can anyone give me a good "how to" for making these?  any info will be much appreciated!!

thanks

Cliff

I typically place my blank on my drying motor and slowly apply the epoxy with a spatula.  As the blank turns the epoxy will spread, and I add/remove as needed, until I have the ramp I desire. I continue to watch the area until the epoxy starts to settle.

thanks, i forgot to add, how do you generally finish the ramp?  do you wrap it then finish like normal?

Red pardon the lingo but, are you talking about the high build up they put around the handle/ring wraps?

yeah like finishing in front of the reel seat and between split grips.  i actually made an attempt at it tonight.  it came out...ok....i think anyway.  i used loctite 6 minute epoxy mixed with a touch of acetone to thin it a bit.  just applied it slowly until it looked nice and uniform all the way around the blank.  and i just smoothed it out down the blank a bit.  after the epoxy set up i wrapped it right up to the seat, then finished it like you would a normal wrap.  i found that after the epoxy was applied (before wrapping), dipping my brush in acetone and using it to help smooth the "ramp" out worked pretty well.  then i very very lightly used an alcohol prep pad and went over it one more time to smooth it even more.  i must have made it the perfect angle cuz i had no issues with the thread wrapping right on up the ramp.  but i think if it was any steeper i would have ran into problems.  i am going to attempt more of these on my other rods that i havent done anything to in front of the seat.  and i may do some in between the grips as well.

keep the tips coming!!

thanks

Cliff

thanks, i forgot to add, how do you generally finish the ramp? do you wrap it then finish like normal?

I finish my wraps before ever applying any epoxy.  I've never created the epoxy ramp and than wrapped on it/up to it.  I created the ramp as part of the final finishing process.

I may have screwed up, I made the ramps out of finish wrap. I let it stand on aluminum foil for about 20 minutes to get stiff and then I applied it : woops, I guess.

I will say it looks good to me, took like heck to get the air bubbles out.

Cliff,

I've done it a couple ways... put the rod in the dryer and elevate the front support so the rod angles uphill towards the tip. Then keep applying finish until you get almost enough there for the ramp. (you'll need to wait a little while for it to start to thicken so it will suspend) The angle of the rod will help keep it how you want it until it sets up the rest of the way. The key to a good ramp is to do this in 2 (or 3) stages... the first gets it close (but rarely dries as a perfectly tapered ramp) and the second pass is to make it all even and correct any waves or depth.

The other way is to make a ramp out of thread, quick set epoxy or another material and then put finish over the top. The pic below actually shows the eva ramp under it (you can see it in the camera's macro shot but it's not visible to the naked eye) which was turned when I shaped the grip.

Just remember that finish will show almost everything underneath, including the reel seat arbor, (yup I forgot that once!) So whichever route you go, just be sure it all looks good before the finish goes on.

that is a fine lookin ramp man!!  so in that pic, you actually have a piece of eva under there that you shaped before hand?  so it basically is a filler right?  looks good, i will keep workin on it!!

thanks

Cliff

Yup, it's kind of a "cone" of eva with a couple coats of threadmaster over it.

that sounds like it may be way better than what i did.  would this be possible on a rod with guides in place?  like spiltting the eva cone and placing it on?  or would the split be too visable?

You could split it and glue it back together on the blank.  It's a second choice but can easily be done.  I've done rubber winding checks that way before and some of them I can't even find the seams.  Just use a fresh razor blade to cut, cut on an angle and make sure the I.D. is large enough that you don't have to stretch it to glue together or you will have an ugly seam.  

cool deal, i am definetly trying this.  i have plenty of extra hypalon left over from my last builds.  and those last builds never got a finishing touch between the grips and in front of the seats.

thanks keith, i will let you know how they turn out

Cliff

is there and harm in just leaving the little piece of foam exposed?  i kinda like the look and feel of just the little piece there.  the seat is sealed up good, i dont even see why it needs finish, i think it looks fine.

No harm at all, it would be the same as a winding check...  just something to finish off the front of the seat.  It's just like a micro sized foregrip.

cool deal, i think i will stick with that then.  gonna do one for the next rod in the line up tonight!!  if i ever get my stupid camera working right, i will post up a pic.

thanks

Cliff