FD.

You should have sent them to the builders on here instead...

Spray the line and guides down with some KVD line and lure conditioner. That will eliminate a friction problem. I built an ultra light on a MHX blank with Microwaves earlier this year for Nicole. It has 8lb berkely big game on it with no vibration problems.

Heavy is not always better, particularly after throwing it all day. Plus I don't horse them out of the thick stuff. I have a 36 volt tm so I hold pressure and go get them. The rapid decline in my physical abilities after passing the 45 yr mark has forced me to rethink the way I fish.

That's a big dog house you've got there Gary. Looks good.

Put another coat on it. It will fix it.

X3. Your current and future problems will be solved. Mark, the reason you can see a scratches in clear coat is the flat edge in the clear coat caused by the hook changes the path the light travels as it goes thought the epoxy. If you will just add another coat, then the flat edge disappears.

As far as the "general purpose" goes, any 843 blank is a good choice. That's a 7' MH Fast usually. I have built on most manufacturers 843's and for a first build I would recommend a Rainshadow RX 6. It is $30 and is unbelievably light and sensitive and you will do something on your first build that you will not like, so don't spend more money. If you insist on spending more get an RX8 or a MHX MB843.

Another Like Cam...That handle on the Eternity is cool. What is it made of?

Nice!

Looks Great!

Jiff Creamy is an absolute necessity! If you are not using it then you are doing it wrong. Congrats. Let the obsession begin...

That was the point of this thread. I build a lot of rods on your RX6 blanks which is one of the better values in blanks out there. It's not the latest and greatest in technology but it is better than most fishermen have in their rod locker even though they may have paid $200 for their factory rods.

Nice job!

So the UM flavored one is also offensive... Perhaps you would like the powder blue and pink. It's absolutely FABULOUS!

I have a RX6 843 I fish all the time. I love it and it cost me about $60 in parts to build.

Get Bit has some great deals in their Blank Bonanza section.

Not that they can't be, I have built some really expensive ones. You can spend $200 on a blank, $75 on a handle and $75 on guides before you even start on labor, but you don't have to. I have a client who he and his wife both work average jobs, have 2 kids in school, and have normal financial challenges. They are both passionate about fishing and always wanted custom rods but could not justify spending the money on a hobby. Can they afford custom rods? Absolutely, and here is how. Just like JC Pennys spring white sale, rod and component manufacturers, from time to time, sell really good stuff for cheap. When they do this I buy lots of it and stockpile it for future builds. Here is the example Castaway Intermediate Mod FS 782 blank 6'-6" MH fast in gloss white Forecast size 16 exposed trigger seat EVA rear grip and fighting butt ATC Duralite guides and tip I would put the performance and balance of this rod up against most at BPS. Add the paint and thread work and you have a truly one of a kind custom that fits in any budget. The handle with the trigger set at 8.5 inches. He fishes out of a Yak most of the time so he wanted short handles. He is also a Gator fan so it will be decked out in Tangerine and Wild Blueberry.

Awesome grip. Phenomenal job again.

I normally set the trigger at about 11". Find a rod you like, measure it and use it as a guide on your first one.

All of my personal rods are built with size 16 reel seats. You will like it.

find you your blank in the chart. The measurements are from the butt end up the blank. Determine where you want your grips and reel seat on the blank. The measurements in the chart are in mm. Always go up one size. Or you can call Mudhole and one of the sales guys will walk you through it and help you place the order over the phone. They will pull your blank and measure for you. This is what I do sometimes when I'm building on a blank I've never used before and I'm in a hurry.

It is basically the OD of the reel seat. 17 has a larger profile than a 16.

Rod lockers give you a much cleaner cut.

If he is even thinking about it he already has the genetic disorder. It's just been dormant.