Anyone interested in a fiberglass rod swap similar to the tadpole swap we did earlier this year? I have a different blank in mind this time. It is something a bit longer, and will cast 5/6/7 weight line. There will be no need to add ferrules, since the blank comes as a 2 piece. You will be able to purchase all of the components for less than $50 (shipped to you), but that number doesn’t include thread, finish or glue. The blank is here: http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/fiberglass-rod-blanks/029710400009.aspx
I don’t know yet if it makes sense to order as a group, since any discount will likely balanced by the second round of shipping, but I will check all the options to see if we can reduce costs. However, if everone orders their own components individually, you will come in under $50. I’m not asking for signups right now. I’m looking at how many would be seriously interested, and then I can go through the scenarios. I think this would be a good project to do over the winter months, with rods due in January or February.
Right now, I think that having an order list put together so that everyone has the exact same components is the way to go. We can give each builder the choice between chrome or black hardware, and then let each builder come up with their own thread/wrapping/construction. And, as always, I’m open to hearing suggestions and thoughts on the matter. Brad (Kaboom1), I’d especially like to hear any input you may have, since the tadpole swap you put together went off so well from my perspective.
Geez, y’all are tempting me… especially since I don’t have a fiberglass rod and have been thinking about getting one… but, I’ve not made a rod of any sort. Maybe if you get a group buy/discount I could participate in that and simply make a rod rather than do the swap part?
Cool! Thanks blue. Not having done one, I’d hate to make something that turned out looking like a piece of crap… and be on the receiving end of a work of art that I know some of you make!
If it will catch fish, I don,t consider it a piece of crap…I think you should play with us. By the way, all were are doing is assembling fishing poles.
Just my 2 pennies…I’ll respect your decision either way.
This is the perfect swap for rookies! Since everyone is going to be working off of the same component list, there won’t be a huge difference in component quality. We are going to be building an inexpensive glass rod, and simple can be as elegant as the fancy ones. The blank seems to be decent so far, and with the reviews on the glass forum, I think it will make a decent little rod.
After getting my rod in, I suspect that we will do this cheaper if everyone orders their own kits. By the time I order everything and get it shipped to me, then buy pvc to ship everything out to everyone, and then pay shipping to everyone in the swap, we may be more expensive even with the quantity discount.
What I think will be the cheapest option will be to have a parts list to order from. We can let each person order their rod, and then components from a checklist. That way you can build black or silver hardware, graphite or aluminum reel seat, and snake or ceramic guides. I will put together an order sheet for everyone to use with part number and prices for everyone to use when they build. That way everyone can build what they want, but still be held to the same general cost as everyone else.
I think I’ll start the signups in a week or 2, and we can start ordering components in October, and have the rods due approximately around the first of February. How does that sound?
I did a quick price run on 4 options of components. I calculated graphite seats with silver hardware and black aluminum seats with black hardware, and used single foot wire and double foot wire guides. The cheapest option is graphite/silver/2 foot snakes at $35.83 (not including shipping, thread, glue or finish). Next was graphite/silver/single foot at $37.31. Then was aluminum/black/single foot at $37.46 and last is aluminum/black double foot for $38.64.
I think we’ll keep our options limited to these 4 options. I’m going to limit things to snake guides because the ceramics at janns are 50-80% higher than snakes. I also used a full wells grip that is not bored to recess the seat. You can choose between large and small keepers for the same price. I did do my pricing using 8 total guides for the rod, so if you prefer 9, you will need to add an extra. Does anyone have any additional preferences that I haven’t covered?
Perfect… No sense you doing all the packin’ and shippin, really. Besides, the less time the thing is being shipped, the better the odds are for getting stuff where it goes in one piece. Seems like we had some destruction en route to deal with last time around…
And, that’s a pretty low price for components … makes the thing a very affordable swap…ModocDan
Old Blue, How much more would it cost to get the half-wells cork prebored? I can see myself cracking several trying to bore them correctly. Maybe there is an easy way–but for a novice like me, prebored seems easier.
If you use the graphite seat, you won’t bore it at all. Just butt the grip up to the seat, and it is done. Here’s the kit view of an assembled grip: http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/fly-rod-handle-kits/025082700006.aspx
I would keep to that method to make the build easier for the aluminum seat, too, but you can try recessing if you want to. The aluminum seat can be recessed if you change to the half wells grip that they offer with a cutout. The only concern I would have there is that the butt diameter of the blank is so large, it might make the half wells break out at the tip side while trying to ream it. The grip says that you could carefully ream to .375, but the butt diameter of the blank is .426, so you are getting into pretty thin material, I would suppose. I really think everyone will want a full wells on this one.
Blue,
Can you psot the links to the reel seats and grip? I think I know which ones you are looking at bu want to make sure. that way I get the right ones when I go pick up.
Also, did you contact jann’s and see if they will put a package together for us just to make ordering easier. Just a thought.