These are the pics, I'll let Fletchero write the commentary.

L_B_H,

Thanks for sizing the pics down and posting them!

Anyway, as you can tell from the unfinished butt and guides, the one with red trim thread is not complete.

The black blank with blue trim is my surprise rod... it was a blank I bought just to practice on but it was so sweet when it arrived, I had to build it up! The blue trim in the cork was the same color as the thread before I finished the thread... I forgot to account for the thread color changing with the finish, but once I get some fish slime on the handle you'll never know the difference! It's a 6' 10" All Star blank, 8 power fast. rated 15-30 line and 3/8 - 2 oz. It has a surprisingly delicate tip and pitches like an absolute dream!

The green one is a Rainshadow MU786 musky blank, 6' 6" fast, rated 17 - 40 and 3/4 - 3 oz... this is my swimbait and ledgebuster rod. (rated at 3/4 on the low end, but initial testing showed no problem casting and pitching 1/4 and 3/8 baits) It is a real horse! I almost re-tore my rotator cuff doing the static deflection and guide placement testing. ...lol trim rings and butt ring are burnt burl cork. The pics don't show the thread color very well but it was actually the blank color that darkend and went translucent with the finish... it's truly striking in person.

There is another green musky blank (I helped a buddy build) with burnt cork main grip and light colored trim rings but I didn't have it here for a pic.

The unfinished rod will likely remain unfinished, at least for a while... it really fills no need I have but was my "learner" for grips, ree seats, guide placement & testing and wrapping. Someday I'll probably finish it and give it to my youngest brother.

All 4 are "simple" spiral wrapped, split grip, no forgrip and have trimmed, expose reel seats. No personalized writing or stickers yet... maybe someday but I haven't decided what I want to do with them.

Thanks again to Reelmech, who answered countless questions along the way!!

Next on the project list is a St.Croix 5C70HF then ?  My goal is to replace all my bass rods this year.  (and then have a big G. Loomis sale!!)

flechero,

Those are some mighty nice rods there. I noticed you wrapped the bumper to the right, so that when the reel is laid on deck the handle and bumper is up and the rig lays flat. The grips are very well done. You can tell your use to using 2 part finishes on your bows just by looking at those guide wraps they are very well done.

All in all I give them a solid 10, you done good neighbor.

Kudos........

Tight Wraps!

L-B-H,

Kudos to you for working the pics and posting them for Keith.

Tight Lines!    

you wrapped the bumper to the right

I had trouble deciding on the right. In fact I may still build the next one on the left. The reason is I normally fish any moving bait to my left... so I had to do a lot of guide testing for line clearance under load from the sides. I'm glad i did because now I have a good understanding of the relationship between the bumper and first two guides. Understanding when and why to move the bumper and other guides around for the best casting and for complete line clearance. (all that because when I first tested the bumper on the right I had line contact with load from the left)

The grips are very well done. You can tell your use to using 2 part finishes on your bows just by looking at those guide wraps they are very well done. All in all I give them a solid 10, you done good neighbor

Thanks, ReelMech... coming from you, that is a huge compliment to me!! I got to take them to the lake yesterday, it was COLD, WINDY and RAINING all day long. Brrr!!! I did manage to catch a couple (small ones) on the new rods, so they are officially used now!

Did you notice the trim wraps behind the front hoods in the reel seat? 4-6 turns, still clears the hood with finish and a 4600 installed. That was my only "original" idea.

I'm an addict now!! ;D

Hope to hear about the first big ones that fall victim to those fine rods.

Isn't it great when you have an idea like that and all of it fits just as you in-visioned it......The rods look great.

I rate them at .....10  

Tight Wraps!    

I want to inquire to purchase the unfinished rod, i like the look and the shorter handle.  When are you opening shop?

Those are really nice looking rods. I am only somewhat serious about the purchase of the un finished one.  But if you even need a few dollars PM me and we can talk.

ReelMech,  I couldn't have done it without you!  It's very gratifying to be able to take my own rods to the lake... and even better that I already like them better than all the IMX rods I own!!  

Tenka,  You might PM ReelMech, he has one rod in process that has become available... a really nice St.Croix 3C66MHF blank with the exotic burl cork... and he knows what he's doing!  He might make you a great deal on it.    

I'm actually building a shop pretty soon...  the concrete is being poured next month if all goes well (fingers crossed) but I have lots of projects already booked, none of which are building rods.  My wife is dead set on a kitchen remodel and since the cabinets she wants are about $6500, I got appointed to make them.   >  I was a woodworker (read that as a furniture maker/cabinet maker/trim carpenter/traditional bowyer) in my "previous life" so anything that resembles wood that I don't want to pay for becomes a project for me to make.  

Thanks guys!

flechero,

I couldn't have done it without you!  It's very gratifying to be able to take my own rods to the lake... and even better that I already like them better than all the IMX rods I own!!

Sure you could, always remember that the dot org board is were all the info in the world is located. I always seemed to have more confidence when I took my rods to the lake, probably because as I learned how to build I would also understand what and what not to do with them

I'm actually building a shop pretty soon...  the concrete is being poured next month if all goes well (fingers crossed) but I have lots of projects already booked, none of which are building rods.  My wife is dead set on a kitchen remodel and since the cabinets she wants are about $6500, I got appointed to make them.

I knew a shop would be in the works. You truly are addicted....LOL  ;D

Ohhh my have been there on the remodeling, only a bath, took 2 weeks from my rod building one season......LOL

Well have fun.......

Tight Wraps!    

The shop was planned long before the rod building started... I used to have a woodshop and lost it when we moved to Belton. The only difference now is that I'll have a few new "jigs" and tools to support rodbuilding. Finish won't be a problem either as I already have a "clean room" in the plans for finishing other things.

Ohhh my have been there on the remodeling, only a bath, took 2 weeks from my rod building one season......LOL

I start the upstairs bathroom tomorrow night. ...lol I have a pretty long list of "to-do's"... remember it's been piling up since before my surgury in October, so it has gotton long! I'll probably not start the next rod for a month or so, I have to get the list whipped!