building a 5 wt. fly rod

Comment

Comment by Greg McWilliams on June 27, 2012 at 4:16am

Mark, I did check some of my handles!!!!! Was hard to see the the glue point but noticed the grain change!!!!! Great stuff!!!!! Well I learned something today, think I will go back to bed!!!!

Comment by Mark Stine on June 27, 2012 at 4:00am

The way I turn the cork uses a pretty tight fit on the mandrel I probably need more training LOL if there is an easier way I am willing to learn; this is only my third fly rod build.  I used a drill chuck in the lathe to turn the cork for sanding.

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on June 26, 2012 at 4:20pm

HEY MARK,
 I USED 3A cork for years and went to flor quality for a dozen or so rods back in the day. Now I understand that even flor quality isn't what it used to be so the cheaper grade is all I used for the past few years.  When you could get em, before I went back to glass, the finest casting graphite blank I ever used was the old LAMIGLAS IM700 , 8' 5 weight. Just plain amazing . I'd put it up against anything made be Powell, Sage , Winston , or anyone for that matter.
  I use old glass rods for my mandrels to stick in the butt section when I turn the handles down and of course use a drill like you do. I cut the mandrels about 4" long to prevent wobble and use masking tape for the custom fit to turn em tru and concentric to the blank.
  Kitchen table huh!LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOL does your supervisor shake her head? You tie Marabou flies up there too!!!!! That one didn't last long here with my supervisor saying it had to go to the basement where I set up my shop.
 HOW MANY RODS YOU MADE MARK? STUFF LOOKS GOOD TO ME.

Comment by Mark Stine on June 24, 2012 at 6:04am

 I don't know if any cork handles are one piece,  but if you use high end  (flor grade) cork the lines would probably not show. you can get cork handles online that are ready to go except for the reaming out part.  I bought cheap cork rings, didn't want to invest too much I am brutal on my rods I probable break one every year or two. I stepped on my 4 wt a couple months ago and crunch!! must diet!  I lucked out and got the reel seat at an estate sale.  The completed rod will represent a little over $70 dollar investment. A similar rod would probably be in the $140 range.  Out of all the projects I do this was the biggest surprise! It's easy! I wrapped one at the kitchen table! I made the gluing clamp, turning mandrel (which could be used in a drill) and the guide wrapping stand out of scrap stuff I had on hand (hoarder, I could win the  messiest man cave award). I use the fly rods about 95% of the time I fish freshwater. Its fun to catch a fish on the fly you made but if you made the rod too!

Comment by Greg McWilliams on June 24, 2012 at 4:58am

I have always wanted to build one, You make it look easy!!!!! I need to check my cork grips !!

Are they all put together and turned down????? I thought they were one PIECE!!!!!!