I had to resurrect some older carbaloy guides on a wire line rod I rebuilt for a friend last year. Asked that question of Capt Neil and the answer came back " Soak overnight in Lime-A-Way" (any hardware store carries it) . He was right; the chrome looked almost new when I reinstalled the guides. Can't argue with the voice of experience !
Forum: rodboard

Thanks, for the heads up. Good advice
Forum: rodboard

Now that someone has mentioned it, I just realized that the itching and skin irritation on my hand(s) that occurs after doing grips & reel seat glue ups is related to Rod Bond. I don't build that many rods but I do love the stuff and woiuldn't use anything else. Pushing an EVA grip down a blank is messy business and invariably some RB winds up on my hands. Clean up hands with alcohol and warm
Forum: rodboard

That's a Seeker inshore blank (did you mean CSW 708?) and a great one for all the inshore applications you named. Its one of my favorites. Beautiful dark blue blank that I wrapped in dark blue with metallic silver underwraps. Get lots of compliments on the rod. I fish LIS and love my Avets , either the SX or MX's for tautog but prefer a baitcaster with a thumbar for quick freespooling when targ
Forum: rodboard

I do a base coat of lite finish, let dry for 24 hrs, apply decal, and another coat of finish Go here for tips: Easy !!
Forum: rodboard

Rivers End Tackle in Old Saybrook, CT used to do rod building classes in the spring in years past. Don't know if they still do. Call and inquire.
Forum: rodboard

I remember reading somewhere that after grinding and shaping the feet on guides that its not a good idea to use a black sharpie to darken and help hide the shine of the bright metal foot under the the wrap. I've been doing it that way for awhile and don't seem to have any problems with finish although I also usually use a heavy flood coat of CP on the wraps of the (mostly SW) rods I build. What
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the quick review. Sounds like the softer tip of the SS may be what I'm looking for. I suspect Tom may chime in here so I'll hold out for a second (others?) opinion(s).
Forum: rodboard

Scheduled for building his winter is a live bait rod for shallow water fluking from my small CC in LIS. Need a fairly springy tip to impart the right "bounce & wiggle" to the bucktail/spearing combo that seems to be the key to success in our favorite fluke spots. I've read Tom's article in Rodbuilder mag and seen so many recommendations for the Seeker CLB 70* -70*'s from Tom &
Forum: rodboard

Mick, Probably a dumb question, but does that 40% off component sale apply to retail buyers as well ?? Which of your distributors will pass those savings on to the rest of us? Hobbyists (like me) have just put the boat away and are starting to plan the "just-gotta have-em", winter-built rods that will keep us in the basement on those long cold January & February nights dreaming
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll save the GF 765ML blank for a "senior class" BFT safari after I cut my teeth on footballs next month!
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for the input everyone. Called my North Shore host and it seems we'll be tossing jigs to "football" -sized BFT's (30-50lb). As I said, I'm a complete rookie at chasing tuna save for one eye-opening experience on a party boat in Block Island Sound years ago when one grabbed a diamond jig and circled the boat (tangling up every line aboard!) before we could stop it. Can't imagin
Forum: rodboard

Thanks for bird-dogging the resource. Isn't it just my just my luck ....... that goes back to '02 and two issues before I became a subscriber. Looks like I order the back issue. Any recommendations on guides based on experience?
Forum: rodboard

Recently rec'd an invite for a (first-ever) tuna trip off Cape Cod chasing bluefins later this summer. My inventory of self-built s/w sticks is pretty much designed for lighter-fare Long Island Sound (stripers, fluke & and blues) so does not include the beefier stand-up stick that I anticipate will be advisable for the feisty bluefins. Fortunately, I got lucky on @#$%& and scored a Calstar GF
Forum: rodboard

This isn't the first time this issue has come up and it was a source of irritation for me as well. I do only s/w rods and LOVE Calstar blanks esp. the GF's I also like to identify the make, model and line rating in the butt wrap area on all the rods I build. Unfortunately, Calstar doesn't supply any decals with their blanks. Although I understand the counterfeiting issue, it seems to me St Croix
Forum: rodboard

Do a search here on this board for Alps printers and you'll find plenty of info re: using them to do decals for rods. Here's what I've learned. If you acquire one to save money, you won't but if you're looking for the convenience of being able to quickly produce your own names, inscriptions, rod info, etc. they are great. .I purchased a used 2300 on @#$%& which works OK for the few metallic gold
Forum: rodboard

Ordered some LS Hi-build recently but haven't tried it yet. I had heard LS doens't like heat very much and I'm used to torching FC to the point of run-off to level out the wraps and get rid of tiny bubbles. Hey, I learned that way and it works for me ! (unless you get too aggressive with the heat). Do I have to abandon my "flaming" ways to be successful with LS Hi-build? Thought I'd t
Forum: rodboard

Some pewters are a horse of a different color. Gudebrod's looks like my grandmother's antique pewter mugs that have been sitting on a shelf for the last 100 years - DULL ! Try Sulky pewter metallic ; lots brighter and a whole lot easier to work with.
Forum: rodboard

Ran into the same situation recently. I too have a number of Calstar blanks waiting to be built that I purchased over the last few years. Calstar GF's are my favorite sw blank to build on and just happen to be one of those "top-quality" manufacturers that do not supply decals with their blanks. Neither do their blanks have any identifying marks. Understand I don't want to clone a factor
Forum: rodboard

Did a Google search for Madeira awhile back and found all the places listed above. Then I found and ordered a bunch. They carry the whole spectrum of Polyneon at $1.65/spool. Gotta be near the wholesale price. Shipping was reasonable too.
Forum: rodboard

Since I just acquired and Alps printer on @#$%&, I've been "studying up" on the whole issue of using Alps printers to do your own decals. I was first initially amazed at the large and active @#$%& market for these out-of-production printers. Even non-working ALPS printers command a price of $40 to $70 on @#$%& and the reason has to do with Alps support and warranty policy. Send them you
Forum: rodboard

Bought a used HEPA air filter/purifier on @#$%& which I turn on for a hour or so before setting up to put finish.on the wraps. Let things settle in the room for awhile (tIMPORTANT! ..........throw the cat outside for the whole time rod is turning) Keep room closed and activity to a minimum. I know there are more technically effective fixes but this seems to work for me and it did cut down on the
Forum: rodboard