can someone steer me in the right direction
I have a 10 ft 8 in rod 2 pc (with fighting butt) I am trying to find a rod tube for this critter…I found a place that will make me one… is there one avail. that is not custom made ?
bonedog
Member posted 01 September 2004 07:26 PM
I did the keyword search of this site looking for instructions on making a rod tube. Has anyone ever done this? I found nothing in the archives. I just ordered a new rod and reel and spent probably more than I should have I don’t travel very far but thought maybe I could save some dough and make a tube out of PVC maybe. Hints? Advice? Instructions?
Thanks in advance,
bd
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SheTies
Member posted 01 September 2004 07:33 PM
If you want to just make one out of PVC go down to your hardware store and buy some PVC that’s the right size. Ask for some with threads on at least one end. Get a pair of matching endcaps (pref. one will screw onto the tube) If needed cut the tube to length and then glue a cap onto one end, screw the second cap on the “top”. There ya go, quick, inexpensive and they work!
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dleo6446
Member posted 01 September 2004 07:36 PM
Hey BD…
I have made several tubes from “kits” that I purchased or from rod tubes that I purchased at a super bargain, disassembled and built them to the size I needed. Golden witch has kits that you can purchase. I usually buy the Landmark tubes, in a 53" 1 1/2" tube when I can get them for like $20 each and cut them down to make what I need. It is pretty neat when you sell a rod you built in a custom tube that you build with a label on the tube that you made on your own computer.
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Panman
Member posted 01 September 2004 07:41 PM
Like SheTies I too, have made several rod tubes from PVC. If you decide to try this, I would recommend you make the tube a little bit longer than necessary and then glue something soft in each end to help protect your rod - I used craft foam.
Tim Anderson
Klamath Falls, Or
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phatkid248
Member posted 01 September 2004 07:51 PM
if you got a four piece rod, then i think schedule 40 or schedule 80 pvc will be ok. if you got a 2 piece, then i think it will be too heavy. dont take my word on it, but i think it would work. i dont have much experience with pvc, other than those two, since i use them to build potato guns. but any ways, if i was going to build one out of pvc, here are the steps and materials that i would use.
materials:
1 10’ piece of 1" to 1.5" pvc. (use your judgement on the diameter, probably 1", and they only sell it in 10’ lengths.) try to get the thinnest pipe possible to reduce weight.
1 end cap to match the size
1 threaded cleanout adapter to match the size
1 threaded plug to match the adapter.
1 package of primer and glue (usually combined)
some kitchen sponges without the rough side, or another very soft material.
directions:
- cut the pipe to the actual size of the rod and sand the rough edges of the pipe
- take the sponge and cut it to the size of the end cap and the threaded end cap. make it as thick as possible. and on the non threaded endcap, make sure it doesn’t stop the endcap from fitting snuggly onto the pipe. this is to protect the rod tip from breaking.
- prime both ends of the pipe, the non threaded endcap, and the cleanout adapter.
- glue the non threaded endcap onto the pipe and glue the cleanout adapter onto the other side.
- voila, when the glue sets in about 3-4 hours, you will have a heavy rod tube. just insert the rod and screw on the cap.
having said all of that, i would recommend getting a cheap rod tube from ebay or ll bean. the llbean tubes are very good and probably the same price that you will pay for all of the materials that you need to make the rod tube.
*edit- i started typing all of this before the other posts were up. the problem with what is listed above is that they dont tell you that the pvc will be at least $5. the glue is the same. and each end cap is $3-$4. and the threaded plug is about $2-$3. that is about $18-$19. and if you get the pipe at a hardware store, and not at a home depot, then the pipe will be about $8-$9. i still think that it is worth it to go to ll bean and buy this tube: [url=http://www.llbean:6cd78]http://www.llbean[/url:6cd78] .com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=36424&parentCategory=4332&cat4=1193&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&feat=ssdpa1193
it is probably less than the price of the materials and lighter than the homemade tube.
[This message has been edited by phatkid248 (edited 01 September 2004).]
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Jayhawk Jeff
Member posted 01 September 2004 11:38 PM
I don’t know where you’re from or where you shop, but in Kansas you can make one of those for about $4
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bpetti
Member posted 02 September 2004 05:15 AM
Here’s another article on making rod tubes: [url=http://www.globalflyfisher.com/rodbuilding/diytube/:6cd78]http://www.globalflyfisher.com/rodbuilding/diytube/[/url:6cd78]
Bob Petti
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bonedog
Member posted 02 September 2004 06:05 AM
Thanks for all the replies. I live in Georgia so we have the requisite “Farm and Home” supply here in town. Should be able to make one pretty cheap.
Tight lines,
bd
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Harold Hattaway
Member posted 02 September 2004 06:17 AM
Bonedog:
If you are teaching in a school with a woodworking shop maybe they could suggest a rod case instead of tube. I have many tubes but have been toying with the idea of building a case that would open up. I have a pool cue case that I would copy. Just make it longer and allow for the different dimensions.
Maybe then all you need to pay for would be the wood and cloth.
Take care,
Harold
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fcch
New Member posted 02 September 2004 06:24 AM
I usually carry several (dozen) rods on the truck to the river (friends, clients, family all need rods sometimes).
I prefer a case than tubes. I made a couple functional ones from plywood, hobby foam and some old door and window frames. (not pretty, but fine for my needs) It’s easier to string up the rods from a case as I don’t have to fish around in several tubes and strapping a couple cases to the cargo rack is less complicated than the 6-8 tubes I used before.
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
chris_chin@sympatico.ca
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deathb4disco
Member posted 02 September 2004 06:46 AM
I just made up a couple of rod tubes, and I would strongly suggest using ABS plastic instead of PVC. ABS is a lot lighter. It’s black in color, easy to distinguish from PVC.
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OkieBass133
Member posted 02 September 2004 07:01 AM
I made a 3’6" rod tube from schedule 80 PVC conduit. One fixed end cap, and one threaded end cap, thick open-celled foam in both ends. It’s a little bit heavy, but I know that nothing is going to happen to my rods while they’re in that case (within’ reason, of course )
Oh, and mine cost me about ten bucks.
[This message has been edited by OkieBass133 (edited 02 September 2004).]
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Thwack
Member posted 02 September 2004 01:43 PM
One of the guys in a local fly fishing club uses cardboard mailing tubes to make rod tubes for use when backpacking. Strong enough to last at least one trip each and lighter that other materials (handy if you’re hiking with tent, etc already strapped on).
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Lunk
Member posted 02 September 2004 02:08 PM
One thing to consider is wrapping the rod in cloth before storing in a pvc tube. Maybe that is just a given, but I didn’t see any comments about that. I have sewn my own two sided sleeve for my 4wt and for my 4pc 6wt I cut a cloth to wrap it up in so that the pieces don’t rub on each other or the tube. Doesn’t need to be fancy.
You may already be aware of these folks. [url=http://www.landmarkflyrodtubes.com/Tubes/aluminum.htm:ff207]http://www.landmarkflyrodtubes.com/Tubes/aluminum.htm[/url:ff207]
Basically they are D.I.Y., cut to length and the end caps are press fit. Around here, at one time they were a fairly common product, found in several fly shops ~ Not so much these days.
Best, Dave
I think a trip to your local Lowe’s or Home Depot is in order. They can help you get all the right stuff to make and decorate your own custom tube without breaking the bank.
Eric “nighthawk”
I like the LandMark Fly Rods tubes, I buy the ends and go to Home Depot for the PVC. His ends are less expensive than the plumbing fittings and they look much, much nicer.
Pete