Thank you all for responses to this post. There is quite a variety of finish options that you all are using.
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Hi, just curious what finish is recommended for a stabilized wood reel seat insert. Is exterior varathane ok or is there a better coating.
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Thank you for the responses. That's a great idea for using a reel foot to check the hood area for epoxy. I should be able to find an old reel for this in my mountain of gear. Now back to the builds.
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I am assembling a couple fly rods for a niece and nephew. One of them will be with a downlock reel seat. I am trying to think of ways attach the end cap to the wood insert without making an epoxy mess in the space where the reel foot slides into the end cap. Or do you just clean up the space with a alcohol soaked brush after attaching? Also, in a testament to the accuracy of machining, the fi
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thanks for the help...looking at the search function a bit deeper, I found my search was only for the last 30 days. Lots more information when I expanded the date range.
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for a one piece 7' rod how quickly should the rotation from top to bottom should the spiral take place? currently the first guide is tapped on at 24" from the bottom with an 8" space between the other guides that wrap to the bottom of the rod. It looks nice but in terms of functionality I am guessing. I used the "search" function of this site but could not find any pertinen
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thank you all for the feedback. Looks like I'm mixing 2 batches.
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My brother in law has asked me to repair a few wraps on an older sage fly rod (he is not the original owner) and also re-attach the end cap and threaded portion of an up-lock reel seat to the wood insert. I will have extra epoxy from the thread wrap (wraps are on the different section of rod). Is it ok to use that epoxy for attaching the metal portion of the reel seat to the wood insert or do I
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Hi Stuart, I just finished my first 2 fly rod builds (4 and 5 weight). the first an inexpensive blank that, well, it look likes a first time build. The second a nice blank (rx7+), turned out absolutely beautiful. You are getting some good advice here about what blank to build on. If this is your first build, you might consider building on a less expensive blank for valuable experience.
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Bob, I am building my first rod now. I have read and re-read L. Garcia's "how to" book, asked for advice a couple of times from folks on this website, and also received help from a couple of rod building people I know. I am trying to make a conscious effort to do this on my own as at some point I am the person doing the building, and I do not want to be a pest. The amount of infor
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I am having problems with finishing a black ash burl handle. I have tried using a high build one coat epoxy and a lite epoxy. the epoxy does not seem to cure all the way and does not smoothly cover the wood (almost like there is some propery in the wood that is rejecting the epoxy). I am applying the epoxy to the handle as it turns. Once coated, I hand turn like I would for a wrap, clocking
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of a one coat high build type epoxy or using two coats of a lite type epoxy. I am getting ready to epoxy the wraps on my first build and was planning on using one coat of a high build epoxy (recommended by the writer of the book I am using), however, I am seeing that some on this site are using two coats of a "lite" epoxy. On another note, I
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I am looking for some feedback regarding the seymo stand off guides. I like the ability to do the locking wrap, however, that advantage may be offset by the higher profile. Does anyone have experience with these guides that could provide a comment or two. I prefer single foot guides but have a hard time getting a nice looking lock wrap. Thank you.
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What is going on in Woodland? I was hoping (the operative word hoping) to get in on a bit of fishing down in that neck of the woods this weekend, but would enjoy meeting some of the builders who have been generous in there information to me and others on this site. Thanks, John
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I'm curious as to the wrapping of the ferrules of a 4 piece, 5 weight fly rod. I've seen wrapping of just a 1/2" or so and other wraps that go about 2". Is there an advantage to one or the other. thank you, John
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Does the rod terminate at the end of the wood portion of the reel seat or does it go down to the point where the cap goes on the the threaded portion of the reel seat. This for a 5 weight, fly rod with an up-lock seat. . Also a thank you for helping me regarding a decision on a downlock or up-lock seat. I have enjoyed reading the correspondence on this site.
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Hi, I've enjoyed reading the posts and responses for the last few months, and now I have a question. Which is a better reel seat to go with, the up-lock or down-lock, or does it matter? I am about to start my second rod, a 5 weight, medium fast action, 9'. Also, do the nickel silver real seats need to be polished occasionally? Hopefully this is not an often addressed question. Thank you
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