First Rod Build

« **Reply #25 on:** 30/08/2011 at 21:38 »

Hi Iain

No those were Nordic Hotels loyalty cards which I was about to shred!!! Sorry

Alex

« **Reply #26 on:** 30/08/2011 at 22:04 »

Looking forward to seeing how your rod turns out Iain. I also epoxied mine tonight...well first coat on all 4 sections of the rod. I didnt use a turner, just a cardboard box with v's.

Didn't take as long as i thought to coat..already looking forward to applying the next coat tomorrow night!

« **Reply #27 on:** 30/08/2011 at 22:35 »

Exciting times Toshkerr

Is it a massive pain using the cardboard box method and how long are you planning to turn the rod by hand for?

Are you drying your rod fully made up, in 2 sections or 4 sections?

Iain

« **Reply #28 on:** 31/08/2011 at 01:35 »

Quote from: Goolager on 30/08/2011 at 15:16

Alex,
Is that a Danielsson Midge in your avatar? If so how do you find it smoothness wise? I've one for the 2wt and it feels, well, like using a washing machine when you've forgotten to remove the transit brackets.

Iain

Iain

The danielsson reels stay silky smooth provided you release all the tension on the centre screw after every use.
If you leave the reel with bearings under pressure then the reels very quickly become rough it's like accelerated brinelling
It only takes a few days to affect them, the only weakness to the design, but it can be avoided

If yours is rough now, remove the spool and try soaking the bearings in a bath of warm oil for a bit and then exercise each one by hand until they feel a bit better, take a bit of time and you might recover them. Check the inner rim of the spool for smoothness to make sure it has no dents or indentations from the bearings. Good luck
They are great wee reels and I hope you can recover it.

Sandy

« **Reply #29 on:** 31/08/2011 at 08:37 »

I dried my four sections seperately Iain. Just made sure each section was level in the box and turned them every 5minutes or so for the first hour, then every 10-15 mins for a few hours after. It wasn't such a problem at all really using a box. When i checked them before work this morning they were all set hard - i dont know why but i actually expected them to be slightly tacky, i suppose it had been about 12 hours.

I put my first coat on thin, just made sure i soaked the thread really and spread it over all the wrapping, so there wasn't really any sagging of the epoxy going on at all really. i presume the next coat i do tonight i will have to keep a close eye on though as the epoxy wont have thread to soak into!

« **Reply #30 on:** 31/08/2011 at 10:34 »

Toshkerr,

Inspired by your advancement I waited until the first 2 sections (joined together) had turned for a couple of hours then I threw it on my stands to turn by hand as I joined the 2 top sections and 1st coated them - they turned on the turner all night.

That means final coat on the top 2 sections tonight - dry all night - all thursday - all thursday night THEN

RIVER DON ON FRIDAY FOR BROWN TROUTING!!!!!!!!!!

bet I get knocked down on the way to the river :z19

Iain

« **Reply #31 on:** 31/08/2011 at 10:46 »

Quote from: Goolager on 31/08/2011 at 10:34

bet I get knocked down on the way to the river :z19

Iain

Just let me know which way you are going & make sure you save the rod

Alex

« **Reply #32 on:** 31/08/2011 at 11:03 »

Quote from: Goolager on 31/08/2011 at 10:34

That means final coat on the top 2 sections tonight - dry all night - all thursday - all thursday night THEN

RIVER DON ON FRIDAY FOR BROWN TROUTING!!!!!!!!!!

Iain,

I'm not sure what Sandy or Alex would suggest but I normally leave mine for at least three or four days before casting in case the epoxy isn't properly hardened and cracks or crazes when you cast it.

Matt

« **Reply #33 on:** 31/08/2011 at 11:23 »

I'd give the rod at least 2 days to harden off properly after the last coat, before i would use it.
I don't think it would need much longer to be fair, But its what you feel comfy with and how much patience you have

Any more, certainly wouldn't hurt.

but I WOULD give it the 2 days at least before taking it out

.

Sandy

« **Reply #34 on:** 31/08/2011 at 11:53 »

Iain

I'm with Sandy all the way on this one,

I would not be looking to cast a rod epoxied
on Wednesday night untill at least Saturday, I know you will be dying to cast it & catch
a fish on it but the possibility of causing damage to the epoxy by rushiing the final step
is really not worth it.

Alex

« **Reply #35 on:** 31/08/2011 at 12:24 »

I flippin' knew it! you trio of baps are determined to spoil my fun!

I'll wager you guys buy your offspring toys for Christmas without buying the batteries just to see the dissapointment on their little faces

Sunday It'll be then

Iain

« **Reply #36 on:** 31/08/2011 at 20:16 »

Quote from: Goolager on 31/08/2011 at 12:24

I flippin' knew it! you trio of baps are determined to spoil my fun!

I'll wager you guys buy your offspring toys for Christmas without buying the batteries just to see the dissapointment on their little faces

Sunday It'll be then

Iain

Save it till saturday then iain, it will look good loaded up with a Di5

« **Reply #37 on:** 31/08/2011 at 21:19 »

Iain,

As far as I know I don't have any offspring but I'll remember that trick for the wife at chritmas. She won't be happy with a rabbit without batteries

On the rod front. No pictures = it didn't happen!

Cheers

Matt

« **Reply #38 on:** 31/08/2011 at 23:02 »

Ah Give Iain a break Matt

He is probably busy trying to nick his kids batteries out of his toys,
so he cat get his camera working.

« **Reply #39 on:** 01/09/2011 at 01:33 »

Quote from: mdh on 31/08/2011 at 21:19

As far as I know I don't have any offspring but I'll remember that trick for the wife at chritmas. She won't be happy with a rabbit without batteries

Alex

Matt obviously has his own problems

mind you if he pulls a stunt like that then I'm sure he
Might stand a chance with the offspring issue.

Sandy

« **Reply #40 on:** 01/09/2011 at 19:23 »

Well gents that's the fishing rod complete.
This was only ever meant to be so that I could say that I've done it and perhaps add comment to other peoples posts on rod building but it turned into a long journey of jig making and side projects.

On reflection I probably should have gone for a cheap blank for the first one, that said I really can't wait to cast and catch a fish with it, hopefully it will be my 'go to' river and small stillwater rod.

There were a lot of positives (which will only be truly borne out in the field) and a few lows or points to learn from.

The part which I feel could be improved was the epoxying.
I struggled to get a level equal coat/ finish on the long section over the Wrap - Signature - Wrap. I felt that the epoxy didn't seem as thin as I thought it'd be. I expected things to self level fairly easily and it wasn't the case.

All in all I've learned quite a bit - the biggest bit is to be patient, something that isn't free flowing at the moment.

As said I'm very glad I've done it and have the ultimate respect for guys that produce clinically bespoke rods.

Roll on Sunday

Iain

« **Reply #41 on:** 01/09/2011 at 19:29 »

« **Reply #42 on:** 01/09/2011 at 20:01 »

looks great iain!

well done!

i decided to do a wee bit more epoxy work on mine, so should be complete by tomorrow!!

« **Reply #43 on:** 01/09/2011 at 20:19 »

Thanks Jonathan

Iain

« **Reply #44 on:** 01/09/2011 at 20:41 »

Are you brininging it on Saturday to give us a look Iain ? Is it the VXP blank ? Looks great anyway, well done. I admire your skill and patience.

Jim

« **Reply #45 on:** 01/09/2011 at 20:52 »

Yup,

I can bring it to show you. Really don't know about the skill and can defo dismiss the patience part (that'll be fine) was whispered a fair few times.

Iain

« **Reply #46 on:** 01/09/2011 at 21:33 »

Looks good man

I will throw a critical eye over it on saturday

Looking forward to having a few practice casts on the don with these huge lead eyed streamers I just got. No need to worry I had a casting lesson recently so the blank should be safe.

« **Reply #47 on:** 01/09/2011 at 21:40 »

Quote

I will throw a critical eye over it on saturday

Aye, once you get them fixed Mr Wonky!

« **Reply #48 on:** 02/09/2011 at 08:25 »

Ian

Nice job.

Hope it casts as well as it looks

Irvine

« **Reply #49 on:** 03/09/2011 at 09:30 »

Irene,

Looks good! I think you are being a bit hard on yourself reference the epoxy. I know from personal experience that you want to make it perfect and that any slight blemish is like a kick in the baws when inspecting the rod ones its off the dryer. However I think if you take a trip into a local tackle shop and pick some of the most expensive rods off of the racks and look at the whippings and the epoxy you'll see slight blemishes and tag ends galore! And you definately won't be thinking about it as you use it to launch one of your monster klinks out and hook a don brownie!

hopefully see it soon!

Matt