Took the plunge today

[bonedog]

I ordered the Cabela's Premium Rod Building kit and a Forecast 6'6" 2wt kit with all the trimmings. This will be my first attempt at this so it will probably be a mess :). I've been inundating Robert Hicks with questions lately and he has graciously answered them all but I'll probably take some of the heat off him and ask you guys a bunch too. Anyway, one more NGTO forum to peruse everyday.
Tight lines,
bd

[The Ole Man]

You can do it bdog. I read the VFS rod build article by Bob Widgren about 5 years ago. Then read the Flex Coat rod building book. Then watched a rod-build video. Ordered a Talon Cairnton 9' 4 wt kit from Widgren-- built it in about a week. Turned out perfect. Felt so confident that I then ordered and built a Sage 9, 5wt, 3 pc Light Line kit as my second build. Then built a Loomis 8', 3 wt--no problems. Built two Forecasts after that. Got tired of it and put up the tools. Not hard to do, but too tedious and eyes are going bad. Besides--rods were piling up. :) Don't hesitate to ask all of your questions.

[GonetoSeed]

I really don't think you're going to mess up, but just in case you hit a problem or perhaps want to avoid one, ask a way. I know just about every gotcha, just don't ask how I know? :) Actually do ask. I think sharing what goes wrong and how is always instructive. Just a little embarissing, like the time I mixed my finish batch from the same bottle. All resin doesn't harden.

Plus, one of the best things I think about this forum is the variety of great answers. As you will find out, there is usually more than one technique that works for every step. The answers you get here from all of the rod building addicts is sure to include one that you will find fits your style.

btw, I've had great results with Forecast light weight blanks. This will be a sweet little rod.

[Windknot]

BD -

I know you are happily looking for the UPS guy, and all keyed up about your first rod project! But I bet you've snuck a glance or two at a 4wt blank and thought "Boy, wouldn't that be fun on xxx Creek?"

Don't feel guilty about it! :D Welcome to the world of rod building. The bad news is, you will build more than one rod. The good news is, you will build more than one rod. :D

What makes this so cool is you will never look at a rod - factory or custom - the same way again. You will see techniques and touches you like, and some you don't, and all those impressions get filed away. You'll find yourself mentally applying some of those new techniques during boring meetings and sermons. Whoops! :o TMI infraction!

Rest assured that your first rod will be a fully functional, attractive effort. It will have cosmetic blemishes that you see, but most folks, short of other builders in bright sunlight, won't see. Have fun, and welcome to an addicting hobby.

[Robert Hicks]

BD,
You have my nember just call anytime! I don't mind one bit.
Here is a photo of my latest rod....It still needs work. It should be ready in a week or two ;)

http://webpages.charter.net/rhicks925/red.JPG

[GonetoSeed]

Robert - beautiful craftmanship. I can't wait to see the completed rod.

[bonedog]

Thanks to all, I'll be asking plenty of questions. That is one good looking rod, Robert. I'm sure I'll be calling with questions and problems. I'm gonna just worry about prepping the guides and practicing on a wooden dowel for a while 'til I get the hang of wrapping.
Tight lines,
bd

[bonedog]

Got home today and my rod building tools arrived. Get ready for the inquisition guys, Lol. But seriously, I've watched the video once and am gonna watch it several more times and practice wrapping 'til I feel reeeeaally comfortable. I do not want to make a complete unusable mess.
Thanks,
bd

[GonetoSeed]

I've got two feelings. 1. You will complete a more than usable rod, one that you will be proud of and get a thrill when you catch your first first of many fish on it. 2. So much so that you and the UPS guy will become close friends :)

[bonedog]

GTS, I hope you're right. If it's half as addictive as tying, I know it will be fun.
Take care,
bd

[jgrb]

I finally had a chance yesterday to fish with the rod I 'put together' from a Forecast kit. It's an 8'6", 4wt, 4 peice that I ordered from Hook and Hackle. Ivan's suggestions and encouragement was the reason I tried this. The advice from GonetoSeed helped a great deal. I caught 10 bluegills in a small pond near my house. The action of the rod is great. I'm using the SA Trout fly line. The rod casts beautifully, if that's an appropriate descriptive term for a fly rod. Of course, I had nothing to do with that. I give credit to the Forecast blanks. The feeling you get when you land that first fish (even a bluegill) on a rod you just put together and on a fly you just tied is pretty special. Extremely Gratifying. The downside of this effort is that my finish work on the wraps I redid, leaves a lot to be desired. After the second coat, I still had small air bubbles. They are not as big as the ones I had after the first coat. I heated the bottles of finish in warm water, placed the mix on tin foil on a plate, applied thin coat, used a hair dryer on low on each of the wraps, but still had a few bubbles. They are not very big, but I can see them. At this point, I don't know if I'll try a thinner third coat or not. I had so much fun fishing with it, I forgot the bubbles were there. I'm taking it with me when I go to Fernie, British Columbia in August to fish for cut throat with dries. Bubbles and all.
Ivan and Gonetoseed, thanks again for your help.
John Bankhead

[GonetoSeed]

Congratulations!!!

Personally I wouldn't worry about the bubbles in this one. They're in the finish and a 3rd coat will only cover them deeper. Anyway, you're probably the only person who can see them :) and I bet they aren't even visible because the smile on your face when catching a fish gets in the way. Plus, I'm sure you will get a lot more practice on the next projects. That feeling of catching a fish on you're own rod is addictive.

btw for future reference, if it's been over about 72 hours between coats of finish, it's best to scruff the existing coat with a 3M gray Scotchbrite pad. This will help the next coat adhere. If you are applying coats in less the 72 hours what is happening is the two coats are actually blending into one. If longer than 72 hours, the coats are seperate and need a little help bonding. The Scotchbrite helps prep the surfaces for the bonding. In fact, I like to use Scotchbrite to prep the blank surfaces for bonding with epoxy (for example, prepping the blank for gluing the grip and real seat.

Congratulations again. Tight lines with those cutthroats.

[Ivan]

Thats great man! I know your going to love that rod. Catching a mess of bluegills on a rod you made how cool is that!

Hit me up, maybe we can get together one day and catch a few.