Going Classic with a Touch of Modernity?

  Did you rig up a " rotisserie "  to turn it on?      I'd love to see some pics of peoples ideas on turning methods.

Here is a rod wrapper I made 20 years ago from scrap lumber leftover from a deck I built. I scavenged the wheels from an old cabinet. The Weber rotisserie has a nail punch attached to a rubber band which rotates the rod. I used this turning method for drying for 10 years before buying a drying motor. The rubber band tends to walk up or down the nail punch so you have to check on it every hour or so but other than that works great. I still use the rod wrapper and have built over 100 rods on it. Total cost was less than $5.

I agree with everything Meat Hunter said. If you can afford a little more on guides, I have been happy with the Fuji Alconite guides. Much lighter than Hardloy and reasonably priced.

Scott

I have a Calstar GFX-700ml blank waiting for guides and I will try to post up the build when I can afford the hardware.

That is a killer blank for jigging with spectra. I have slayed some big lings, YT and WSB with my GFX 700ML. I built mine with Fuji silicon nitride guides.

Hey man sorry about the lag but I have been insanely busy. Not from fishing either

Question: "It all really depends on how fast the rod is and what size guide is being used." ??? Not getting enough of this.
Question: "I run the stripper anywhere form 19"-22" depending on what the rod will be used for." ??? Just not getting this one.

A faster action rod will bend more at the tip requiring the guides to be spaced closer in that area. A moderate action rod will benefit from closer than usual spacing in the middle of the rod where it will bend the most. The main things is ensuring that the line is not dipping close to or touching the blank under load. I use a lot of trial and error when doing this and often try a few layouts before I settle on how it's going to be done. As far as length between the stripper (first) guide and the reel it depends on the height of the reel and what the rod will be used for. A higher reel or a rod intended for casting will be given a larger stripper that possibly sits further foreword in comparison to one I intend to bottom fish with. It's based on preference but I look at how much the line is contacting the top of the stripper and adjust to minimize it as much as possible.

"But the hand wrapper makes a big difference quickly? If so, I need to fab. something like it because the way i'm doing it forces me to shut the world off. I can't do anything while thread is on the rod."

The hand wrapper will definitely help and GB2's looks very nice. I bought mine but it can easily be fabed at home. I would invest the time in building one for sure. The drying motor will help a ton as well but they can be a little pricey.

Awesome fish and great pics. I may have to keep an eye out for and old glass rod myself.

GB2 I believe I saw one of your builds at the 2011 PIF paddle. If I recall correctly it was a 10-25# inshore rod with cork grips.  My brother and I were highly impressed with the thread work and overall feel of the rod. Can’t wait to set up and try out the 700ml. The blank feels awesome.           

I have a Calstar GFX-700ml blank waiting for guides and I will try to post up the build when I can afford the hardware.

That is a killer blank for jigging with spectra. I have slayed some big lings, YT and WSB with my GFX 700ML. I built mine with Fuji silicon nitride guides.

+1
I really like the GFX700ml I have been using this season. Nice and light, but plenty of rod to handle anything I might hook off of my kayak...good tip action, and good "oomph" to keep big lings from rocking and cutting the line.

MH,
Thanks again; that's great stuff.

I wrote about a broken rod that one of the members here gave me and I tried to fix; well, it's holding up. She went 27" and a few of her sisters were 24s and 25s. So far so good.