To build, or not to build, that is the question......

[ZaQ]

I have been thinking for some time about building my own rods. If I wanted to build a casting rod, ya know, a steelhead rod, what would that cost me? I am tired of paying retail for them, I want to spend my money on the reel. Thanks all........



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Got any eggs?
ZaQ

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

One of the guys to surely ask would be TH. He posts on here alot, plus they build custom rods for sale. He has a website with his email address on it. www.thcustomrods.com I think that's the url for the site. I am going to get one from him in the near future when funds become more readily available. I am seriously thinking of building my own next year as well and I have seen several books on how to do it. Maybe TH will hook you up with the info.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Zaq
my experience has been I have a problem buying the components cheap enough to make much of a difference. On a 1 pole deal the parts add up to about as much as a factory finished pole. You can do some nice custom stuff like diamondbacks and make it look good. But that dont catch any fish.

I have done it because I enjoy doing it.

[fish_on]

Zaq for blanks I would try WWW.danderods.com they have discontinued loomis blanks for real low prices ($30-$60) Good luck

[TH]

Building your own rods is very easy.... and saves a ton of money. However, to get a good finish, you need to have a drying motor, it is a must.. these can be purchased for around $60 or so... I would recommend wrapping the rod by hand, as opposed to buying a professional rod wrapping machine.

As for blanks and rod parts.. we offer a wide variety of blanks and entire rod kits at 20-30% off the retail prices. These kits are complete rod kits and come with everything you will need to build the rod. (blank, handle kits, guides, finish, brushes, thread, etc.)

If there is anything I can do, please feel free to ask.

TH
www.thcustomrods.com

[Jeffhead]

What fish_on said is true. I bought an discontinued blank from them and built my first rod this summer. $83 for the blank and about $40 for the remaining parts, glue, etc. $120 or so for a $300 rod. The only drawback is that they are not warrentied, but it's a pretty inexpensive way to get an awesome rod!!! Between the new rod and what I have learned from here and other BB's it has made a huge difference in the amount of fish I have hooked up on. The model I bought was an STR 1082. Looking to buy another one for my Dad.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

[SailCat]

Zaq-

Catching a fish on a rod that you've built yourself is much like doing so on a fly or lure of your own creation. It adds something special to the experience.

Any rod you build will be better than any factory rod built with the same or similar components because the first step is aligning the guides with the seam or 'spline' in the rod blank, something that commercial rod builders cannot take the time to do (I confirmed this when I toured the G.Loomis factory).

The savings over buying a factory rod (unless you get a real bargain on a high-quality blank) are modest; when you add in your time, it's nil. It's the reward when you catch your first fish on your personally hand-crafted rod that'll make it all worthwhile.

You won't regret following through on this urge to build.

Keep in touch.

~Michael T.

[HOGTIDE]

I love building rods. It is relaxing...kinda like tying flys. However, for the past several years, I donot believe it has been a money 'saving' endeavor. Good cork costs an arm and a leg, good guides and reel seats are high ,too. If you can find a super deal on a blank you may come out ahead. But, it is hard to beat a good sale on Lamiglas at FMS. You should build a rod for the intrinsic enjoyment and the customized features! DO build the rod. But, DON'T feel bad about the final cost!

[smilesforu]

Maybe I am extremely lucky to have a account for rod building supplies. So I am able to buy at wholesale cost. I tried putting rod kits together so the cost would be cheap for somebody who wanted to make one. No one seemed interested other than the friends I normally fish with and they can't get enough of a good deal. If enough people are interested I could put some packages together. I don't really want to stock every rod known to man, so I would only do 1024, 1025, 1026 IM6 basic kits. cost would be around 75 bucks complete without thread, glue and finish. Interested? Rod Blanks carry a lifetime warranty from Pac-Bay

Tight Lines
Marty

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[This message has been edited by smilesforu (edited 11-10-2000).]