I'm looking at possibly starting to build my own rods.  What supplies would I need just to start out building rods?  I've looked around at places such as mudhole, but there's so many different tools for rod building I have no idea what you really need and what you don't.

You need something to hold the blank in order to rotate it and wrap the guides, and you need a way of tensioning the thread.  When the guides are wrapped and the epoxy is on you can use your blank holder to hold the rod and turn it manually now and then to keep the epoxy from all ending up on one side of the blank.

 

The simplest way to accomplish this is to get a cardboard box about 18 inches long and cut V notches in it to hold the blank, and run the thread through the pages of a heavy book.

 

Better is to get one of the manual wrappers like the Mudhole or Batson, not that expensive.  I've used a home made manual wrapper for years.  When you get to wanting to turn your own cork or EVA, you will want to cobble something up to allow a drill press or portable drill to allow this.  Search the internet for ideas.  For convenience a slow rotating motor mounted to a frame to turn the blank slowly will really help keep the epoxy on the wraps in the right place.  

 

Go to  http://rodbuilding.org/list.php?2  for an excellent forum on rodbuilding.  Be sure to check out the library and use its search function to find help on about anything.

 

You will get better with every build, and your first may not be what you are expecting it to be.  which means it's best to start with inexpensive builds and work up.  Nowadays the inexpensive blanks and guides are very good quality, very capable.  But don't use a $100 blank for your first.  The kits are a good way to start as they include all the components.

33 minutes ago, MickD said:

You need something to hold the blank in order to rotate it and wrap the guides, and you need a way of tensioning the thread.  When the guides are wrapped and the epoxy is on you can use your blank holder to hold the rod and turn it manually now and then to keep the epoxy from all ending up on one side of the blank.

 

The simplest way to accomplish this is to get a cardboard box about 18 inches long and cut V notches in it to hold the blank, and run the thread through the pages of a heavy book.

 

Better is to get one of the manual wrappers like the Mudhole or Batson, not that expensive.  I've used a home made manual wrapper for years.  When you get to wanting to turn your own cork or EVA, you will want to cobble something up to allow a drill press or portable drill to allow this.  Search the internet for ideas.  For convenience a slow rotating motor mounted to a frame to turn the blank slowly will really help keep the epoxy on the wraps in the right place.  

 

Go to  http://rodbuilding.org/list.php?2  for an excellent forum on rodbuilding.  Be sure to check out the library and use its search function to find help on about anything.

 

You will get better with every build, and your first may not be what you are expecting it to be.  which means it's best to start with inexpensive builds and work up.  Nowadays the inexpensive blanks and guides are very good quality, very capable.  But don't use a $100 blank for your first.  The kits are a good way to start as they include all the components.

Thank you.

Sorry, wrong thread.