Sunday project...

[NM_Shooter]

Been wanting one of these, but too cheap to buy a store bought version.

Hint : 8 RPM

[Ernest T. Bass]

Rock tumbler?

[fishing_guy]

Winder for making fishing rods?

[tommytebco]

BBQ spit rotator

[Gary O]

Well, Shooter, you fish, therefore, every once in awhile you need new line.
But that little contraption looks a bit odd to be something that loaded line......s-o-o-o-o, I'm guessin' it's a widget that unloads line
....or just a widget.

What do I win?

[waterbug]

It looks like a rod turner for turning a fishing rod to ensure that the epoxy covering the wraps stays level while it cures/hardens.

[NM_Shooter]

Pretty smart bunch of folks on this forum!  Either right on, or very astute guesses!

Yes, it is for both winding guides on a rod, and then for rotating while epoxy coating and drying. 

Here is the final version.  I'm ordering blanks tomorrow!  Making a test rod as a gift for my brother, then a couple of gift rods for my niece and nephew.  Then a nice 6wt 9' for me with Rainshadow blanks. 

I'll eventually mount this to a piece of channel track so I can slide the brackets around.  I want to do a proof of concept just clamping the brackets to my workbench first.  I am not confident that my thread tensioning setup will work right. 

[peternap]

Looks nice Shooter.
I hate to sound low tech but I just run the thread between the pages of a book to tension it.

[NM_Shooter]

That book idea is a good idea.  Change the page to change tension! 

I ordered a crapload of components for building a couple of rods.  I got carried away and had to buy the cork inlay kit, just because it looked cool. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9EtCEuCIM

I'm trying to figure out how I might be able to integrate some thing like a turquoise ring into the grip too.  I might have to figure out how to cast some turquoise dust into resin. 

Hmmmm......

[fishing_guy]

I cheated a bit because I had a friend who got into it.  He built me a custom rod (ultralight) which snapped the first time I used it and tried to land a 7lb northern pike on it.  He was nice and spliced it back together and told me no more catching northerns on it.  It snapped the next fish I had on it, a 4 lb smallmouth.
I wrote off the rod, and lost touch with Dave for about 6 years because of layoffs and such.  Then somehow we ended up in the same building again.  He says, "I've been searching for the right blank for you all this time.  I just found it last week."  By the end of the month I had my 6 1/2' custom ultralight rod.  10 years later, it is still my favorite rod, beating out my Fenwick and St Croix rods.
It takes a talent to build them, and even more to have the patience to really customize them.  They will become a heirloom for sure.

[peternap]

That book idea is a good idea.  Change the page to change tension! 

I ordered a crapload of components for building a couple of rods.  I got carried away and had to buy the cork inlay kit, just because it looked cool. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9EtCEuCIM

I'm trying to figure out how I might be able to integrate some thing like a turquoise ring into the grip too.  I might have to figure out how to cast some turquoise dust into resin. 

Hmmmm......

Check with some knife makers supply houses for the resin impregnated turquoise. I used it years ago to make a Nordic style knife. I think Brisa carries it.

[NM_Shooter]

Got the first grips "done" for now.  I was amazed at how long it took 100 grit sandpaper to get these close.  I would have liked to get a little more slender grip to these, but this test rod is for my brother.  He has big hands, so it should be just fine. 

Tomorrow I am going to mount these on the blank and mount the reel seat too.



I'm learning a lot.  Next rod is for my daughter. 

[NM_Shooter]

Ok.  This happens a lot to me.  I got antsy and did a dry mount.  I'll find the spine and glue this all tomorrow.  Maybe. 





Guide wrappings and trim pieces will be forest green with metallic gold trim bands.

[Squirl]

Looks nice.

[peternap]

Looking really nice Shooter! I can't wait to see the pattern for your wraps.

[NM_Shooter]

Won't be anything too crazy... main overwrap will be forest green, then a metallic gold trim band and then a trim band again of forest green.  I placed and wrapped the first guide last night, and had to re-do it about three times before I got it where I wanted it.  My wrapping supports are lacking now that the grips are on. 

The upside is that I think this rod is going to be very well balanced.  It sure feels great now.

[NM_Shooter]

Getting close.  I've learned a bunch and my next one will be cleaner. 

I need to sign this thing, and I'll be ready to put the epoxy on.  My home made jig has some pretty severe limitations.  I may build one or two more rods and decide if this is something I want to do.  If so, I am going to buy a winding fixture. 

All in all, it turned out pretty well.  I bought a cheap IM6 blank... 44M Modulus or so, and the blank is not perfectly linear.  The tip deviates 1/8" or so.  Maybe this is common, as this is the first time I've really paid attention to the minute details of any rod. 

I may be too OCD to do this.  Or maybe that is the trait you need to build a really nice rod.  Too early to tell.