One of my 20+year old fishing rods lost a guide...I have a replacement guide...looking at rod dryer systems...

 

Complete rod building kits are not much more.  Anyone build their own fishing rods?

 

I have a few Cabela's C44x casting rods with spiral guides...gets the line under the rod...been thinking of building my own.

I've built a few.  It's not rocket surgery.  I started out by doing some guide repairs.

If you're wanting to just replace one guide, you can hand turn it while it dries.

 

I paid about $50 for my rod dryer, might of even gotten it cheaper because it was on BF.

 

There are simple ways to make your own wrapping station from wood with plenty of videos on YT that show you how. The hardest part is the spool assembly. I first started practicing wrapping using a cardboard box and a heavy book, and that's simple and effective.

 

There are also DIY rod dryers. You can buy a motor for like $10-$15 and rig up PVC attachment or something to hold the rod blank. If you have an old microwave, you can even take the motor out from the bottom that makes the plate turn inside. 

There's a wealth of information in the Custom Rod Building subforum on this site.

 

I picked up rod building this year, just repaired guides previously. I use the cheapest thread system available, I put the thread spool in a coffee cup and run the thread through a big book. Changing what page it goes through adds or reduces tension, lol. Works fine but certainly isn't as nice as what you can buy but I already had a book and a cup so....

 

Also built the rod holders out of square dowel screwed to a board. I added rubberized u shaped storage hooks like for your wall and secure the blank with some hair ties.

 

For a dryer I just got the basic one from Mudhole. Didn't feel like DIY building that.

30 minutes ago, Michigander said:

There's a wealth of information in the Custom Rod Building subforum on this site.

 

I picked up rod building this year, just repaired guides previously. I use the cheapest thread system available, I put the thread spool in a coffee cup and run the thread through a big book. Changing what page it goes through adds or reduces tension, lol. Works fine but certainly isn't as nice as what you can buy but I already had a book and a cup so....

 

Also built the rod holders out of square dowel screwed to a board. I added rubberized u shaped storage hooks like for your wall and secure the blank with some hair ties.

 

For a dryer I just got the basic one from Mudhole. Didn't feel like DIY building that.

 

 

What's all that white powder on your scale?

 

Allen

1 minute ago, Munkin said:

 

 

What's all that white powder on your scale?

 

Allen

Science. Never you mind that.

Good stuff. Thanks!

Just test casted my first non-kit rod out in the snow today. It is a fantastic feeling to have a rod that I put together purely to my own specifications.

I've been building my own rods for a while now.  Started out building saltwater trolling rods when I realize I could build my own for about 1/2 the cost of buying one locally.  Moved on to spinning rods and surf rods and eventually to fly rods.  Right now I've got one fly rod I just finished rebuilding, just need the epoxy coating on the wraps.  Building a spinning rod for one of my fishing buddies.  Another one of them gave me two different rod pieces and asked me to make a frankenrod for him.  That should be interesting.  I'm converting an old fiberglass fly rod into a spinning rod, and I need to put a new cork grip on my favorite fly rod.  It can become addicting.  Nothing beats the feeling of catching a fish on a rod you built with a fly you tied or a lure you made.

That powder is freeze dried helium, the new secret rod lightening material. Only takes a drop of water to activate an entire rod full. Sshh! Tell no one.

19 minutes ago, spoonplugger1 said:

That powder is freeze dried helium, the new secret rod lightening material. Only takes a drop of water to activate an entire rod full. Sshh! Tell no one.

Yes.... Something like that....