ROD BUILDING?
 

In article ,
says...
BJ Conner wrote:
Lionel F. Stevenson wrote:
...
Will I end up with a really good rod for a bargain price?

I have said it here before, here goes again.
Go to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, buy an old rod and put new guides
on it. When your done give it back to them.
You can't save money on a rod if you count your time. There's now way
you can work cheaper than someone in China or Korea. ...

Quite right. A custom built rod will always be *more* expensive
than a factory rod built on the same blank. You *cannot* save
money by building the rod yourself. What you can do is use nicer
components and find the spine and otherwise fine tune the rod
to your tastes but you don't build 'em yourself to save money.
You build 'em yourself for other reasons.

HORSE-HOCKEY!!

For the really low end rods I'll agree, but for middle to high end
rods it's almost impossible not to save money building your own.
I'm building a spey rod right now that even with the best components
I'm still paying spending maybe half the price of any other commercial
spey rod. Not counting my time in the equation of course.
- Ken

ROD BUILDING?
 

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
Quite right. A custom built rod will always be *more* expensive
than a factory rod built on the same blank. You *cannot* save
money by building the rod yourself. What you can do is use nicer
components and find the spine and otherwise fine tune the rod
to your tastes but you don't build 'em yourself to save money.
You build 'em yourself for other reasons.

That's false. You can save a great deal of money by building your own
rod, especially if you look for deals at places like Hook and Hackle.
(I'm assuming you're not counting your labor, of course.)

I'm counting the cost of labor and the warranty.


What's your hourly rate these days?

Same as always.

Also, how many rods have you built?

Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.

--
Ken Fortenberry

ROD BUILDING?
 

The beauty is, you can keep trying until it looks good, just don't varnish
the wrappings until you are satisfied. It's not difficult at all, if you're
a little bit of a craftsman. How good it comes out is up to you and how
particular you are about details. The only difference there needs to be
between the rod you build and one built by a pro is how long it takes you
compared to him. Take your time and do it right and you'll have a rod to be
proud of.

Gene

"Lionel F. Stevenson" wrote in message
...
Is it worth doing for one rod?

How difficult is it for a knacky but rank beginner?

Will I end up with a really good rod for a bargain price?

-- Lionel

ROD BUILDING?
 

wrote in :

HORSE-HOCKEY!!

For the really low end rods I'll agree, but for middle to high end
rods it's almost impossible not to save money building your own.
I'm building a spey rod right now that even with the best components
I'm still paying spending maybe half the price of any other commercial
spey rod. Not counting my time in the equation of course.
- Ken



If I can ask a really stupid question, how do you know you're going to LIKE
the rod you build?? Have you cast the blank??


--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

ROD BUILDING?
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:


What's your hourly rate these days?


Same as always.

Minimum wage?

Also, how many rods have you built?


Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.

So, not counting your minimum wage, did you save money?

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

ROD BUILDING?
 

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:
Also, how many rods have you built?

Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.


So, not counting your minimum wage, did you save money?

Nope. But I have a lot of rod building tools and materials
gathering dust in the basement should I ever decide to build
another one. I might save money if I build another dozen.

--
Ken Fortenberry

ROD BUILDING?
 

In article ,
says...

If I can ask a really stupid question, how do you know you're going to LIKE
the rod you build?? Have you cast the blank??

Hell, I haven't even cast a spey rod before. It's my winter project.
Build the rod, teach myself to cast and maybe catch some fish. If it
turns out I don't like spey fishing or the rod then I'll probably eBay
it, hopefully getting back the money I put into the rod.

There's no guarantee that I'll like the rod, but I've had good luck with
previous rods that I've built. Plus it keeps me out of trouble.
- Ken

ROD BUILDING?
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

rw wrote:

Also, how many rods have you built?


Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.



So, not counting your minimum wage, did you save money?


Nope. But I have a lot of rod building tools and materials
gathering dust in the basement should I ever decide to build
another one. I might save money if I build another dozen.

You were foolish. One can build a rod with very little investment in
tools and materials.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

ROD BUILDING?
 

rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:
Ken Fortenberry wrote:
rw wrote:
Also, how many rods have you built?

Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.


So, not counting your minimum wage, did you save money?

Nope. But I have a lot of rod building tools and materials
gathering dust in the basement should I ever decide to build
another one. I might save money if I build another dozen.

You were foolish. ...

I don't like to half-ass with makeshift tools. If I'm
going to do something I will have the tools and materials
to do it right.

--
Ken Fortenberry

ROD BUILDING?
 

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

rw wrote:

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

rw wrote:

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

rw wrote:

Also, how many rods have you built?


Three, a 2wt a 3wt and a 6wt. The 3wt and 6wt were cheapo
graphite blanks and mostly practice for the 2wt Scott Fibertouch.



So, not counting your minimum wage, did you save money?


Nope. But I have a lot of rod building tools and materials
gathering dust in the basement should I ever decide to build
another one. I might save money if I build another dozen.


You were foolish. ...


I don't like to half-ass with makeshift tools. If I'm
going to do something I will have the tools and materials
to do it right.

Then you should get cracking on building another dozen rods.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.