What is the best way to cut an NFC X-Ray blank to fit an XO handle? I need to remove roughly 2" from the butt end to get the blank to fit. Will a Dremel with an abrasive Cut-off wheel work or are there other options I should consider?
Forum: rodboard

Hey everyone. Just got some rod building gear and figured i would rebuild an old rod before i go full bore with a new blank etc. Ive stripped all the old guides off and ready for the next steps. Figured I would document the process and obviously use all of you for some help along the way and maybe at the end it can help another newbie like me. Now that the guides are off I'm going to scrape o
Forum: rodboard

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has built or used the NFC Fly blank For 699/blank I am really debating buying one. Thanks, Ben
Forum: rodboard

Have couple rods with broken guides. 10 feet 3 oz weight 2 pieces spinning. Just hate to throw things so decided to fix them . Striped the first one with abrasive pad, paint and primer both. What paint and primer to use ,brands and models? Clear finish? Read some topics on forums and internet, feel more confused now? Will appreciate any info. Thanks in advance.
Forum: rodboard

Hello there, I'm doing some experiments on re-painting a stripped blank. My aim is to rebuild its original aspect, I mean a clear finish with semi-transparent dye to keep graphite spirals visible with a caramel-like color. It seems I've found the right finish (acrylic paint in 2k flavour, to be spayed with an airbrush). The problem now is the dye... usual epoxy pigments/inks are not strong
Forum: rodboard

Hello there, I'm doing some experiments on re-painting a stripped blank. My aim is to rebuild its original aspect, I mean a clear finish with semi-transparent dye to keep graphite spirals visible with a caramel-like color. It seems I've found the right finish (acrylic paint in 2k flavour, to be spayed with an airbrush). The problem now is the dye... usual epoxy pigments/inks are not strong
Forum: rodboard

Making a few rods for kids -- I just wondered if there was a process for adding a coat of colorant such as glitter or color-shift powder to carbon fiber grips (using cfx grips). Use rod finish (Diamond II, etc.), mix in powder and go? Thank you
Forum: rodboard

I'm looking for a purple and lavender rod for a grand dtr who's rod I broke this morning. Dayum
Forum: rodboard

I am working on my 3rd and 4th builds and have maybe a silly question but it bugs me nonetheless. I have been using dental ligatures to temporarily support my guides as I place them so that I can test cast and do static loading before finalizing guide location. When I am sliding the guides around a bit to fine tune placement I have noticed that I sometimes slightly scratch the finish on the bla
Forum: rodboard

So there was a post a little bit ago about this topic and I did some research and found this. This is from a company in Japan I assume that is commercially made for squeegee painting fishing rods, how cool is that??? Anyway just thought I’d get it out there who knows maybe a company over here will see it and make something similar.
Forum: rodboard

Hello. Long time stalker, but my first post! I really want to figure out the squeegee method of painting rod blanks that I've seen in factory tour videos. I'm frustrated with the mess, paint waste, and overall hassle of spray painting (plus I suck at it). I can get the single stage high quality automotive paints I need, but the materials I've tried for the rubber membrane aren't working well.
Forum: rodboard

After watching rod maker magazine video on blank prep I ordered some scotch brite 7445 at Tom's advice. I'm hoping it's actually the real stuff because showed up just in a plastic bag with a barcode that said scotch brite . My question is - do I prep painted blanks the same way? As unpainted? What about those blanks with ridges?
Forum: rodboard

Don’t know what the point of this post truly is but who else hopes that we soon see some new blank color options?!
Forum: rodboard

I've rarely had this issue before. It may be related to my advancing age and retreating memory, but I'm beginning to have a lot of problems with the shadow of the blank coming through the thread on wraps when I want the thread to be completely opaque. I did a wrap with ProWrap Hot Pink NCP thread on a black blank and try as I might, the blank shadow is still showing through. After doing the wrap,
Forum: rodboard

Is there a better option out there ? These brushes are probably made in China and a not of good quality. Bill
Forum: rodboard

While no one can dispute that any weight added to a blank reduces its recovery speed which basically deadens the “feel”, how much additional weight is required to actually notice the difference? Of course, and should be obvious, cantilevered weight out toward the tip of the blank will have a significantly greater impact than the same amount of weight closer to the fulcrum / real seat. Many on th
Forum: rodboard

Hey guys, Am building my first eglass trolling rod (80lb), iv never worked on such blaks thats why i feel it strange between the guides. So is it better to wrap all over the blank or just to apply epoxy? Am afraid epoxy will be damaged when it bend. Please advise?!!
Forum: rodboard

I'm in bed recovering from cancer treatment and tend to spend a lot of time on YouTube. I recently came across videos by Japanese custom rod builders and am fascinated about how they do many things differently than I am accustomed to. Handles seem to be built on a graphite tube and then the tube is slid over the rod butt and epoxied.  Multiple coats of thread epoxy and what I think is two part
Forum: rodboard

Hey everyone I am an artist for a living and I am now building rods. I am wanting to do some intricate paintings with acrylic paint on an upcoming build. Im assuming for a small design above foregirp it would be fine to coat with epoxy, but what if I were to do a full length rod design? From reading recent posts here it seems covering the whole rod with epoxy is not a good idea and ive seen pe
Forum: rodboard

Hello! Need some info on rod Blanks please. I need to know what • 68-degrees (RDA) • 77-degrees (CCS) and 380gr (RDA) • ERN 18.2 (CCS) means. This is a point blank rod blank. I have built a couple rods but I need to learn more about the blanks. Bob Length: 6 ft 9 inches Action Angle: XF • 68-degrees (RDA) • 77-degrees (CCS) Power: Med Light / 380gr (RDA) • ERN 18.2 (CCS) Weight: 1.
Forum: rodboard

Howdy all, Beginner Question - what do you put on the bare rod blank ( for finish ) between the guides? Thank you Micky
Forum: rodboard

Hello all: I do a minor bit of rod building and, on occasion, when someone learns that I do so I am asked to do some repairs. I agreed to replace some eyes on the butt section of a fibreglass Richmake mooching rod. It is an oldie but goodie, or so I am told. The rod appears to be painted over the fibreglass and then had a very hard and thick finish put on all of the rod, including the
Forum: rodboard

I have been thinking about and have done a little experimenting with using the squeegee method for painting blanks. Primarily ice rod blanks. I like a high vis tip however the OCD part of me doesn't like when the factory high vis doesn't align with a guide wrap. I am wondering if anyone has experience with the method? More importantly has advice on what to use for a film. I have tried a couple of
Forum: rodboard

Okay so I'm on to what I believe is the final piece of the puzzle. I have my Rod Blanks selected. Going with the for my jerk bait rod and for my skipping rod I know this doesn't make a difference, but for the jerk bait rod I'm going with a Ohio State/Classic car style the entire rod being Red Metallic with silver metallic thread. For the flipping Rod I'm using my old high school colors of p
Forum: rodboard

Ever since I started building rods about 6 years ago, I have experimented with a few different methods of “clearing” a raw blank. Recently though, the trend is to leave the blank uncoated, in it’s raw, possibly sanded condition. While that is fine-and-dandy from merely a weight perspective (infantesimal as it may be), epoxies, including those used in blank manufacturing, are typically sensitive t
Forum: rodboard

A number of you have offered high praise of a 2-part (urethane?) spray paint in a rattle can. If I remember correctly, the name is Spray Max 2K. Apparently, it can be color-matched to a specific color / formula which is important. The color needed is solid, not metallic and I am hoping it is available as a single-stage paint rather than 2-stage requiring a top coat of clear. Any additional info
Forum: rodboard

First of all hello, and thank you for letting me be a part of this great community. I have a really old 1.8m long fiberglass rod, that i want to refurbish. Its older than me so everything on it has to be replaced. I already removed the grip(it was solid plastic), reel seat and guides. I want to colour it (because it has some knicks and scratches which are too deep to sand out ) and then varnish
Forum: rodboard

Now that Gen 4 has been out there, and in use, has anyone any comments on its longevity, resistance to the elements, lasting strength, etc.
Forum: rodboard

Lately with the past few builds I've been getting fisheyes, waves and other distortions on my finish work. I have a question for the chemists among you. When I first started crafting fly rods, I used Acetone as a solvent for cleanup with finish epoxy. I believe most of my finish work was satisfactory to good, but I found the vapors from acetone irritating. So I started using Sunnyside Brand
Forum: rodboard

Until I joined this site I never really heard so much about weight reduction. Since joining and reading most of the topics, it seems that there is a huge belief that the less weight...the better. I can understand that a fisherman doesn't want to cast a 2lb. rod all day when he can cast one in ounces. However, I really can't understand cutting grams will make a better more desirable rod. Are rod
Forum: rodboard