New Rod Builds

[Bubba_Bruiser]

While Waffle is somewhere doing the strip tease on his rods, I am trying to add some clothing to mine hahahaha. These are 2 projects I am working on for some guys I work with. I got the handles on this morning and hope to start the guides tonight or tomorrow.

7' Rainshadow IM6 MB843 MH-F w/10' Cork handle /Eva butt cap - Black winding checks and a Forecast expose blank reel seat



6' Netcraft IM6 MH-F w/6" Cork handle - Pac Bay exposed reel seat


The guy I am building the 7' worm rod for wants it wrapped in all black. The guides are black chrome with gold inserts. Hopefully it will give a look of the guides free floating on the blank with all the black. We will see. I thought the blank was going to be black, but everyone is swapping over to the raw graphite look.

The 6' is for a guy's son for miscellaneous purposes. He wants it wrapped in purple/gold for LSU colors. I told him I would wear a horse bag to keep vomit off of it, but I would do it.

But anyways, I am starting to get a few guys to ask questions about them and wanting their own rod. So maybe this addictive hobby can keep feeding itself. I will get some more pictures out as they progress.

[Jrob78]

Looks like you're off to a good start Bubba. I like those black winding checks. Like I told you, I'm definitely going back to cork, at least for the next few rods I build. It's just so dang expensive. Good rings go for about $4 a inch!!

[WaffleJaw]

Bubba looking great so far!...I also like the black winding checks alot!..I might be using some on my next build....Keep us posted on the progress..Cant wait to see em done...The guy should be extremely happy!

[BigBassin144]

Looking good Bubba, can't wait to see them done!

BB

[Bubba_Bruiser]

I got all my guides wrapped on the 7'er and I am doing some test tiger wraps on a dowel before I start the 6'er. I should have pics of the 7' tomorrow. I am not a fan of gold, but it really pops on the blank as far as aesthetics go. Kind of reminds me of Batman...hmmmm...wheels turning for a later build. Might be a good project for my little boy.

[Old Hooker]

I wanna see that 7' rod when it's done Bubba. It sounds like it's gonna be sharp.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

She, the 7', is all wrapped up and ready for some epoxy. As soon as I get the babies to bed tonight, she will be turning.



This is the tiger wrap I worked on a dowel for the LSU theme rod. I hope I don't make the mistake on the real deal in the first couple of wraps. I think I am going to change the trim bands around, but like I said it is a practice run and on a wooden dowel, so it looks a little rough. The colors seem a little off with the flash, but it is more purple and gold in person. I wrapped it once and just tried to over wrap with 2 threads and packed them too tight. It was just a mess of lines. Back-up, restart, over wrapped with 3 loosely and I am please with the results, other than the lack of burnishing in the beginning.

Under wrap - White, Sunburst, Cobalt Blue
Over wrap - Cobalt blue

[WaffleJaw]

ooooooh I like that tiger!!! Awesome movement Bubba!..I think the trim band color is in a good order going from your dark to light..My only advice would be maybe not make em so wide,but I know its all practice..You could also do side by side turns to start the new colors and give it a slight fade appeal..Kinda similar to how I added the gunmetal in this and went back and fourth between gunmetal and blk..Their easy to do and look great imo.

Awesome work man!...Guide wraps look clean too!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Yeah Waffle, I hear you. Rough drafts make the final. Just don't holler plagiarism on me if you see the same set up hahaha.

[Grape Ape]

I can't wait till the Alabama Rods role off the assembly line.

[Jrob78]

Your guide wraps look really solid and your tiger looks great, pictures never do them justice!! Nice work Bubba! I agree with Walker, play around with the thickness of the bands, maybe make one thick and one thin. I always try to add some single turns to transition from one color to another, it is super easy to do and looks really sharp. Can't wait to see it finished up!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Originally Posted by Grape Ape

I can't wait till the Alabama Rods role off the assembly line.

Hahahahaha..It took me minute to catch who you are. Beagley Beagley Do I have an order? You look around here long enough you might find a few pictures from some old fishing trips.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Well, I finally finished one and working on completing the other. First off some lessons learned: Don't try to heavy coat and then leave house while your rod is turning. I had to buff down most of the guides on the 7' because I just got lazy and was just going to one coat them. I came home with footballs on 7 guides. Apply light coats around drop shot hook keepers. They will fill up and it is a mutha to get the epoxy out. Never leave a raw wrapped rod in the kid's toy room. I put my stuff up the other night to start back up when the kids went to school, but I got sidetracked outside for the day. A 5 year old came over to play with my middle boy, and they assisted in unwrapping every guide, but 2, and knocked my tie offs out of the tiger wrap. But I had a Who-sah" moment and only knew it was my own fault for where I had left it and let it be that. But once again, thanks JRob and Waffle for always being a phone call away and helping me out.

But here is the a couple of pics of the 7' Forecast:




And here is the 6' Netcraft LSU rod I should be completing in a couple of days:
I banded the double foot guides, and left the single foot wrapped in all black.

Base Layer for the tiger - I am still not sure on the trim bands, but I can change it on the next layer.

[carolina-rig-01]

Looks great buddy! Great work.

[Jrob78]

Nice work Bubba!! It really looks like everything came together nicely! For the most part I don't like anything gold, I must say though, those gold rings on the black frames look pretty dang cool. I think your friends will be very pleased, great work!!

[WaffleJaw]

Whats DTC stand for? (Dang! Thats Cool!) hahaha!

Serious though your work is looking better and better every wrap!..I like the white turns separating the tie offs on the tiger underwrap.Very nice touch.

Heres a tip on double footed guides..What I do to keep both sides even in length,is I make three marks with the china marker...The first mark is where the ring needs to be,(guide placement)the second mark is 1/8'' (roughly)pass the back foot (the longest) then take my calipers and measure the distance between the two,and use that measurement for the other side (the shorter foot) make sense?

The middle mark is also great for doing inlays in underwraps for guides...If you ever decide to try one on butt guides.

That tiger is gonna be sweet though!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

DTC stands for Dylan, Tanner, & Carson, my 3 sons. Our motto is "Spare the rod, Spoil the fish" hahahahaha

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Well, I am finally finished with my rods. And will be sending them to a new home in a few days. But here are some of the final pictures of them. I am not much of a photographer, but here they are.

[carolina-rig-01]

Looks great buddy! I really like the decals too. The LSU rod looks cool but would look even better in Texas colors lol.

[Jrob78]

Awesome work Bubba! I'm really digging the tiger. I think your friends are going to be very, very happy. You did a great job!

[basshunter21]

Dang! that lsu is SHARP looking. Very good work man.

[WaffleJaw]

They turned out awesome Bubba!!..Excellent finish as well
Your buddies are gonna want more.