Melbourne AKFF custom rod building chapter?

[mattyp]

OK. Time to fire this thread up again.
Winter is upon us and it's time I started the ball rolling to organise some orders for those interested in building rods.
Alster99, Riv, Varp, Try2tofish and Widsa have all shown interest - I will send PM's to see if your all still interested.
Redfish has generously offered his knowledge and experience to help us with all the info we'll need.
Lets see what we can produce.

[Donutslayer]

I have absolutely no interest in rod building but am more than willing to put up the dosh for one of you guys to build me 1 or 2. I dont give a shit about finish and stuff as long as it all works. (dont spend a lot of time looking at them)
So if someone wants to practice i will put up the dosh to fatten the orders a bit.

[mattyp]

I have absolutely no interest in rod building but am more than willing to put up the dosh for one of you guys to build me 1 or 2. I dont give a shit about finish and stuff as long as it all works. (dont spend a lot of time looking at them)
So if someone wants to practice i will put up the dosh to fatten the orders a bit.

Just what I need is one to F#$k up, I mean practice on before I make mine.
What are you after Sean. Light Snapper stick?

[varp]

Sean won't care...paint it pink while you are at it Matty.

I'm going to pass on this. Between work, family and the trouble I have trying to get out and wet a line...not mention this unreconstructed dump I live in...the offer still stands for the lathe though. It's just idly rusting away at the mo.

[ELM]

Wouldn't mind coming for a look when you get into it.

[Alster99]

I'm in the market for another stick but it's just a matter of getting off my behind and doing it. Let me know when and where... I need some motivation!

Cheers!

Al

[Donutslayer]

I have absolutely no interest in rod building but am more than willing to put up the dosh for one of you guys to build me 1 or 2. I dont give a shit about finish and stuff as long as it all works. (dont spend a lot of time looking at them)
So if someone wants to practice i will put up the dosh to fatten the orders a bit.

Just what I need is one to F#$k up, I mean practice on before I make mine.
What are you after Sean. Light Snapper stick?

Mate, I currently need a 6-7wt fly rod and a 6 -8kg spin rod. And yeah throw in a snapper rod. And by all means, paint em pink. Easier to get em in the door if she thinks they're for her.

[Redfish]

Thanks for firing this up again matty, the cold weather sent me to sleep!

Where it last finished off there were some people keen to build some samurai kits, which is an excellent option for beginners. Thanks to widsa who's made some copies of the samurai rod building DVD for those who want one- just send me a PM. I understand the samurai kits are designed by ian miller and gary howard and you can get a lot of different combinations of guides and grips, a lot more than what is in the online MO tackle catalogue. They come with all the trim rings in the right sizes and spacing instructions.

Additionally, for those that are interested I have 2 projects I'm looking to start soon. A ~10ft light surf rod for salmon and whiting and a braid specific 7'6" spinning rod for plastics. I'll be importing st croix blanks from a wholesaler for those builds and that can sometimes take a little time. But the results are top notch and they are sweet, sweet blanks.

The biggest thing is what to do next to get the ball rolling. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've got a fair bit of material and enough tools to get started, the next step is to share that knowledge so that people can design the rod they really want, which after all is a big part of the fun of rod building!

[Redfish]

OK, have decided the best way to get this show rolling is to start building a rod!

I'm personally won't be building any rods for a couple of months, so does anyone want to put their hand up to build say a samurai kit? All those that are interested can join in on the process and learn and then we can all go bananas with our own jobs.

If you're a bit more adventurous I'm going to be doing an order from the US (thank goodness the exchange rate has come back a bit!) next month. The people I deal with in the states can take a while to supply but if you're interested in some St Croix blanks let me know.

[Alster99]

Hi Redfish,

I have just purchased a new rod (this morning), but am keen to refurb an old rod of mine. You seem to be the local knowledge on rod building so thought i'd run it by you.

It's not the most expensive rod in the world but I have always loved the action and it has sentimental value (got my first snapper on it all those years ago). I recently crushed the guides when it unknowingly fell beneath the car and would like to replace them. Is this something that can be done? Also, I wouldn't mind shortening the butt if this is at all possible.

Can you please let me know if you think this is a viable option? It could be a good learning project for me.

[Redfish]

Yes Alister, replacing the guides no issue. Going in and doing surgery can be a different proposition. Send me a PM with the details of the rod and what you want to do.

[widsa]

Hey all,

Firstly, thanks Jeremy for putting together the rod recipe's!

Im still trying to get my head around it and come up with what to go for.
Will reveal the beast shortly.

So how is everyone else finding the decision on what build to go for??
Now I am starting to understand SWMBO's talent at taking all day to buy a pair of shoes!

Jeremy, I am interested in learning what makes guides braid specific?

Cheerz, lets get this ball rolling people.!

[squizzy]

wow, this sounds great, I want a stick to flick plastics, has some spine so I can set the hook & put some pain on the fish but be short & manageable for the kayak. Most boat rods dont cast well and most casting rods are too long and dont have enough spine. I would load it up with 8lb to 10lb max when the snapper are on but usually fish with 4lb.

When I was a kid a mates brother made his own rods and I loved the look of those cross over patterns just above the cork and the double binding on the eye lets, not sure if that stuff helps or hinders your fishing but that guys rods looked great and he loved em.
Count me in for making a rod Ian Miller made me a "Squizzy Kayak Classic" (yes Im an unshamed name dropper) but a Squizzy made kayak classic would be a great addition to my kit and a lot of fun to make.

So when do the blanks arrive.....

mmmm whilst writing this reply I think I need a gummy classic aswell for westernprt, heavier stick with some grunt, I often have to wrestle back line off some big rays, guides to suit braid and configured for my shimano overheads. Ok so Im in for a kayak classic & a westernport wounder.

[Redfish]

Thanks Will, I'll give you a buzz over the next day or two about the builds. No doubt there's an information overload!

The braid specific guides are the LC or low rider guides. Basically they've got a frame that resists wind knots snagging on the frame. They have a smaller diameter from the striper- say a 12 or 16 as opposed to 25 or 30. I hear black diamond rods used to employ a similar concept, a high frame guide with a smaller striper ring. The purpose of this is basically "taming" the line at the first guide, then after that the smaller guides are similar to rifling on a gunbarrell. Or so the story goes! Mono is stiffer, so needs larger guides. The design I was talking to you about is actually based on a jap egi rod, but I've seen them adapted to lure spinning rods (xzoga range of rods). I'm keen to give it a crack as something new, not sure what I'll do if it is a disaster!

Squizzy- PM me your phone number if you want to discuss a build. It all starts from having an idea on what you think would work well! As for the "criss cross" patterns (chevron's), I'm a fan of a minimalist design. I don't want stuff on the blank that doesn't need to be there! There are a lot of people that really get into it- each to their own! A lot of guys are going to go samurai kits as they're nice rods at a good price. Everything is in the kit so you don't have to worry about missing components etc.