Purple

[gra]

Somebody asked me to build a purple rod a couple of years ago so I bought the bits and then forgot who it was for and blah blah blah. So, i've been doing a bit here and there on it. Pretty standard, I'm not very arty so there's never to many flash weaves going on at Gra Rods.

So this is a Mudhole IM6 blanks with American Tackle anodised guides. A way from finished yet but I think it will be a nice bass rod. Fuji VSS grip thingo. Anyway, thought I might put a water-slide decal on it that a mate has given me but needed a nice base under the sticker. Thought I might take a couple of photos of the marbeling pre-decal. It's three shades of blue layered over a royal blue base. I like it, makes me feel groovy. Will post some more as it gets finished. I'm so slow these days.

[RedPhoenix]

Geez.. don't tell CrazyRatWoman.. she'd be on that in a flash.

Red.

[nicktoozoff]

Nice work Gra. Have you seen or tried the new Bullard pigments and minerals for marbling yet?

[gra]

Hi Nick, haven't paid too much attention to the new pigments, I'm still using Testors model paints. I have seen the marbelling systems available, might have to investigate further. Are they good?

[gra]

Finished finally.

[bruus]

Very nice, I've thought about trying to build one but then thought of how much it might cost for me to most likely stuff up the first couple turns me off the idea. At least until I'm back into full time work where I can afford mistakes haha Good work.

[bruus]

Do you find you get a better quality rod for the money when you buy a kit from US compared to buying a ready made rod from the tackle shop, assuming you do a good job building it yourself. Or is it mostly for the joy of building one?

[gra]

In the lower range you won't generally build a much better rod than you'll buy for 80-100 bucks. Having said that I've built some crackers for 50 or 60 bucks using run-out blanks.
But the real difference is as you get into the money. I've built rods for 200-250 that you can't buy for 600. Titanium guides, nice handles, great high modulus blanks. This one probably has 100 bucks worth of bits and would be an equal quality, maybe a bit better than say a Dropshot, but with a whole lot more love in it.

Gra

[SharkNett]

Bruus, for me a big benerfit to building my own is I can tailor to suit myself. On commercial rods I often find handle lenghts are just not what I want or components are not up to spec. I have found this especially relevent to the kayak.
Currently building a light jigging/live baiting rod for which the meaurements were taken while sitting in the kayak.

[ArWeTherYet]

She sure is pretty Gra.

My daughter would love one like that, but she is not dedicated enough yet for something of that quality, but maybe one day.

[eagle4031]

great build
i am going to attempt my first next year

[goanywhere]

Very impressive. I've never considered building my own rod until I started on this site. Now I'm getting interested, particularly as I will need another project after building my kayak. Might need some pointers when I start looking into it a bit more.

[liam8227]

Wow, that is superb Gra. Hats off to your craftsmanship. That is a beautiful rod.

[gra]

For those that haven't seen it, this rod is being given away in this month's special comp. Check it out, still a week to go.

Gra