My First Rod

SafariSam · 03-06-2010, 01:26 PM

Okay, so it's not done yet but it is coming along well. I'm building this rod, and others, for my senior project which is a graduation requirement for the Forest Grove School District. I've had a lot of help from Stickfish, who has some amazing rods and an great setup. Definitely the man to go to is you want a custom rod.
Thread is Royal blue.

Will update when completed.

pearl · 03-06-2010, 02:54 PM

Looking good !!

What kind of blank are you tying?

SafariSam · 03-06-2010, 03:33 PM

Sorry, should have said that. It's a G-1333-T 7'6" Lami, gonna be my hardware rod for steelhead and salmon.

lurking_out_loud · 03-06-2010, 09:58 PM

Boy is your mom going to be ****** when she sees the coffee table.

Just kidding. Looks great. Stick is a pretty darn good teacher, just don't tell him. It'll make him tough to be around.

Cap'n Ron · 03-07-2010, 09:05 AM

Keep up the good work!

SafariSam · 03-07-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurking_out_loud

Boy is your mom going to be ****** when she sees the coffee table.

Just kidding. Looks great. Stick is a pretty darn good teacher, just don't tell him. It'll make him tough to be around.

I'll keep that in mind

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cap'n Ron

Keep up the good work!

Will do, thanks.

alice4227 · 03-07-2010, 11:38 AM

The thread look's nice and tight, but make the wrap's on both guide feet the same length, and what is that nasty stain on your pillow...Copenhagen?

SafariSam · 03-07-2010, 04:55 PM

I varied the length from the top and bottom of the wrap. Top is 7/32 from foot and bottom is 1/4, i just liked the way it looked. Stain is god knows what, i threw away the pillow after i took the picture, thing is old. Laundry 'day' reveals all

lurking_out_loud · 03-07-2010, 07:29 PM

Remember, it's your rod. If it looks good to you, that's all that really matters. Guide feet have different lengths depending on what side you are wrapping. I try to be consistent and use 1/4" from the end of the foot for the wraps. If it looks wonky, it probably is. Your rod looks pretty darn good so far.

StickFish · 03-08-2010, 06:36 AM

Sam, the wrapping jig looks great - I think you will like the spool tension better than the pinch tensioner. The wraps look great - good work. See ya Saturday for finish 101

SafariSam · 03-09-2010, 08:36 AM

Spool tensioner is great, albeit does come a little loose every once and a while. Thanks for your feedback everyone.

perchmaster · 03-11-2010, 06:47 PM

keep up the good work, rods looking pretty darn good

SafariSam · 03-14-2010, 07:55 PM

Just an update, first coat (light build) has finished drying and the first coat on the tiger wrap

is drying right now at sticks home. He has a few pictures that will get up here sometime. My camera was having focusing troubles, p&s don't like to macro

Thanks for all the support and feedback.

StickFish · 03-15-2010, 06:39 AM

Here is a pic of one of the guides. Yesterday, I explained how to do a tiger wrap. Sam had already read the how to that I posted some time back so he had an idea. I showed him how to start the wrap and then add the contrasting thread and he did the rest of the wrap. Then I showed him how to end the contrast thread and end the wrap, burnish and complete the trim bands. Then explained and demo'd the flooding technique to get a smooth coat of finish over such a large wrap. It all turned out great.

Next visit we'll be applying the 2nd coat to the guide wraps and tiger getting closer.

Yes some threads show. This first coat is Threadmaster Lite and I just apply enough finish to get the thread a bit more than wet. The technique works better for me to seal the tunnels as the finish does all the penetrating.

pearl · 03-16-2010, 05:31 AM

Keep the updates coming Sam. Its looking good!!

SafariSam · 03-16-2010, 07:06 PM

Will do.

swampy · 03-21-2010, 06:05 PM

Looking great !! Nice color combo.............can't wait to see it complete.

pearl · 03-28-2010, 05:00 PM

Hey Sam,

Heard rumor there might be an update today?
Get us caught up on the project when you have time.

SafariSam · 03-29-2010, 06:44 PM

Sorry i haven't been updating but not much has happened, it's been a stagnant week work wise but the tiger is almost done, last thread layer to go, and then i have another rod in the works that i will post up here as well.

StickFish · 03-31-2010, 10:29 AM

Sam was over last night to finish his rod. Only step left was to do the top layer of the tiger wrap he had been working on. Here is Sam pulling the sacrificial thread and admiring the results.

Glory shot

He has some china marker to clean up and generally polish up the rod, but this rod will fish.

He got his last lesson in cork reaming. He is also building a 5wt Fly rod using a blank a relative custom colored at G Loomis, sort of a brown redish color. Dual Fuji concept strippers, and size 3 and 4 snake guides. A Sturble U20 with Cocobolo and a reverse half wells cork grip, wrapped in black and trimmed with metallic red should be a pretty cool rod.

Its been an enjoyable experience working with a kid who wants to learn - Thanks Sam!

pearl · 03-31-2010, 11:21 AM

Sam,

Tiger turned out awesome . Very nice work !

What thread is the blue? Thats a great color.

Steve

SafariSam · 03-31-2010, 11:52 AM

I believe it is a royal blue, and it did turn out great. With a lot of help and patience from Ted i was able to get further into this great sport, and learn loads about rod building. If tying my own flies adds to the experience as much as it does then i can't imagine how amazing it will be to catch a fish on a rod that i wrapped. Thanks a lot TED!!!

StickFish · 03-31-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pearl

Sam,

Tiger turned out awesome . Very nice work !

What thread is the blue? Thats a great color.

Steve

Gudebrode Royal Blue Nylon Size A

Hookmiester · 03-31-2010, 12:24 PM

Very nice work....

Jon

DirectDrive · 03-31-2010, 03:29 PM

Nice work !
Would love to see some pics of the finished rod.

SF, your student is a natural.

Raymond Adams · 04-01-2010, 08:47 AM

Nice work Sam!

WTG Stickfish!

StickFish · 04-01-2010, 08:57 AM

Ya I think your right DirectDrive. He stopped by last night to pu his salmon rod and had his fly rod in tow. Reel seat and cork all glued up and nice and clean. He researched all over the web for guide spacing (no blank model numbers) and came up with a good solid layout with all the guides taped on. Tossed it on my static testing jig and it all looked great. He was going to do the final test by installing a reel and making a few casts before wrapping up the guides, but it looked right and fit his stature for the stripping guide.

I think its safe to say he won't be buying any more factory rods. He's even talking about mentoring a friend on his senior project next year. Next stop is his speech to his teachers and counselors, than the rod building workshop in Woodland

SafariSam · 04-01-2010, 08:53 PM

I really can't wait for the graphite wrapping class in Woodland, that must be the next step aside from all the other techniques i'm going to learn. Definitely no more factory rods for me, if i see a mistake on a rod i own it better be one that i made

Attached is the fly rod I promised.

Wraps done, aligned and looking snazzy. The next thing is to do 5 wraps of a red metallic thread for trim bands around the lower guides and then probably just a 4 or 3 wrap band on the top half's guides. The rod color is O-Positive, a sparkley red Loomis finish that really glows in the sun light. Straight black thread, nickel-silver real seat, cocobolo insert, and, although i know you all know this, a reverse half-wells grip. In retrospect I probably would have chosen another color for the insert but I think i will just have to manage.

Thanks for all the great feedback on the first project, and again a big thanks to Ted!!!

SafariSam · 04-05-2010, 03:44 PM

My fly rod is done and i have one question, do i need to plug the female section of my fly rod ferrule with a rubber stop, or something else, to keep water from getting down there? And what is it that you one would use.