Cost to get a rod pro built?

[ultegrafly]

Can anyone give me a guideline price of getting a rod built by a pro in the UK if I supply them a full kit?

It's a 4pc 9ft 6wt.

I've got a really nice kit but i've never built a rod before and I don't want to mess it up.

Kev.

[j]

Building a rod is not all that tricky. Give it a go, its good fun

[Silver Stoat]

Yes, why not give it try, it's not a hard job really.

Once you have the reel fitting and the handle on there is nothing that cannot be corrected if you make any mistakes.

Have a good read through this section and you will see plenty of tips. There are loads of members on here who will help if you get stuck on anything, you only have to ask.

It's a good feeling to catch fish on a rod you built yourself.

Dave.

[ScottRods]

Ask Mick Bell "bloke" or Carl "berlin" to give you a quote.

I bought all the components for my Sage SLT's, XP's and Loomis IMX, sold them at a price paying myself 5 GBP per hour. Still came out only just avoiding making a loss.

[John Gray]

As J and Dave said, have a go. Your fishing pleasure will be much enhanced.

Good quality pre-formed handles are available,in either half Wells or full Wells shape ( Harrison supply good quality components through retail outlets ). A variety of reel fittings are available, including the excellent, though rather out of fashion, Fuji fittings. British made hard chromed snake rings by Hopkins and Holloway are widely available, as are Seymo and Fuji lined rings, all top quality.

A few tips:

1 Make sure the preformed handle is a tight fit. If it has to be enlarged to fit the blank, use a round file of appropriate size and file evenly, and very patiently - don't rush this stage.

2 Use a good two part epoxy ( such as Araldite ) to glue the reel fitting and handle. Glue each separately, the reel fitting first, allowing this to set before fixing the handle. Any space between the reel fitting and blank can be packed with 1 inch masking tape ( in three sections with a half inch or so left between each section to allow the glue to reach the blank ) . Be careful to completely remove any excess glue before it sets. This can be done with a damp cloth or you can cover the ends of the reel fitting with masking tape before fixing the handle in order to prevent glue being accidentally smeared on the reel fitting.

3 Make sure the reel fitting is lined up with the natural spine of the blank before allowing the glue to set.

4 Metal collars are available in aluminium or nickel silver to fit at the top end of the handle before whipping is applied. Apply only a small amount of glue with a needle to glue the collar, avoiding excess glue on the top of the handle.

5 Now all you have to do is whip on the rings. You need not be in a hurry. Instructions are available on websites and in books ( Seymo produce a small booklet which should be available from most tackle shops.
Practise until you have it right:

First you may have to file the legs of the rings so that they taper off very gradually to a point with no sharp edges top or bottom.

Fix the ring with a thin strip of masking tape before whipping the other side, from the outside in towards the ring. When finished, cut off the end of the thread, under slight tension, very closely with a new razor blade. In this way, the end should be be hidden under the whipping. If there are any crossed threads or loose ends, start again until you have a perfectly smooth whipping.

Make all your whippings about the same length.

6 Use a good quality two part clear epoxy rod whipping varnish to seal and finish the rings. Don't use dope or any other sealant under the epoxy varnish. Apply very carefully, only just covering the thread whipping, with a small stiff paintbrush or perhaps a needle. I don't like to apply varnish between the whippings under the rings. A second coat may be applied if necessary, when the first is completely cured. The rod will have to be turned regularly ( at 180 degrees every few minutes until the varnish sets.

I have probably missed a few things. Perhaps others will fill in any gaps.


The following site may be helpful:

www.harrisonrods.co.uk/rodbuilding.htm

[ultegrafly]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply John, If I'm feeling confident I may give it a go myself. The problem is I'm a bit of a perfectionist and if I cock this kit up I'll be beside myself.

Kev.

[Silver Stoat]

There really is nothing to mess up.
Fixing the reel fitting and handle only requires very basic skills and the rings only have to be spaced, whipped and finished.
Once you have practiced whipping on a piece of dowel or a ball point pen, this should not be a problem.The only other procedure that can sometimes give beginners a minor problem is applying the thread finish but, if you don't like your first efforts at this, you can always re-do it.

There are more detailed instructions which you might find useful here :

www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/graphite/

Dave.

[bloke]

Kev
The tricky bit is getting the epoxy right, before you attempt it give me a ring and I will talk it through with you....07764 359473
Mick