Reel Repair by Alan Tani

My man! Where you been hiding?? I like this. Way back in the day, I'd get ski poles to extend to lighter freshwater buts and wrap with cork tape. Still working, since mid-90's.

Note: when I do a full heat shrink or seine cord wrap, I run a couple stripes of Gorilla clear down the butt first and holds everything put nicely.

The tarred stuff used to leave your hands black from handling it.  Originally it was kiln-burnt pine tar.  It was the same stuff they used as a wood preserver and is what made pirate (and other) ships dark brown color.  It was the same stuff that made North Carolina the Tar Heel State. It smells like last night's camp fire but much stronger and by the time the smell goes away it is time to apply another coat.

By the 1950's tarred seine twine still turned your hands black but didn't have the smell.  That must be the baked tar you speak of.  These days, it seems to be just black died nylon. There is also some sort of seizing stuff that makes it stiffer when new. Left outside to weather for a decade or two will make it turn grey but it's still strong.

I am a vacation fisherman in saltwater. I am thorough in rinsing down everything each day I come back from fishing saltwater. As an extra precaution, maybe I will beginning coating the aluminum and brass. In my case, I have never experienced an issue with corrosion. And if worse comes to worse, I will cut off the butt and redo it again.

really nice work!!!!

Quote from: thorhammer on August 19, 2024, 12:54:12 AMMy man! Where you been hiding?? I like this. Way back in the day, I'd get ski poles to extend to lighter freshwater buts and wrap with cork tape. Still working, since mid-90's.

Note: when I do a full heat shrink or seine cord wrap, I run a couple stripes of Gorilla clear down the butt first and holds everything put nicely.

Right there some hillbilly stuff! Ski poles are generally tapered! May start watching for old ski poles now. Dang Thorhammer ... makin hillbilly use his brain too much!

Thank You gurus for the kind words.

The cord handles look nice! My go-to catfish bait is mullet gut.I get from the local seafood markets for cheap by the gallon. It's nastay !!! something you wouldn't want embedded in a rod handle fer sure.

Quote from: jgp12000 on August 20, 2024, 11:01:59 AMThe cord handles look nice! My go-to catfish bait is mullet gut.I get from the local seafood markets for cheap by the gallon. It's nastay !!! something you wouldn't want embedded in a rod handle fer sure.

Agreed! LOL

Finished product. I did ordered some twine to give it a try. Have used paracord before. Its a preference. I like handles a certain diameter for my personal preference. So using any cord I take into consideration the diameter I wish to have in the end. Picky? Yes! But it is custom so picky prevails.

Agree all points, and that looks great! I rarely use para on rods anymore (on gaffs, yes) because of weight and diameter. What I do is use seine cord in a diamond pattern (much like a diamond wrap thread butt deco) on the six inches below and above seat, and the last six inches of the butt. Then shrink over everything. Doesn't add much weight or diameter but VERY grippy.