Build #6 - Taniwha 10' 6wt

[Ben O'Neill]

Hi all,

I finished a rod recently, my 6th build. This is based on the Taniwha TNHX 10' 6wt blank and I built it to chase sewin, fish our upland llynoedd and the odd day of bothering rainbows. More details for anyone interested below.
















Blank: Taniwha TNHX 10' 6wt 4piece blank

Reel Seat: Struble U20 black anodized with an insert turned by Jason @ Fortitude

Guide Set: Sea Brand black anodized snakes with a single stripping guide a matching black tip top.

Thread wraps: the main wraps are Tire 50wt silk in "Cinamon" + "Gen V" resin.

the little "lowlight" is Fuji polyester in colour #33. This is a "no colour preserve" thread and nice and opaque contrast which I have now used on a few rods and I like the effect. I managed to get this to two wraps by using waxed thread and a clove hitch... yes every 3rd one pings when I try and cut it with a razor but it's quick to do.

The contrast band on the ferrule & hook keeper wraps is Tire silk in "Chocolate Mouse"... my inspiration for the scheme was the Scott G series...



but I moved away from the closer colour match to the darker browns as I seem to like muted and they picked up the reel seat insert well.




If you're still reading here are a few refinements from my latest build:

1. I put much more time into the guide prep. I bought a little off-brand dremel-type grinder and it makes it a whizz to actually get the guide feet very nicely prepped vs getting fed up and thinking "that'll do"




2. I also invested in a wee hot air gun which I find helpful to warm and slick the epoxy before removing any excess. I was really trying to improve this stage and whilst it took a third coat as I erred on keeping them thin, it's my best job yet.

3. I took 2 lessons from the pod Sandy did with Pete Tyjas... I was relentless with using a fresh razor to cut off any dust or fuzzy bits of thread between coats. At 24h the resin seems to hit a hard-but-leathery stage and you can be very precise an clean.

I also did away with the bobbin holders/tensioner in the rod wrapper and used a fly-tying bobbin holder... and preferred the control this gave me.

4. A tip from Jason, after thoroughly cleaning your space before epoxy, boil a kettle in the room. It knocks out a fair bit of airborne dust out.

Anyway, I'm happy with it and taking it out in ernest for an hour or so this evening. Hope this is of interest to anyone who dips into these pages