Custom Beach Rod (First Timer, Now Building)

[GutterGuide]

So after a month or so of reading, researching and finally buying, on saturday I started building my first ever Custom Rod.

To the people that have helped me get this far,
Thank you, without your help I'd have glued my fingers to the blank by now.

I suppose this post if for those who want to build their own rod up but as yet haven't been convinced on how easy it is.
And for you seasoned rod builders, lay off its my first time ;D. Honestly any advice or comments are very much appreciated.

The image quality may be a little dodgy but the craftmanship is first class. And now the pics:

The Blank - Mag Surf 13'6", Being built up for a Alvey 6500BCVRR. The tape is for the positioning of the grips and real seat, just as a guide so i know/ get a feel of where everything will sit.

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The blank again, with the grips (cut to size), reel seat and butt cap in position.

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The Rear grip is on!
First attempt failed.(the grip split just before i could get it into place.)
Second attempt (after a good soaking in turps) slid on with no problems.

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The Reel Seat, built on masking tape. (four bands equally spaced under the seat)

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The ForeGrip, and complete butt section. Now for the guides...

[roz]

Well done Dave,

You're right about the photos though lol, I've just emailed you my weekends effort.

Keep taking the pics as you go, I bet your first effort will be a lot better than mine (few years ago now).

I think you are going really well, keep it up.

cheers

Roz

[aaron_gilmour]

Well done Dave,

Once you start building you wont stop. I have been building fro 5 years now and have 4 rods on the go right now. Just finishing up a 8kg barra stick and just glued the handle assemble on a 10-15 jig stick and waiting for more components before starting a Livefibre 4144 surf rod and another 10kg jig stick.

Here is a pic of a chevron pattern on my Barra stick.

If you need any help dont hesitate to ask.

Cheers
Aaron

[GutterGuide]

Nice wrap Aaron,

Hopefully by this weekend I'll be finished the guides and start thinking about decorating/customising. The decorative wraping looks hard, but i'll give it a go.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Dave.

[SURF_SNIPER]

looking good dave :)

the rear grip looks very thick compared to the reel seat what brand/ size is it? perhaps this is why it split on you when sliding it down the blank. the same grips i use on the mss blanks i also use on the much larger 15 foot blanks and are yet to split one and dont need to soak the grips.

once your start binding you be into the tailor in no time ;)

Drew.

[GutterGuide]

Thanks Drew,

measuring up the guides now.

Tackle shops around my area only stock the standard tools of the trade, hopefully with my next rod I can start to play around more with the non standard components. Are there any AUS suppliers that stock a good range of rod building accessories?

Dave

[GutterGuide]

Just putting on the underbinding, Check out the setup, first class if you ask me. ;)

[roz]

At least you're getting it done Dave, the photo is a shocker though.

Roz

[GutterGuide]

The Stripper guide - Double underbound, and just finished the first overbinding all in A thread. (I finally got a camera worth taking pics with.)

[theoldlegend]

Good stuff, G G. Just a couple of quick questions, if you don't mind.

I've been toying with the idea of doing what you're doing, but a boat rod. Where did you get the blank from? The guy from ATS was very helpful, even suggesting I go to the factory and fiddle around with some of the blanks. But then I have to go to a retail supplier, and that's where the first problem seems to kick in. The retailers would rather sell a completed rod than a blank.

Same with the Pacific Composites blanks. Have to go to a retailer.

Also, where did you access the grips, reel seet, guides & thread?

I've got a couple of books from the library and have been asking a lot of questions, but that's as far as I've got.

Thanks,

TOL

[GutterGuide]

Hey TOL,

The blank i got my local tackle shop to order in. They wanted to build it up for me, but I wasn't convinced that their inhouse rod builder would build to my specs. My suggestion, find the blank you want and go though who every will sell you one. With all blanks that I know of you have to go through the tackle shops. The grips, seat, guides and thread all came from my local tackle shops.

There are a heap of people on here with a huge knowledge base of rod building etc, if your serious about building up a rod, get all the info about the rod your going to make and put it past a few people on here, they have helped me greatly.

Last thing. Try it !
I'm not finished my first rod yet but already it feels good, and really isn't that hard.

Let me know if you need some more advice. (I've got a few resources/books here and there)

Dave

[theoldlegend]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your reply. I keep chopping and changing all the time between a blank and the finished product. However, one of the members on this site is willing (I hope!!) to help me out if I go ahead with the blank. I still haven't decided what length and strength yet.

Hopefully I'll be seeing this member next week and I might get some good oil as to which road to go down. One of the big things I'll be looking at is what type of reel I'll be using.

Anyway, I'll hang in there and keep you posted.

TOL

[GutterGuide]

The time has Come :o

I have completed my first Rod!!!

And Damn it feels good 8-)

To everyone who help me. Thanks, I couldn't have done it without you. ( Actually yeah I could, but I would never have looked as good or been as strong)

Drum roll..........

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Another Pic...

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and the butt wrap, threw a custom waterslide decal on aswell.
Looks heaps better than my scribble...

[Big_unit]

Congratulations, I am now more inspired than I ever was before. Maybe we could organise an Ausfish rod building workshop, starting at beginners level of course.

Cheers
James

[roz]

That looks heaps better than my first effort Dave.

You deserve to be proud of that effort, well done.

Cheers

Roz

[theoldlegend]

Hi Dave,

Nice pics. Excellent job. Well done!! I think I'm ready to take the plunge and do it.

Will get some advice on the blank first and then go from there. There's so much to consider: what guides, where to space them, what type of reel seat, the list goes on and on and on.

Might have to have a drink while I'm considering the possible pitfalls vs advantages in building one. Being a Friday, anytime after high noon today is looking pretty good.

TOL

[GutterGuide]

TOL,

Yeah just go for it, with a bit of time and effort you can build a pretty good rod, Full credit to all the veteran custom rod builders out there..

Dave

[SURF_SNIPER]

great job dave ;).............. now where's them tailor

[GutterGuide]

Thanks Drew,

Yeah I want to hook up big, prove to myself that the rod will hold anything hanging off the hooks.

I've got to get me an Alvey cast style too, never cast one before.
Anyone got any suggestions, ie cast from the side or over the shoulder, Take a run up...

Cheers Dave