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Post by RodKneeTrouter on Jan 27, 2006 5:14:54 GMT -5
Lo all -
Just ordered my first rod building kit from hopkins and holloway. Its going to be built on a a Scott 4 piece blank, which I am very excited about. (If you dont like Scott blanks please keep your comments to yourself because I have been wanting a Scott for years but somehow always got sidetracked into buying something else. It is now my proverbial 'parade' and the 'weather' is very sunny and I don't want anyone to 'rain' on it.).
Anyways, being new to the whole rod building 'thing' I emailed H&H and basically asked them to list everything I would need for this particular blank/length/weight. I expected to hear back from them in a week or so. To my surprise Gregg Holloway emailed me back within one hour with a comprehensive custom parts list - he even recommended thread colours etc. He also had the decency to recommend more 'budget friendly' parts where possible. I was very impressed. You may consider this a deliberate plug for Hopkins and Holloway.
I'll let you know how the rod turns out. I decided to go with the stuble all metal reel seat (U6 in a sort of matte silver aluminum). the blank is only a 5 weight, and I know this is predominantly a saltwater reel seat, but I just couldnt resist the look of this seat. Hopefully it will look as good as I think it will - I dont think there will be any weight issues with this? Gregg Holloway said it was fine. I've got too many cocobolo or rosewood reel seats - and I want this one to be special.
Anyways, I had better get to 'work.'
Tight whippings!
Mike
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Post by Lighthouse on Jan 27, 2006 8:26:14 GMT -5
Good luck with your first build! Here are a couple of urls that may be of help for some of those tricky processes. shop.mudhole.com/s.nl/sc.15/.fand..... www.rodbuilding.org/list.php?2I've just received a little package from H & H, set of rings for my latest project. Now off to fire up the Dremmel for some ring foot grinding. Exciting isn't it!!!!! |
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Post by j on Jan 27, 2006 15:01:01 GMT -5
Look forward to seeing the completed job  Ive got 9wt things on their way from US -time goes sooo slowly when waiting for blanks & bits to arrive ! |
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Post by Lighthouse on Jan 27, 2006 15:53:27 GMT -5
 Yes, too true! I'm awaiting the arrival of a very sexy Bellinger reel seat and some horny cork rings from different suppliers in the US. Patience really isn't my strong suit.
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Post by ScottRods on Jan 27, 2006 18:01:21 GMT -5
H&H have always been great for service. Don't forget H&H guides are used on Sage factory build rods in the USA.
Scott blanks are fantastic. Great 3-5 weights.
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Post by pbannis on Jan 31, 2006 7:51:44 GMT -5
I agree about the excellent H&H and guidesnblanks service.
They sourced as specific blank for me ( Sage XP 8'6" 4 piece 3 weight), sourced all the bits including a 'how to do book' at the same price that their standard XP kits were.
I'll not be showing any pictures of the rod...it works very well but a few of the whippings could be better.
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Post by tweedcast on Jan 31, 2006 18:25:30 GMT -5
Similarly I've found H&H service to be just excelllllent - went out of their way for me.
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Post by rrw35 on Feb 1, 2006 5:37:06 GMT -5
Lo all - Just ordered my first rod building kit from hopkins and holloway. Its going to be built on a a Scott 4 piece blank, which I am very excited about. (If you dont like Scott blanks please keep your comments to yourself because I have been wanting a Scott for years but somehow always got sidetracked into buying something else. It is now my proverbial 'parade' and the 'weather' is very sunny and I don't want anyone to 'rain' on it.). At least you did'nt buy a decent blank for your first build, it would be a shame to ruin a good one. ;D |
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Post by ScottRods on Feb 1, 2006 18:24:19 GMT -5
on my first ever build I asked them to label every guide in bags grouped to the same sizes. They did it no problem
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Post by RodKneeTrouter on Feb 1, 2006 18:42:57 GMT -5
Yah - H&H just keep getting better. They sent me a G series rod blank by mistake (I only paid for an A2). I emailed them about it and they told me not to worry about it - sweeeeeet! Meanwhile...I have one hard learned lesson/tip to share: do NOT catch the cork handle on fire when attempting to burst small bubbles in flex coat with an alcohol burner.  (Was trying to remove bubbles from hook keeper wrap.) sheesh. more sanding now. At least I put it out quite quickly. I might leave a very small flambeyed section just for posterity. Like a ring in a pig's nose... Mike |
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Post by The Handsome Stick on Feb 2, 2006 5:41:23 GMT -5
Yah - H&H just keep getting better. They sent me a G series rod blank by mistake (I only paid for an A2). I emailed them about it and they told me not to worry about it - sweeeeeet! Meanwhile...I have one hard learned lesson/tip to share: do NOT catch the cork handle on fire when attempting to burst small bubbles in flex coat with an alcohol burner. (Was trying to remove bubbles from hook keeper wrap.) sheesh. more sanding now. At least I put it out quite quickly. I might leave a very small flambeyed section just for posterity. Like a ring in a pig's nose... Mike If it makes you feel any better, I was building a spinning rod and was also trying to remove bubbles from the whippings with lighter. I melted the rod! Completely ****ed. Now I use a hairdryer to remove bubbles. |
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Post by Silver Stoat on Feb 2, 2006 6:18:02 GMT -5
A gas cigarette lighter is easy to use and does the job for removing bubbles.
To avoid disasters always use it under the rod (2-3" below) and hold your other hand above and as close to the whipping as you can.
That way you are able to feel the temperature and remove the heat if it gets too hot.
It's worth remembering that you are not trying to cure the resin but just raise the temperature a couple of degrees to thin it down so bubbles can be released.
As soon as the resin starts to flow a little I remove the heat and blow gently through a drinking straw. The straw is an optional extra, you can just breath onto the resin. Apparently the CO2 in your breath helps the release of air bubbles in the surface of the epoxy !
I would be a liitle concerned about using a hair drier. These suck in air to blow it out and any dust in the local atmosphere will get pulled in and dumped on your finish. The problem is compounded by the fact that the hair dryer introduces air movement that may in itself raise dust.
It would be OK in a guaranteed dust free area though.
Dave.
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Post by Lighthouse on Feb 2, 2006 13:01:01 GMT -5
Disasters are always waiting in the wings - no matter how many rods you've built. The other evening I put the first coat of epoxy on the top section of a 3 piece Loomis IMX and used Flex Coat Lite for the first time. I followed my usual procedure - warming the epoxy before and during careful mixing - put the same amount on the whippings - left the section turning for 45 minutes - and then transferred it to my heated drying cabinet (airing cupboard!). I went back to check on it a little later to find epoxy starting to run off the whippings! Aaaaargh! Managed a rescue with some acetone!  |
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Yes, too true!
(Was trying to remove bubbles from hook keeper wrap.) sheesh. more sanding now. At least I put it out quite quickly. I might leave a very small flambeyed section just for posterity. 