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Thinking of trying to build a rod.

Adrian Cole

Adrian Cole

Senior Member
While I am recovering from an motorcycle RTA I have been considering maybe having a go at starting to build a Float rod from a blank.

I do not want to go silly and start with Harrison blanks; although these are the only ones I can find ATM. I would like to build just a reasonable priced float rod as an exercise and then maybe go from there. It will be modern composite rod as I don't think I am experienced or interested enough to use cane.

So I've found a site that sells most of the bits http://www.guidesnblanks.com/home but there blanks are far to expensive for my first time and mainly fly or carp blanks anyway.

Has anybody got any experience of useful sites or resources for building fishing rods or more to the point know anywhere that sells reasonable price blanks for float rods etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Adie
 
You can on occations find blanks on ebay from time to time. If I spot any I will let you know. If not try contacting Bob Gill Dave Lumb Mark Tunley Ian Tucker
Or any other rod builders who might have a cheaper blank hanging around in there workshops that could start you off.
 
I'll try a come back on this one in more detail tomorrow, buy you may have a few options.
Briefly, a high proportion of made up rods available are based on blanks manufactured in the Far East and buying these type of blanks is unattractive because the made up rods are very cheap.
Anyway, I'll be back.......and have a look around.
Cheers
Bob
 
why not just get an old rod , strip it down and start from there ?

rather than shell out on something that may not be for you ??
 
Thanks for the feed back so far...all very good. I am looking around at all possibilities but not really finding much in terms of counter sales shall we say ATM for rod blanks.

America seems to be a bigger market but still looking.

Cheers

Adie
 
If I were you I would certainly have a go at a cane rod. You can pick up one fairly cheap if it not a ''must have'' name. The reason I would opt for came is that they were originally hand made anyway, so any interpetation you would bring would not look out of place, besides cane is really a thing of beauty.

I used to make my own rods as a kid, and perhaps the most demanding part is the whipping of the guides, master this and the rest is quite easy, and very satisfying. If you do go for cane be sure you look for a cane rod that still has some life left in it, look if you can to make sure the glue is still in good order.

Float making is also therapeutic, why not have a bash at making some crowquill Avons Sticks and wagglers?

Whatever you do, best of luck with your recovery.
 
OK, took the plunge and bought a secondhand Harrison (apparently) Avon 4 piece 1.5lb TC rod blank. It was a custom built rod that the owner stripped down to rebuild but lost interest or time. OK its not what I was originally looking for but I felt it would be a good project for the price.

As you can see from the picture the rod is back to just a bear blank so I have to research the correct ring spacing and some basics first as the owner never took notes before stripping it down.

I have only seen the pictures he sent me but the blank looks to be a satin or matt finish, this may be the prep he had started. Anyway if I wanted to give the rod a gloss finish (epoxy 2 pack) would I do this first before any other work such as the cork/reel seat or after fitting these but before whipping rings etc. Out of all the steps to building a rod I cannot find any details on this.

Cheers

Adie
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Hi Adie,

Congratualtions on taking the plunge.
Very useful place for general rod making tips - including varnishing a blank can be found on the following link:

http://www.guidesnblanks.com/page/tips

Easier to coat the blank before the rebuild, although you may consider a matt or a satin blank as standard.

There are other ways to 'paint' a blank, brushing, spraying and 'wiping'.
Hope this helps,
Cheers
Bob
 
Hi Adrian,

I realise that rods, and the style of finish you choose to adopt, are personal things...but do you REALLY want a gloss varnish fella? I am no rod builder (though I have built some in my younger days), but the reflected flash that gloss finished rods can cause every time you move on bright sunny days is not exactly the finest way of staying hidden from the fish :D

Just a thought, while you are still in the planning stage.....

Cheers, Dave.
 
Chris Charman said:
Don't know whether this is of any help. Came across it just now while reading some of the others.
https://barbel.co.uk/site/articles/rodmaking.htm

Keep us updated on how you get on and best of luck. :)
Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, it all helps. I will update and hopefully post some pictures of the finished rod..maybe even some part way through shots. Unfortunately I have just been told that I have to have surgery to reconstruct my knee, this is going to put me off my feet so it may take a little longer than expected.

Cheers

Adie
 
might give you time to do a couple of rods;) good luck with the knee, had an op to repair mine after an RTA that's when i started a light weight stalking and collecting old tackle because i couldn't carry all the gear i used to. my knee's working about 85% now but still use pain meds now and then. hope yours goes well. andy
 
Bob Gill said:
I'll try a come back on this one in more detail tomorrow, buy you may have a few options.
Briefly, a high proportion of made up rods available are based on blanks manufactured in the Far East and buying these type of blanks is unattractive because the made up rods are very cheap.
Anyway, I'll be back.......and have a look around.
Cheers
Bob
Click to expand...

I know that Far Eastern blanks are widely rubbished, but some of the machinery used in the blank manufacture is "state of the art". Quality wise, I would have no qualms in using these blanks - what I would object to is paying top dollar for foreign blanks which cost very little to produce.
 
Jim Foxall said:
Quality wise, I would have no qualms in using these blanks - what I would object to is paying top dollar for foreign blanks which cost very little to produce.
Click to expand...

I just could not find a retail outlet or even them advertised for sale anywhere or I would have gone that route.

Adie
 
best way to get a blank is to ask a rod builder or restorer. i'm seeing mine sometime this week, maybe even tomorrow as i'm that area, just depends how the job goes;), i'll ask him what's available. The advantage of this are, like most rod builders, he also keeps a large stock of reel seats, cork shivs and guides in many patterns and can make up a matched set usually cheaper than getting them from a supplier one or two of each at a time. of course not all will do this, you just have to ask a few and see;)
 
David Gauntlett said:
Hi Adrian,

I realise that rods, and the style of finish you choose to adopt, are personal things...but do you REALLY want a gloss varnish fella? I am no rod builder (though I have built some in my younger days), but the reflected flash that gloss finished rods can cause every time you move on bright sunny days is not exactly the finest way of staying hidden from the fish :D

Just a thought, while you are still in the planning stage.....

Cheers, Dave.
Click to expand...

Cheers

Adie

Good Point Dave
 
Hi Adrian,
i have one of these rods that was finished by Harrison, believe me mate this is one hell of a good rod, and yes it was a matt finish.
Brian
 
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