Questions about Rod Building
 

I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod? Or is it likely to look home made? After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?
What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

--Don

Questions about Rod Building
 

I did this 30+ years ago

I would recommend building a couple of cheap rods first before I
shelled out $350 for a kit.
Frank Reid

Questions about Rod Building
 

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?
What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

--Don

Don,
Consider visiting Rodbuilding.org for awhile. You'll find that you
can come up the learning curve faster with the advice of individuals
on that site. In addition, you'll find that there are quite a few
reasonably priced blanks (as little as one third the price) that
perform as well as some of the well known finished rods out there.
Jeff

Questions about Rod Building
 

On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:11:18 -0700, Don46 wrote:

I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod?

Almost certainly not, but even those finished by pros don't (or, well,
shouldn't) look like factory finished rods. If one desires the look of
a "factory" rod, it's an easy desire to satisfy...

Or is it likely to look home made?

I'll guarantee it'll look "home made" because it IS "home made." Many
of Van Gogh's (or van Rijn's, depending on your tastes) paintings are
"home made"...OTOH, so are Clyde J. Slingass's...your masterpiece may
vary... IAC, if enjoying the process and fishing with something you
finished is the goal, what difference does it make what it looks like?

After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?

I recommend that you reconsider finishing rods until you have truly
decided what you're after...

What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

Look up the myriad rod-building tips that have been offered right here
on ROFF and don't wrap your fingers to the blank.

HTH,
R

--Don

Questions about Rod Building
 

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:11:18 -0700, Don46 wrote:

I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod?

Almost certainly not,

Right.....except for those cases in which they do.

but even those finished by pros don't

Right.....except for those cases in which they do.

(or, well,
shouldn't) look like factory finished rods.

Silly me, I thought they should look the way the builder wants them to look.

If one desires the look of
a "factory" rod, it's an easy desire to satisfy...

Well, sure, if one has the money or the skills. Um......o.k., stealing
would also work.

Or is it likely to look home made?

I'll guarantee it'll look "home made" because it IS "home made."

Thus demonstrating (like we really NEEDED another demonstration, huh?) that
the word "guarantee" belongs to that ever burgeoning class of locutions that
are absolutely devoid of meaning.

Many
of Van Gogh's (or van Rijn's, depending on your tastes) paintings are
"home made"...

Not as many as you might think.

OTOH, so are Clyde J. Slingass's...your masterpiece may
vary...

Unlike any one of those with which you bless us so frequently.

IAC, if enjoying the process and fishing with something you
finished is the goal, what difference does it make what it looks like?

None that I can see. But what if the goal is enjoying the process and
fishing with something you finished and having it look like factory made?

After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?

I recommend that you reconsider finishing rods until you have truly
decided what you're after...

....and determined that most of the chocolate and vanilla **** you get here
is......well.....****.

What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

Look up the myriad rod-building tips that have been offered right here
on ROFF and don't wrap your fingers to the blank.

Some people probably believe that some people could have said that without
all of the bull**** chocolate and vanilla preamble. They don't know much,
do they?

HTH,

Fer sher, dood!

Moron.

Wolfgang

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Don46" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod? Or is it likely to look home made? After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.
What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?
What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?
--Don


Don,
I think it's great that you're thinking taking up rod-building again after
30+ years, and where cost isn't the object. As far as the blank, I did
have the opportunity of casting the Sage Z-Axis in a 9' 5wt 4pc side by side
with Winston Boron IIx 9' 5wt 4pc at the San Jose Fly Shop. Jim, one of the
employees who is also a pretty darn good caster was also evaluating the
two fly-rods. We both thought the Winston was a much better casting rod.
If you can, I would cast the two rods and make your own judgment as
well as other 5wt's before selecting a blank.

As far if it's going to look like a factory or a home-made rod, you're the
only one who could answer that one. I've seen beautiful custom builds, and
some sorry looking ones too, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
It's good that fish don't critique craftsmanship, but instead the
presentation
skills of the angler.

Here is also a Rod Building Seminar link by Bob Widgren:
http://www.flyfisherman.com/rodbuilding/
good luck with your rediscovered hobby,
-tom

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Don46" wrote in message
oups.com...

I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. . . . is the final product going to look
like the
factory made rod? Or is it likely to look home made?

Flash is the key word.
Flash_1 is the overall shininess of the factory-made rod,
usually done by immersion in shiny varnish. This adds
nothing to the rod's performance or protection, except that
it makes the windings last longer, perhaps for ever. So far
as the factory-made rod reflects light, it is likely to spook
skittish fish.
Flash_2 is the selection of coloured windings or figured
woods for cosmetic affect. A rod decorated to your taste
can add to pleasure and confidence on the water, so long
as its Flash_1 is also acceptable.

The most expensive rods are called "hand-made" as
distinct from "factory-made." Some makers deliberately
avoid Flash_1 by using no varnish or matt varnish, some
make an aesthetic virtue of their plainness and sober colours.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Questions about Rod Building
 

On Oct 3, 1:11 pm, Don46 wrote:
I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod? Or is it likely to look home made? After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?
What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

--Don

On of the things that distinguishes poor DIY rods are big blobs of
epoxy on the winding thread. My advise: put something ( I have used
Mylar tape but I would search for something better on a $350 blank)
under the guides and threads so the varnish, epoxy or whatever you use
won't stick to the blank. Don't use to much of it and get or make a
good mechanish to turn it until the stuff dries. You don't want
blobby windings on a $350 blank. Blobby guides may not affect
performance but you don't want it looking like a $29.95 korean POS.

Questions about Rod Building
 

Don,
Consider visiting Rodbuilding.org for awhile. You'll find that you
can come up the learning curve faster with the advice of individuals
on that site. In addition, you'll find that there are quite a few
reasonably priced blanks (as little as one third the price) that
perform as well as some of the well known finished rods out there.
Jeff

Thanks for this lead Jeff. I had read that there are very good
blanks, often made by name brand mfers but sold under some other
generic name. I'd welcome more specific information on this.
I want to test fly rods and know what I want before making this
investment. I'm living in Columbia SC and there is very little market
for trout rods in these parts. I tried my son in law's Sage SLT and
liked it. I would love to get to a real fly fishing shop and try a
few out. Maybe this is a good time to head toward the mountains.

Meanwhile, I will check out Rodbuilding.org

--Don

Questions about Rod Building
 

On Oct 4, 8:46 am, "Wolfgang" wrote:
wrote in message

...





On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:11:18 -0700, Don46 wrote:

I'm thinking I might treat myself to a new rod this winter and am
considering building my own. I did this 30+ years ago and still have a
very servicable rod built with a Phillips (are they still in
business?) rod blank. I am considering a 4 piece 5wt 9ft Sage Z-Axis,
though I am open to persuasion on that matter. The cost of a kit at
Cabelas and other places is somewhere over $325 vs the cost of a
factory built rod, about $650. Cost is not really the object here.
I'm bit better fixed than I was 30 years ago! I think I would enjoy
the process and knowing I'm fishing with another rod I built
myself.
I'm asking for advice: is the final product going to look like the
factory made rod?

Almost certainly not,

Right.....except for those cases in which they do.

but even those finished by pros don't

Right.....except for those cases in which they do.

(or, well,
shouldn't) look like factory finished rods.

Silly me, I thought they should look the way the builder wants them to look.

If one desires the look of
a "factory" rod, it's an easy desire to satisfy...

Well, sure, if one has the money or the skills. Um......o.k., stealing
would also work.

Or is it likely to look home made?

I'll guarantee it'll look "home made" because it IS "home made."

Thus demonstrating (like we really NEEDED another demonstration, huh?) that
the word "guarantee" belongs to that ever burgeoning class of locutions that
are absolutely devoid of meaning.

Many
of Van Gogh's (or van Rijn's, depending on your tastes) paintings are
"home made"...

Not as many as you might think.

OTOH, so are Clyde J. Slingass's...your masterpiece may
vary...

Unlike any one of those with which you bless us so frequently.

IAC, if enjoying the process and fishing with something you
finished is the goal, what difference does it make what it looks like?

None that I can see. But what if the goal is enjoying the process and
fishing with something you finished and having it look like factory made?

After all, my
experience is going to be very limited and there is not much room for
experimentation and improvement.

What do you recommend that I consider, besides the Z-Axis, in this
size rod?

I recommend that you reconsider finishing rods until you have truly
decided what you're after...

...and determined that most of the chocolate and vanilla **** you get here
is......well.....****.

What tips might you have for a beginner rod builder?

Look up the myriad rod-building tips that have been offered right here
on ROFF and don't wrap your fingers to the blank.

Some people probably believe that some people could have said that without
all of the bull**** chocolate and vanilla preamble. They don't know much,
do they?

HTH,

Fer sher, dood!

Moron.

Wolfgang- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Don46" wrote in message

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Best not to ask Don, just accept that it takes place.

Op

Questions about Rod Building
 

Back to choosing a good blank: I'm looking for a 5wt 9foot fast
action fly rod. I want a 4 piece rod.
On suppliers: And if I'm going to build it, I want one-stop shopping
where I can buy a kit or put together a kit with recommendations from
a reliable vender.
Which companies do people recommend as sellers?

Thanks,
Don

Questions about Rod Building
 

Don46 wrote:

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Wolfgang's just one of our resident jerk offs. Ignore him.

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

Questions about Rod Building
 

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Don46 wrote:

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Wolfgang's just one of our resident jerk offs. Ignore him.

And where exactly does that leave you? In a state of perpetual ignorance, I
would imagine.

Op

Questions about Rod Building
 

Opus--Mark H. Bowen wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Don46 wrote:

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Wolfgang's just one of our resident jerk offs. Ignore him.


And where exactly does that leave you? In a state of perpetual ignorance, I
would imagine.

Here's another one. He complains about off-topic posts while doing
almost nothing except posting off-topic.

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

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Don46" wrote in message
oups.com...

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members!

A sentiment we encounter with some frequency here. Someday it might be
interesting to explore the origins of this particular strange notion. In
the meantime, for a broader view, please allow me to refer you to "Why
People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other
Confusions of Our Time," by Michael Shermer. A limited view of excerpts
from the book is available from Google Books he

http://tinyurl.com/2ujjwr

For an earlier (but no less informative and valuable) exploration on similar
themes, one need look no further than Charles MacKay's immortal classic,
"Memoirs of Popular Delusions" (published in three volumes and sometimes
listed as "Memoirs of Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds," or
"Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds." Frankly, I've never managed
to muster enough interest in the history of its publication to try to sort
it all out.), available in plain text version at Project Gutenberg. All
three volumes can be accessed he

http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m

by scrolling down the page to MacKay's name.

Why all the vitriol?

That wasn't vitriol. That was just me playing with my dicklet.

Wolfgang

Questions about Rod Building
 

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Don46 wrote:

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Wolfgang's just one of our resident jerk offs. Ignore him.

Yeah. Do like stevie says. Do like stevie does. :)

Wolfgang
the boy just WILL NOT learn.

Questions about Rod Building
 

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Opus--Mark H. Bowen wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Don46 wrote:

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members! Why all the vitriol?

Wolfgang's just one of our resident jerk offs. Ignore him.


And where exactly does that leave you? In a state of perpetual
ignorance, I would imagine.

Here's another one. He complains about off-topic posts while doing almost
nothing except posting off-topic.

"He"? Who he?

Wolfgang

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Wolfgang" wrote in message
...

"Don46" wrote in message
oups.com...

I was thinking that a group devoted to flyfishing might have a calming
effect on all its members!

A sentiment we encounter with some frequency here. Someday it might be
interesting to explore the origins of this particular strange notion...

On the other hand...

"There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a gentleness
of spirit, and a pure sincerity of mind."-Washington Irving.

Wolfgang
from roff's equivocation desk.

Questions about Rod Building
 

"Don46" wrote in message
ups.com...
Back to choosing a good blank: I'm looking for a 5wt 9foot fast
action fly rod. I want a 4 piece rod.
On suppliers: And if I'm going to build it, I want one-stop shopping
where I can buy a kit or put together a kit with recommendations from
a reliable vender.
Which companies do people recommend as sellers?

Thanks,
Don


My Uncle has built rods for several years, he has used the following outfit
with good luck.
http://www.hookhack.com/specialoffers.html

Before you put up the $325.00 for the Sage, you could start with something
like this as a practice rod @ $65.00:
http://www.mailordercentral.com/hook...number=HHF9054
If it turns out decent, give it as a gift to a family member or friend and
build your Sage.

HTH,
JT