Rod Building Notes

Step 1: Find spine on each section of the rod. To determine where the spine is apply a little pressure and roll it. It will naturally roll to where the spine is. The giudes and reel seat will sit exactly on the opposite side of the spine.

Step 2: Epoxy the reel seet and the reel seat insert together. DO NOT put the butt cap on! Drink beer. Allow 24 hours for drying. After the reel seat has dryed, tape the butt cap on the end of the reel seat and mark where it sits on the rod with a grease pencil. Remember to align the seat with the spine. Evenly space 3 pieces of tape around the handle so the reel seat fits firmly but not tight. When placing the tape on the handle, allow an 1/8 of an inch of the reel seat to extend beyond the tape at each end. After determining everything is fit correctly remove the seat and evenly disperse cement on rod. Place the reel seat back on the rod and clean up the excessive cement.

Step 3: Ream the cork handle so that it fits snug on the rod when sitting next to the real seat. Before testing the cork handle on the rod, stomp the cork dust from the inside of the reamed area so that it does not scratch the rod when testing it for fit. Cement cork hadndle on the rod. Clean excessive glue. Allow 24 hours for drying of the handle and reel seat.Drink beer
Step 4: Place winding check against handle. Tape on hook keeper.

Step 5: Place a piece of tape as a marker where the guides are to be located on the rod. Place tape on the opposite side of spine. File excessive burs off of guides. Use tape to temporarily hold the guides in place for wrapping.Drink beer

Step 6: Start wraps by winding thread around the rod a 4 or 5 of times towards the guides to hold thread in place before completely doing the wrap. Tape the thread on the other side of the guide so that it is out of the way. Start your wrap towards the guide. Cover the previous 4 or 5 winds that you placed earlier. Remove the excessive thread from the "place-holding" wind. Snip excessive thread. Drink beer. Continue towards guide. After the thread is about 3/16 of an inch away from the end of the guide, thread holder loop in the wrap facing towards the guide on the bottom side of the rod. Wrap up to the guide. Cut the thread about 4 to 6 inches away from the rod while holding it down on the rod so that it does not come unwrapped. Run thread though the thread holder loop. Pull the thread holder back waay from the guide. Snip the excessive thread as close to the wrap as possible. Drink beer.

Step 7: Wrap from the winding check all the way to the hook keeper. Use the same holder loop.

Step 8: Burnish wraps until you are satisfied with their look.

Step 9: Realign guides. Drink beer.

Step 10: Apply color preserver to wraps. Dab excessive color preserver with a paper towel. Allow 24 hours for drying.

Step 11: Align the guides so that they are absolutely perfect. This is your last chance!

Step 12: Apply epoxy. Place a bead of epoxy on the brush and carefully wrap the epoxy around the end of the wrap. Extend the epoxy an 1/8 to a 1/16 of an inch beyond the edge of the wrap. Do the same with the other end of the wrap that holds the guide. Make sure there is epoxy around the guide to hold it in place. Allow drying for 24 hours Drink beer.

Step 13: Apply finishing coat and wait 24 hours.

Step 14: Epoxy end cap on. Drink beer Celebrate!

Step 15:Go fishing!