…parts
i’m looking to build or to have someone build a fiberglass rod that has the retro look of fiberglass rods of the past but using latest and greatest parts of today.
you know that old aluminum reel seat, plain jane cork handle (those custom handles with all of the different colors are nice but gaudy to my eye), simple wrappings of the guides. something from the 50’s, 60’s 70’s.
any ideas or photos?
Norman
Andy Manchester (The Old Yankee Rodsmith) over in N.Branford builds some real nice glass rods
Here’s his page from over on the fiberglass board
try the steffen brothers
agree w/ steffen bros recommendation. great blanks.
easily wrapped and finished yourself. turn yer own cork handle and get a nice reel seat from rec.
that’s how I’d do it anyways.
Dudly, unrelated but thanks for the link, grew up in N. Branford…some great pics on his site.
Check out http://p097.ezboard.com/bfiberglassflyrodders for the best info on glass rods. I highly recommend the Lamiglas 7’6" 4 wt honey colored 3-piece blank. The action is buttery smooth with a 5 weight line. It looks very retro, too.
I just finished up a 7’ 4wt on a blank one of th e blanks I picked up a few years ago. I got a killer deal on some older brown and some yellow blanks. Reportedly 1970 era no decals or other info.
So one Saturday I decied to build one. Use a salvaged uplocking seat and and the free “bamboo” cork grip. Wrapped it in goldish olive and tipped it in yellow. Looks like an old Shakespear. Nice casting rod to boot. Now i’m thinking about doing the other 3 blanks this winter.
Take a look at some old Browning Silaflex rods and do your wraps like that or have it done like that.
Add a DOWNLOCKING aluminum seat in dark brown on a brown blank or plain aluminum on a light blank and you will be in retro heaven!
I like the way Bamboozle thinks. I copied the spiral wrap on my Lami from a Silaflex. They must have had the best quality workmanship of any of the production rods. The Fenwicks and Phillipsons had lumpy, poorly packed wraps with tag ends sticking out. Here’s a fine example: http://fiberglassflyrodders.yuku.com/reply/20144#reply-20144
There are 4 touching wraps to secure the thread, then an open spiral, and then it is finished with 4 more touching turns. The only tricky part is trimming the tags without leaving a stub or nicking the open wrap. I used a razor blade.
Another one that does excellent work is Mike (boarmountain) at Fiberglass Fly rodders forum. Prairie Drifter Rods. He’s built some great looking rods including “retro look” rods.
Thanks for the compliment.I have posted pics of my “Retro” build on my site if anyone wants to see it.
Mike B
www.prairiedrifterrods.com