nightmare rod build

Finished my 11 year old son's birthday present at 12:01 this morning. Complete with custom travel case. Months in the making. A friend gave me a walnut burl from their orchard. The trick was how to bore a 1/2 inch hole 14 inch thru a piece then turn it down to 1 inch with out it either blowing, up or warping when it dried. Once that was done the rest was pretty ordinary. Looking forward to our first steelhead fishing trip.

thats really cool, hope you get into the steel, cameron

That's awesome!

Thanks for the compliments. Here is a better view of the walnut handle.

Nice! was trying to figure out if you made a really small fishing rod or if the crayon is life size 

That's funny. I found a crayon coin bank that i turned into a rod holder. Seemed appropriate for an 11 year old. The cloth 3 compartment sleave is from a pair of ninja turtle pjs. Its a 7ft 3piece travel rod.

You're wrong about it just being anything.... That is a lifetime heirloom from a father to his son.    Good choice of giving time and love in a gift thet will mean soooo much later on. Good job Dad!

Beautiful!!!

that is stunning.

Absolutely beautiful and badass!  That gift is going to stay with him forever!

So was the walnut burl for the handle and you stuck a rod blank into it?

However you did it .....great job dad! 

that is stunning.

+1

The blank goes all the way thru the walnut handle.   It was a serious challenge. I cut the burl into a3x3 x14 inch block then bored a 1/2 in hole in it lengthwise. Stuck that on a mandrel and turned it down to 1in. Slid it on to a blank and Bob's your uncle. The problem was controlling drying rate and warping. Thanks for all the compliments. I'll post pics of his first fish on it.

That might've been a nightmare for you but that's an absolute dream rod for him I'm sure

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