[Jabrowning24]

as I was building a somewhat fancy married wing fly I realized that I have never wrapped a rod and really have no idea how! Its time...

Can anyone give me either a link or a list of equipment that I should buy to get things rolling? I would also like suggestions on what type of epoxy everyone likes, i know that is a personal preference thing but opinions are helpful. I have a blank that one of our members graciously gifted me quite a while ago and I feel quite guilty that it is still in the tube! thanks in advance for any and all help!

 

[Jabrowning24]

also, is it really that helpful to spend $100 on a rod wrapper? it seems to me I could do a multitude of things to build one myself. does it really make a difference or should I just build one real quick? how about a dryer? that one kinda seems like a drill would do the job (or does it take a long time to dry as its turning?)

 

[steelhead23]

No. 1 - a drying system

I started building fly rods in 1973, using phone books as thread tensioners and a cardboard box with notches cut in it as a varnishing rack. Progressed quite a bit from there now. Numero uno for rod wrapping is a system for spinning the pieces while the epoxy dries. The simple one I use can only spin one piece at a time, forcing me to join ferrules during drying (a bit of a risk - if you get a spot of epoxy inside the ferrule, you'd never get them apart). A drying system that could spin multiple pieces at once would make your job easier - and the outcome more professional. While I now have a nicer system for wrapping rods, the old several times through a phone book method works and using it doesn't make one iota of difference in the outcome. The drying system definitely does. Yes, it takes the epoxy I use a good 24+ hours for drying - again, that's where I'd spend my money, not on the wrapping jig. Good luck.

 

[john8]

I second the BBQ rotator, I have used this and have built about a dozen rods using this to dry the epoxy. I just do a rod section at a time, don't put the sections together. I found the epoxy set up time is good for one rod section anymore than that and it is starting to thicken and set up. I have a simple thread tensioner device which I don't think costs too much I will see if I can find a link for something similar. I use a hand drill to shape the cork as it is pretty easy to shape and work just with sandpaper.

 

[zencaster]

I would invest in the Eco Wrapper and a cheap drying system from Mudhole. You can use the BBq rotator, and I have finished several rods that way but one section at a time is painfully slow. Rod building is lots of fun and a great way to customize your rods to your preferences.

 

[knotstable]

First things first, Are you going to use a pre fab grip or turn your own? Have you miked out the butt section for the reel seat? What size and length of rod you building? I have been building fly rods for 25 years. I think the drying issue can be taken care of down the road. If you get that far it will be no issue. You can use an empty glass jar and home made set of V blocks and a phone book to start. It's not that difficult. Make sure you practice and practice on starting your thread wraps and packing and finishing the wraps off before you start the rod. Contact me if you want some advice no problem at all.

Dave Loren

 

[Peteo]

I've got a wrapping setup, dryer, epoxy, and most everything you might need except blank, guides, and reel seat if you want to drive to Bend and pick it up to borrow it for a while. I don't plan to wrap another rod till after the fall fishing ends and that way you won't need to drop any cash on stuff you may never need again. I can even show you how I do things and I can even make a custom grip if you want. Rod building can be a slippery slope. Way worse and more time and mental energy consuming than fly tying in my opinion.

 

[Jabrowning24]

Awesome guys!! This is exactly the info I was hoping for... Thank you!

Pete, such a generous offer and I really appreciate it! I am over in Medford for a few days and starting the moving process as I took a job over there... I am looking at a house over here on Friday and if things go well I should have a couple weeks of idle time before the move and I will take you up on the offer, hopefully I will have time. Thank you!

As far as what I'm building I have a sage 9' 9wt that I will be building first to get some practice, then I will move on to a couple anglers roost speys to keep things cheap until I'm doing well...

Please feel free to keep the advice coming guys!

 

[humpyhooker]

check out a good rod building forum

There is so much information, photos, experience, at a forum specifically dedicated to rod building. I have had many long nights looking through old posts successfully attempting to answer any/every possible question i have encountered with my rod building experience. Just google rodbuildingforum.
Jamie

 

[Jason]

I'm very new, just kind of got into building my own rods this last year. Totally worth the small investment, and the time to learn how to do it. I would go ahead and get a dryer, and a wrapper helps too. You don't "need" them, but it really does make life simpler imo. I also found the following series to be very helpful and motivated me to give it a shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NKKACqIfOo First one in a whole series where he goes through all the steps of building a rod. The one thing they don't do in that series is forming of the cork handle, which to me is one of the most creative parts of building your own rod. I am not really going to notice or appreciate any other part of the rod nearly as much as the handle (s) that will be my direct connection day in day out.

One thing I would maybe recommend is starting out with a less expensive blank. I don't mean buy a cheapo junker that you'll never want to fish, but the Sage blanks are pretty $$$, and there are a lot of other really good blanks out there that just don't cost that much. Just my personal take there, as I'd rather spend that money to buy more rod blanks and build more rods.
Either way, enjoy the process... the addiction deepens :razz:
JB

 

[Peteo]

If you are moving to Medford spend a little time in the Meiser/Godshall shop or at Gary Anderson's and you will learn more about the craft of wrapping a rod or shaping a handle than you ever will looking things up on the Internet.

Sounds like you might have a little "idle time" at just the right time. October is prime time. Hope you can make it out and hook some fresh steel soon. Doing it with a rod you wrapped up yourself will definitely add to the experience.

 

[Jabrowning24]

Humpy-I'll check out that forum, thanks for the heads up. I'm sure that will answer everything!

Jason-thanks for the link, looks perfect! As far as the choice of rod I do agree but the sage was gifted to me as a rod to learn with so I'll wrap it up but that's why I will go to anglers roost next so I don't break the bank on mistakes.

Pete-yes, I was thinking the same thing about the idle time! I've already informed the Mrs that I'll be spending a few days out, maybe it can come together that we can finally get out? I am hoping to have the time to go see Meiser and godshall during this trip for an intro. Maybe even buying a new stick if things go well

 

[Frobombs]

I used this as a reference when I started.

I also recommend the rod building forum (there are several) and
http://flyanglersonline.com/begin/graphite/