I am presently using bits and pieces from a broken 3 wt. to put together a 5 pc. 4 wt that I got on clearance from Cabelas for 19.00…I am building a Stowawy for 25 bucks.
Just mounted the one piece cork and band seat/handle salvaged from the broken rod and will wrap with the same single foot guides from that same rod.
Using left over, 2 part epoxy, Chestnut wrapping thread, flexbond and color preservative that are laying around.
Might have to spring for a winding check at Home Depot though.
Considering rattan wrapping the grip of the rod once it is done but not so sure as this build is getting fun…using what I have.
What are you thinking of for the winding check? You got me thinking. I have components for 4 great little rods scrounged from Ebay but winding checks for 2. I don’t want to order $2 worth of winding checks and pay $6 in shipping.
I’m guessing black nylon washers or o-rings. I have o-rings. Maybe neoprene washers? Faucet washers? Beveled faucet washers would work, too.
Maybe a stainless steel washer reamed out to the appropriate size and polished? If you made the washer just a tad larger than the end of the grip, the rattan would finish at the washer and the cork would not show. It could even be domed slightly so it didn’t look quite so much like a washer.
Folks at the hardware stores have learned to leave me alone when I am in “What can I use to do this?” mode. :lol:
I’ve put together some amazing rods from what’s ‘laying around the shop’…
I don’t use winding checks, ever.
I just wrap the hook keeper wrap right up to the cork, and finish with epoxy…the epoxy will ramp natually onto the cork…looks nice that way to me. You do need to keep the hole in the cork close to the blank diameter, the thread won’t hide overreaming like a check will (which is probably the real reason for using one).
Winding checks are also VERY handy for keeping epoxy from seeping/creeping onto the cork grip.
Since it is almost Christmas time, I will start doing my good deeds … I really want Santa to stop this year with a new reel. Send me a PM with the size needed for a winding check and I will drop one into the mail. Measure the diameter with calipers - use millimeters.
I’ll be stopping at Janns & Cabela’s (Dundee store) in 2 weeks. Want me to pick you anything?
The guys at my local Ace are pretty much the same way. I bet I was in there a total of 2 hours overal several visits trying to get an idea of the parts I needed for my Profile Plate project. Then there was the whole Tolulene and Naptha thing, but thats another story.
Necessity is the mother of invention!!!
I dearly love the hardware store!! The guys in my local one get a kick out of whatever I’m trying to do at that particular time!
Thinking about a simple O ring or beveled rubber washer if they have one…since I have already wrapped one rod with the thread, I’ll skip wrapping for a winding check…need to be sure I have enough thread to get the guides and hook keeper on.
I agree, ordering just a winding check or two on line is silly.
I will let you know. The neoprene washer intrigues me. If I get one with a small hole and pull it down towards the grip, I’m thinking it will create a filet and kind of roll up and snug with the grip. Gotta try it. Getting wrap finish to stick to it is another story, but still gotta try it.
I had the opportunity once to purchase some “scrap graphite” from a shop once for $10. It turned out he had ended up with a mix match of bottoms and tops of some 2 piece fly blanks. I took those blanks and built three rods out of them.
I got two 8 1/2’ 7 wt rods and one 8’ 4wt. I built them using left over components from my inventory. I sold the 7 wt rods while a guy in the club cast the entire line with one. I still have the 8’ 4 wt and I’m keeping it!!
If you’re piecing together various blank pieces or unknown blank pieces, how does one determine the line wt for such a ‘scrounged’ rod? Wait until it’s built and see what size line cast the best?
There is a measuring ‘system’ out there that works pretty well…it’s called the ‘common cents’ system, and you can use it to determine the correct fly line weight for any fly rod…it uses pennies for the weights, thus the ‘cents’ in the title. I’ve used it with success when building spinning/casting blanks into fly rods.
You can learn about it on the web…I found out about it through Rodmaker Magazine and Tom Kirkman’s rodbuilders web site at Rodbuilding.org…
When ‘cobbling’ stuff together, or figuring out what line will work on older unmarked cane rods, I’ve found it to be a good starting point.
scrounging is such a harsh word. I like to call it “re-purposing”. Since a lot of what I do is restoration of old cane rods I’ve been known to buy rods just for parts. Strip them off then rebuilt the old with new and use the vintage on a project.
BTW Jann’s run also on the 20th. winding checks are cheap to mail.
As Buddy suggested the “Common Cents” method works pretty well. I have a method I use but won’t it bring up cause I don’t want to start a thread about how, why, and 500 other reasons that it doesn’t work. :lol:
Waiting until its built and trying different line sizes is just as valid as well.
Thanks for the info on the ‘common cents’. I’ll look into that.
You guys got me thinking with your left over parts. I knew I had some left over cork rings from my last 2 rods, then I remebered I might have an extra vinyl winding check or 2 so I started digging. Found 2 vinyl WC’s that I thought of, along with 2 black alum. WC’s, 2 black snakes, one chrome snake and a large hook keeper. The amazing part is I’m only on my 4th rod! I can see how you accumulate extra parts.
Next question: what about a 42" IM6 Graphite Ice Rod blank ($6 at Jann’s) for a short light fly rod? 2wt maybe? Handle kit (graphite reelseat, cork handle, winding checks and graphite arbors) for $12.99 at Jann’s. Even buying all new parts, one could theoretically build a light weight fly rod for less than $20. Not saying it will be anywhere near high perfomance, but for a little 2wt? What do you think?
you can use a thin washer for the check… somehardware stores carry stainless washers… you need a board, a ball pene hammer and a thin washer… you put something sticky on the ball of the hammer then put the washer on it… hit it down on a peice of wood board till ya git the check to the shape ya want then dril out the hole the size ya need and polish it…
Getting wrap finish to stick to it is another story, but still gotta try it. 