Make if you use a locking wrap on teh runners that the guide is straight before locking it down....don't ask

Not much wiggle room! Lol. Been there too!!

Not much wiggle room! Lol. Been there too!!

Been there, done that, cussed the results. No danged T-shirt.

No, I only use the locking wrap on the running guides. I tried locking wraps on the large guides in the past, but not all of them are formed properly to allow you to go in front of the guide without creating a gap in the wrap. It's just aesthetics, but I prefer to not have the gap.

Here's is one I did with the locking wrap and the gap is very noticable.

THere was no way to eliminate that without the wrap starting up the guide leg.

BTW, this is my favorite pic of one of my wraps. I love how you can see the guide size through the thread.

On another aside pertaining to the green rod. I normally don't do guide wraps this long, but the gold 'saddle' wrap didn't look right with a shorter main wrap.

 

That is awesome finish work.  Is that one or two coats of finish?

That is awesome finish work.  Is that one or two coats of finish?

First coat is Threadmaster Light, for penetration. Second coat is Threadmaster regular, to cover the bare threads from the first coat.

Where did you get the cork rings?  I like the spots in them.

Just to let you know, we carry a variety of cork rings etc.. We also will be coming out with some cool tools this coming summer at ICAST! 

 

But those spots and cork customs are awesome! 

Had a jerkbait rod to get out. Finally got back to the spybait build.

Here's the one that put the spybait on the back burner.

Show the picture of that jerkbait rod with the reel. Just an overall great looking combo. Nice Work!!!

I'll put it on when I get home and take the pic on the finished rod, not just the mock-up like you saw.

 

Anyone got any reports on how the paint holds up on those blanks? I made a rod on a blue/green flip coloured St Croix SCV blank and the paint came off in lumps after a while of fishing. Spoke to them and they seemed unconcerned. Been buying MHX blanks since.

Those rods look awesome. Do you apply epoxy at high rpms or do you just use a drying motor?

Anyone got any reports on how the paint holds up on those blanks? I made a rod on a blue/green flip coloured St Croix SCV blank and the paint came off in lumps after a while of fishing. Spoke to them and they seemed unconcerned. Been buying MHX blanks since.

I haven't heard anything about the RodGeeks paint.

If you gave up SCV for MHX, you took a serious step backwards.

I have built dozens of blue/green flip SCVs and haven't had any come back for paint coming off. St Croix has had paint issues as long as I can remember, but has recently improved. The paint on older generation SCIV and SCV was quite fragile. Just a swipe across it with alcohol will yield color on the towel. Bug spray and certain sun screens will destroy it.

Those rods look awesome. Do you apply epoxy at high rpms or do you just use a drying motor?

I apply at high rpms and cure at the lowest belt setting on the power wrapper.

Just laid down the final coat of finish on project Spybait.

 

  I'll snap some good pics once the finish is cured.

In case you're wondering the significance of the border collie, here are my fishin' buddies.

 

15 year old Blaze

 

 

 

13 year old Ginni

 

 

 

4 year old Taylor

 

 

 

and last but not least, the late, great Tiffany.  The one that started our obsession with border collies.

 

 

 

I haven't heard anything about the RodGeeks paint.

If you gave up SCV for MHX, you took a serious step backwards.

I have built dozens of blue/green flip SCVs and haven't had any come back for paint coming off. St Croix has had paint issues as long as I can remember, but has recently improved. The paint on older generation SCIV and SCV was quite fragile. Just a swipe across it with alcohol will yield color on the towel. Bug spray and certain sun screens will destroy it.

Definitely a step down, but being unpainted they don't look like crap after all the paint falls off. Shame St Croix don't offer unpainted blanks as many people are put off their blanks by the colour and their built rods by the colours and the build.

Scott, what hook keeper did you use?

Scott, what hook keeper did you use?

Kigan XLA.

Here's a better pic on another rod.