I am planning on learning how to build rods, and I'm probably going to start with a kit that includes the blank, guides, handle, seat, and wrapping materials. Should I also get tools to mount the blank on while wrapping, or can this be done with common household tools?

Do you mean a place to lay your rod on while your working on it? build it yourself. You can make it out of wood. Your going to need a motor that turns the rod after you build it so that the flexcoat drys even also buy a torch lighter to get the bubbles out of your flex coat and to take off any excess.

If this is just a one time thing, you can also just cut a couple of vee notches on the top of an open cardboard box to rest the blank in and turn it by hand while the flexcoat sets up.  Kind of a pain, but it will work. I have set mine in the living room while watching TV and turned it a 1/4  or 1/2 turn at each commercial for a couple of hours.

Is flexcoat the epoxy-like stuff that coats the guide wraps? I might try the cardboard box trick. I'm going to build one rod, and see how well it turns out. If I like the finished product, it may well become a new hobby. I'm not sure if I want to buy the rod rest kit /w motor yet. The one I saw was about 60 bucks, and I already spent 100 on the SCII rod kit. I don't want to put too much cash into this untill I know how it will turn out.

Sounds to me like you are starting out right. You don't need much to get started. Check out http://www.flyshop.com They used to have a good rod building section. Yes, flex coat is for the guide wraps.

     Check your personal e-mail.  You contact me and I'll get you started out with some information.

  Gary

Flexcoat makes a beginner's rod builder guide, or your local library may have books on Rod building.

There is some basic things about rod building .  You must learn before you start building a rod.

You must learn how to locate the spline of the blank.

Flexcoat is a two-part Palomar compound and must be measured out in a equal parts, or it will not harden.  There is a resin and a hardner.

Flexcoat does not dissipate air bubbles well, U-40 makes top-of-the-line product for rod building.

Even if you wrap your guides by hand, you will still need a dryer to rotate the rod to keep the Palomar's from running to one side, it will take about six to eight hours at 70° temperature to dry the finish and takes about four to five days to complete cure out.

Take it one step at a time.  Learn what you need to do, what equipment you need to do the job and used the best quality rod compound product, you can get hold of, it will make your job a lot easier.  And you'll end up with the professional finish.

There is  many rod building suppliers, I used this one for years, Angler's workshop telephone number. 1 362 225-6359.

They have books for rod builders, rod components, rod wrappers, thread and much more. www.anglersworkshop.com If there is any question on Rod building , I will be more than happy to help you out just give me hoot on the forum.