fine for me....until I start on heavier rods. Next will be to build a dryer and try th two part epoxy. I will admit it was fun and a great way to pass the time.....tight lines everyone.....Bill
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on April 02, 2018, 02:10:35 AM
will do just fine for me....until I start on heavier rods. Next will be to build a dryer and try th two part epoxy. I will admit it was fun and a great way to pass the time.....tight lines everyone.....Bill
There you go, first steps on a slippery slope.............. ::) ::)
Next will be the rod turner, then the fully enclosed oven/dryer and where will it stop!!! But you will enjoy the ride.
Cheers
Jeri
Thanks for your post. We all try to help with little tips, 🙋♂️sometimes it's overwhelming. I,m no expert but you have to walk before you can run. Enjoy your hobby, And if you're interested you can build your own rod dryer using a small gear motor and a chuck of various types and you will save money, and learn more about your variety of skills. I think you can get a 6-8 rpm motor that uses house hold current on amazon still for about 8 bucks. Every time you use it you're saving money. Just saying.🤦♀️
Do be shy Bill, if you get the bug again holler. You can slide by without a dryer for 2 part finish, there's a few brands that have a quicker cure time now days.
Wish I could still get away with just using a 1 part varnish, The thicker high build magnifies every flaw so a good burnishing tool is your friend.
Hope to see some pictures when you hand a few with those
Nice work Bill. Dominick
Sheridan....I still have a Power Stick and Silstar in the first picture that still needs rebuilding...I'm open to any color combos....you hit a home run when I rebuilt the Nep-Tuna......if you have any suggestions or thread you would like to donate.... I would be really great full brother......Bill
I'm on the road Bill, I shoot you a PM when I'm home tomorrow.
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on March 31, 2018, 09:15:03 PM
......... and I need a rod dryer :P. I figure in about 15 more years of practice John V. and Alex (Steelfish) will STILL not have any competition from me.... :D
somehow I missed this thread but let me tell you that those rods look really nice, you should have seen my very first try, I didnt even post it on here LOL
a rod drier will do wonders on the finish look, they are not that expensive, I have seen some for $35 shipped if I recall.
BTW, I also have 15 years behind of the real master rodsmiths on the AT.com ohana, good thing is they arent shy to share their best tips if you ask them.
Working on rods is kinda fun. If you get some old, but sound, sticks, and rebuild them, you can end up with some quality rods for not much dinero. Of course, your own time is worth something, but if you get satisfaction out of taking not much and making it into something worthwhile, that is pay back too. I just finished a rebuild of an old "Catchmaster" graphite 1-piece 6'6" spinning rod (got it for a buck at a garage sale, along with reel attached). Didn't have enough guides to begin with, and one had popped the ceramic insert out and another had a bent outer ring. Blank in good shape as was handle. Added back a number of guides that I thought would give a good bend & line following, using some Gutermann 100% polyester thread in a purple color that almost exactly matched the old thread. Little silver trim to match the original wrappings, covered them all with multiple coats of water-based poly (dries quick--under 30 mins, easy clean up, does not give a high build look, but needs 10+ coats to look good) and I'm ready for spring to give 'er a whorl.
Frank