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

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

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

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

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

"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

"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)

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.

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

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?