Lately I have been on the kick of wanting to get into building rods.  Been looking at the kit on mud hole and watched a bunch of videos and it doesn't seem to bad.  What will I be getting myself into and is this a leap I should make?  I don't like paying a lot for nice rods so I figured maybe make them and save a little coin while having fun.

It's not super difficult if you're thorough.  A lot of people recommend using a cheaper blank to start... I'm in the minority that goes against that.  If you want to do it jump in and get something nice!  There are so many resources out there that if you're patient you'll be able to build  a nice rod your first time.  It may not have any crazy wraps or bling, but it will be quite functional.

Very rewarding to do.  I think you save money if you look at it like this.  You may spend $300 (which isn't a small amount of money) building a rod, but it will compete with rods that retail for far more.  And you'll have the exact rod you want.

You won't save money, but you will get more rod for your money.

2 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

You won't save money, but you will get more rod for your money.

Well I like to think of that as saving money

Rod building is a rewarding craft. Do your homework and ease in to see if you like it. 

Just now, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Rod building is a rewarding craft. Do your homework and ease in to see if you like it. 

Hey I've been talking to you about meeting up and doing a repair on a rod for me.  Ill have to pick your mind when we meet up.

Right. No problem. I'll respond on FB in a little. 

Just now, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Right. No problem. I'll respond on FB in a little. 

I tried messaging you on here and it would let me.

I started out with a couple of cheap casting kits from MudHole and it was fairly straight forward. I've found, like everyone else has mentioned, that I don't really save any money but I get a way better rod for what I was going to spend anyhow and I get to make it look exactly how I want it instead of settling for whats on the shelf. 

Before I bought a kit, i did buy some wooden dowels and practiced wrapping guides on it, that really helped with confidence when I went to actually wrap a blank.

2 hours ago, Caia326 said:

I started out with a couple of cheap casting kits from MudHole and it was fairly straight forward. I've found, like everyone else has mentioned, that I don't really save any money but I get a way better rod for what I was going to spend anyhow and I get to make it look exactly how I want it instead of settling for whats on the shelf. 

Before I bought a kit, i did buy some wooden dowels and practiced wrapping guides on it, that really helped with confidence when I went to actually wrap a blank.

Ive actually have a couple broken rods I thought about doing the same on.  Cant decide if I wanna go with the Jon Cox kit or Brandon Lesters.

You think the Bait Monkey is tough? Wait till you meet the Lathe Monkey.

And his big, ugly uncle the Shop Gorilla. 

1 hour ago, Josh_Bovaird said:

Ive actually have a couple broken rods I thought about doing the same on.  Cant decide if I wanna go with the Jon Cox kit or Brandon Lesters.

I went for the ultra cheap CRB kits and gave the rods away when I was done with them. I got some practice and I made a couple of peoples day by giving them an unexpected gift!

I was thinking that but the kits are on sale right now so I figured id grab one and then maybe a cheap rod to try out on

That sounds like a good plan, I just took a look at them and I may have to pick some up as well.

Sorry my inbox was full. Thanks for letting me know!

those CRB blanks are not bad at all. Just limited models. Get Bit had a similar line with more models . 

Well I just ordered a kit from mudhole, can't wait to get started. This is the kit I got.

http://www.mudhole.com/Brandon-Lester-Custom-Bass-Fishing-Rod-Kit

Good luck man. Take your time, and don't be afraid to unwrap and start over. Your first build couldn't possibly look worse than mine. It's good practice stripping one down and starting over. That's what I tell myself anyway.

There are very few rods I build where I don't re-wrap at least one guide...

On 3/29/2016 at 2:24 PM, .ghoti. said:

You think the Bait Monkey is tough? Wait till you meet the Lathe Monkey.

And his big, ugly uncle the Shop Gorilla. 

 

Oh, the lathe monkey is one bad dude and so is his buddy Chuck.  They both have a few of my paychecks!!

I'm sure ill be selling off my rods to build new ones once i get rolling

On 3/31/2016 at 8:20 PM, S Hovanec said:

 

Oh, the lathe monkey is one bad dude and so is his buddy Chuck.  They both have a few of my paychecks!!

LOL. Thanks to you, I think I have as much money in chucks as I have in my lathe. And it was money well spent.

22 minutes ago, .ghoti. said:

LOL. Thanks to you, I think I have as much money in chucks as I have in my lathe. And it was money well spent.

Lol.  The last chuck I bought was only $20 less than I paid for my lathe!!

22 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

Lol.  The last chuck I bought was only $20 less than I paid for my lathe!!

I should have thought a bit before posting that. I actually have more in chucks than in the lathe.

Have any of you ever taken the classes mudhole teaches, seem reasonably inexpensive.  Curious if they are worth the money, or if you tube is as good?