i have decided to build a custom rod for myself and am hoping to start pretty soon.  but, i don't have a rod dryer, and was wondering if i will be able to dry the rod wrap finish w/o one? and if so how?

You can turn the rod by hand, 180 degrees every few minutes until you're satisfied the finish has set up enough not to sag. My advice... either make up a simple dryer out of some scrap wood and add a cheap motor, or take the plunge and buy a commercial dryer if you think you'll build more than one rod.

Turning by hand will get you by for that first rod but it gets old in a hurry on subsequent builds.

Shoot me a PM and I'll be glad to send some links for cheap low RPM motors.

Kudzu