Rod Building Tips

[drome]

Ok, I acquired a g. loomis rod blank today that I believe they do not make anymore.  Anyone know where I can get the old specs on the rod blank... They are not listed on their current website?

Also, anyone know any good websites that have butt wrap patterns on them?

[robsrodnreel]

drome,

what kinda specs you looking for? guide spacing/size? or wieght/line ratings?

pick up any books by tom kirkman, guys is good and explains things very easily. 

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Dennis,

What ... didn't the boys impart all their knowledge to you ... welcome back.

Hope you had a little time to yourself,

Capt. Ed

[drome]

I know the size of the rod from my trusty tape measure but I'm looking to find out what the manufacturer rated the line weight, and lure weight at. 

Guide spacing is a matter of opinion and one good thing they did wind up showing us at tje class was that the books are not always right with guide spacings. 

The client that I was with down in Dallas is around the same age and into sports so I was able to use the company Amex to go to the Dallas Mavs game, with some awesome seats, as well as the stars game.  Plus I visited the Fort Worth Cabelas.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi D-,

Now that sounds like a decent trip ... I have to get to a Cabelas some day.

Best wishes,

Ed

[robsrodnreel]

doesnt sound like too bad of a trip.

those books and guide spacing charts are not always correct, every blank is different! so different spacing is needed on every blank. those charts are just a good place to start at, then adjust from there.

i wouldnt waste time looking anywhere for the line/weight ratings, if you have the model number of the blank, just call loomis. probably save you some time.

[drome]

I did just that.  Here are the specs on the rod I was given.

6'0" long, line weight of 10-17 lbs, lure weight of 5/16 to 3/4"

Listed as a Bass Spinning rod.  Sounds like I have two options.  Building a freshwater bass spinning rod or a winter flounder rod.

[Capt. Ed]

H D-,

Or a great light tackle weakfish, striper and blues rod.

I have one with similar specs with Shimano Stradic on it that I even through top water plugs off the boat to albies with.

I thnk it has many applications ...

Best wishes,

Ed

[drome]

Ed,

When you're in the area of Grumpy's you have to stop in and talk to him.  He told me anything I can ever think of in the form of a question, come in any time and he will discuss with me... anything.  He told me before he goes to the grave he wants to pass on what he knows to great rod builders.  He said there are tons of rod building "hoarders" and hes not one. 

Guy is the most level headed man I've ever met.  He admitted there are 3000 ways to skin a cat when it comes to rod building... which we figured.  And my impression from talking to him is that he may actually know about 2,999 of the ways!!!  He knows tricks from brute force tactics to mathmatical layout techniques and tools. 

Ed you would be in there for hours just discussing things with him... 

[robsrodnreel]

my tip, dont ream cork after a few beers!!!  i just blew up a handle!!!!!!

[drome]

my tip, dont ream cork after a few beers!!!  i just blew up a handle!!!!!!

Now that's funny you say that.  I just finished up a rod I built for my 5 year old son....  I had a feeling that getting too crazy with the reamer would be bad.  The minute I got frustrated with it I put it down and went back to it later....  No sense in ruining a good cork handle because of frustration.

[Flukedood]

my tip, dont ream cork after a few beers!!!  i just blew up a handle!!!!!!

i'm glad you decided to go on a binge AFTER you finished my rod...

[robsrodnreel]

i'm glad you decided to go on a binge AFTER you finished my rod...

hahah, yeah you should be happy, i def busted up this handle really bad.

i didnt ream too much! there was one little section on the handle that needed to be reamed down a bit, well my stoopid ass tried to force it onto the rod and the whole handle just split in half.  terrible, now i dont have a handle for my own rod. haha