I want to start doing some rod refinishing and maybe building. Can someone give me suggestions on basic supplies and tools to get started? I have plenty of old rods to practice on. Maybe a good book or 2 for a beginner and necessary supplies and tools to get started. I'm sure after some practice, I will begin to determine what I need to progress. Thanks for any suggestions.
Glenn

LA Garcia wrote two great books - short and to the point - covering all of the basics of custom fly rod making. Your local shop (or any of the board's sponsers for that matter) should be able to direct you to a better tutorial for exactly the type of rods you want to work on. I learned the basics from my local fly shop, and built some of my tools including wrapping stands. No great investment is required to get started. Good luck

Not to take anything away from Mr. Garcia, but I think my book will provide much better information for what you are wanting to do. It was written and aimed at those just like yourself. It's called Rod Building Guide and most all the sponsors listed to the left carry it.

The Flex Coat books, there are two of them, are both excellent as well, although they are more basic and could be thought of as simple step-by-step how-to books.

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Sorry, Tom - never read your book.

Glenn and Sean

I have both Tom's and Garcia's books. I wouldn't give any of them away, all are valuable. Garcia's books might be better for somebody with alittle experience. The close-up photography alone in Garcia's books are worth the small price. But his use of masking tape bushings are not my choice. He has learned to make them work, but a new builder might be better off learning a more modern method. He builds his rods "old school". Nothing wrong with that. If you are just starting to build rods you MUST read Tom's book. Tom gives alot more information to the reader, so he can better overcome problems he might encounter. A person who has never built a rod can read Tom's book a be successful at thier first attempt building. That would be harder with Garcia's book, first time out. Tom's book is to the point and clear, and the same price as Garcia's. Read as much as you can. Buy both Tom's and Garcia's books. I have all of Dale Clemmens books plus a number of other rod builder's books. Every one of them has taught me many things. Tom's book, in my opinion, should be a new rod builder's first read.

Bill Doherty