Melbourne AKFF custom rod building chapter?

[Redfish]

There seems to be a few people floating around Melbourne keen to give the custom rod building game a go (see tackle talk section).

There's a lot to be gained from pooling resources and knowledge with rod building, aside from the obvious reasons of providing another outlet to sink a few cold beers and talk fishing!

So I'd like to gauge interest in forming a group for sharing of rod building ideas, knowledge, pooling of resources, combining orders and bringing in people keen to start building rods but are maybe a little intimidated to do so!

I've done some builds, but am far from an expert. Just happy to share what I've learned with like minded people. Post here if you're keen to be involved.

[mattyp]

As you already know Jeremy, I'm interested in making at least 2 ( 2-3kg and a 4-6kg) to start with.
Any others? Post your interest here and we'll get an order up and running.
Matt

[Alster99]

Hi fellas,

I'd be interested in learning how to build my own rods. Sounds good. Keep me posted!

Al

[varp]

Howdy all - I want to build a two piece 9' foot plus rod with a soft tip and a stiff butt. Have read about some of the rods they use for trotting floats for salmon with centre pins in the States and Canada and would like to base it loosely on that style of fishing. I also want to get into doing some fancy work on the butt - Brazilian Mahogany or Mallee burl or something.

Is the idea of this that we import some blanks from the one supplier or a warehouse that has stocks from many different blank manufacturers or what? I know nothing!!!

But I got a lathe!!! It's about 10 years old, smallish and fits on top of a workbench, is rusty, was an el cheapo chinese thang that I used for sanding bits of willow to make Adirondack chairs for a semi-failed business venture. Could be resurrected and donated to the cause. Fits in a sedan no probs.

I never bought any turning tools though. I could imagine it could be used to turn rod butts, but doubt it would go slow enough for epoxy type cures....could be wrong there though - maybe it could with a bit of engineering.

Anyways. If anyone can find good cause to use the fugger then it can be picked up from either The Patch or Gembrook and chucked in your boot.

[Redfish]

Matty- Are you keen to get started straight away? The last of my guides just got shipped, I'll be finishing my other rod in about 2 weeks.

Varp- I don't have any experience in the kind of blank you're after, but have seen plenty in the catalogues. I know what your preferences are in this area too!

There'll be a lot of synergies if people want to combine orders for blanks etc. Personally I've just finished 2 projects and won't be looking at starting any till next year some time. So it's more a question of putting people together with similar time lines and needs where there's a benefit etc than going solo (and get stung as I did!).

[tryto2fish]

hi,count me in as well!!!!.happy to follow and learn more about the building process.

[mattyp]

Matty- Are you keen to get started straight away? The last of my guides just got shipped, I'll be finishing my other rod in about 2 weeks.

Varp- I don't have any experience in the kind of blank you're after, but have seen plenty in the catalogues. I know what your preferences are in this area too!

There'll be a lot of synergies if people want to combine orders for blanks etc. Personally I've just finished 2 projects and won't be looking at starting any till next year some time. So it's more a question of putting people together with similar time lines and needs where there's a benefit etc than going solo (and get stung as I did!).

G'day Jeremy
Mate i'm keen to start in January. Get the 'mad season' out of the way first.
Do you recommend the Samurai blanks and are they available in Aust?
I like the S008 4-6kg 7ft blank and the S002X 2-3kg 7ft blank.
Where do I find the price list on the website?
Cheers
Matt

[tryto2fish]

hi matt,
have a look on mo tackle website under rod building>kits.the s008 kit seems comes with everything for $178 with alconite guides or $139 with o ring guide.same goes with the s002x.......alco $144 , 0o ring $128.if youre buying from them please let me know and we can share the costs of shipping

[Redfish]

hi,count me in as well!!!!.happy to follow and learn more about the building process.

sure thing! I'll be looking at some projects in the new year too, I'll spread the word if I'm doing an order.

Matty- I've built on a samurai years ago, prob been some changes since then, and there's prob better people on the forum to give input on that front. Who knows where the dollar is going to be next year, so ditto for the cost benefit of import vs. local! It's probably best worked out next year, but I'd think the samurai kits are a great starting place.

[riv]

Hi guys is this still going ahead??

Im interested if im not to late, i only just found this topic and have been looking into rod building for awhile now but havent given it a go.

Thanks
Stu

[widsa]

Matty- Are you keen to get started straight away? The last of my guides just got shipped, I'll be finishing my other rod in about 2 weeks.

Varp- I don't have any experience in the kind of blank you're after, but have seen plenty in the catalogues. I know what your preferences are in this area too!

There'll be a lot of synergies if people want to combine orders for blanks etc. Personally I've just finished 2 projects and won't be looking at starting any till next year some time. So it's more a question of putting people together with similar time lines and needs where there's a benefit etc than going solo (and get stung as I did!).

G'day Jeremy
Mate i'm keen to start in January. Get the 'mad season' out of the way first.
Do you recommend the Samurai blanks and are they available in Aust?
I like the S008 4-6kg 7ft blank and the S002X 2-3kg 7ft blank.
Where do I find the price list on the website?
Cheers


Matt

I am keen to have a go at the Fuji Kits as well.
When does everyone want to get started/order?

[Redfish]

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been on the forum much lately. I've moved office and both bosses now look straight at my computer!

If we've got a group of people keen to get involved in rod building, I'm willing to lend a hand with my meagre knowledge and equipment. My last order was through an overseas supplier for St Croix and lamiglas blanks, which turned out to be a bit of a pain getting 7 ft 1 pc rods in, and with the current exchange rate we'd need prob need to be ordering 10 blanks to make it worthwhile. The alternative, and probably simplest process, is getting some samurai kits from an australian supplier. MO tackle have a good range, including the new samurai blanks- I don't have any personal experience with any local company's though. A good quality StCroix spinning SC4 blank will cost about USD$70-100 ex shipping, while the upper end samurai blanks go for AUD$130-170 on MO tackle. You can halve that price for a mid level blank.

I can get as involved as people want, but to help me gauge the level of interest and involvement I'll put 3 options below. Send me a PM if your keen to get involved, and which one of the 3 options describes what you'd like to do:

1) Locally sourced materials (eg. samurai kit)

2) Locally sourced blank and imported componentry (eg. samurai blank and matagi components)

3) Imported blank and components (eg St Croix blank and matagi components)

If you're keen shoot me a PM by the 10th of Feb (send mobile number), along with what you'd like to do. Building a rod is a fun experience, if you've been keen to have a go but never gotten around to doing it then this might be your chance!

Best wishes,

Jeremy

[riv]

This hasn’t died has it?? I have ordered my kit 2-4kg spinning rod so it shouldn’t be long and I will be ready to go, how are the rest of you guys going??

[widsa]

Has not died mate.
I have 1 rod to rebuild as a practice, and I will be ordering a samurai kit soon.

[mattyp]

Still a goer. Had to put mine on the back burner for a month or two.
Been spending all my money on ABT Tourny's in Queensland.
Looking forward to building some nice bream sticks for next years Tourny's.