From start to finish if you had all the kit , how long does it take to make a good job of a rod?
My build took an hour or two each night for the guts of a week (that included making my wrapping cradle). The longest bit for me was doing the wrappings.
Re slow blank turning gadgets. I've read on the internet that the turntable motor from a microwave oven has the perfect turning speed - approx 6 - 8 RPM. Needless to say, in preparation for my next project, I've managed to cadge an old microwave and hope to strip the motor out with the help of a mate who's an electrician - wouldn't want to get zapped by mistake
Hopefully I'll succeed in building a Heath Robinson turner and will post pictures. If not I'll have to take you up on your kind offer Sandy.
Re my earlier comment about my desire for cheap Meiser salmon rod blanks. After a fair bit of digging around on the internet I've found that it's a New Zealand company called CTS that supplies them. I've spoken to them and confirmed it and ordered the blanks up tonight
. For anyone buying blanks from abroad - beware of the exchange rates and do your homework - the blanks I identified varied hugely in price depending where they could be sourced from. CTS firstly quoted in US dollars (I presume because most of their sales are to the US ?), then when I asked they also quoted in NZ dollars. This one questio has saved me approx 30% of the price - buying them in New Zealand dollars is saving me approx £90 compared to buying them in US dollars. I think this must be down to the crazy volatility of the exchange rates between the 3 currencies
. I could also have sourced the blanks in Europe but price was frankly outrageously.
Does anyone know where I can source reasonably priced good quality cork rings (including burl) in half inch, quarter inch, and eighth inch thicknesses to make a fancy handle ?