New Bluegill rod.

[Tony Livingston]

Finally got to break this thing in. Our own Walt Foreman built it for me as a specialty BG rod, designed for casting lightweight offerings without any added weight, or float, while still experiencing the awesome fight of a big Bluegill.

It's built on a 2-weight flyrod blank,  but I'll let the builder fill in the rest of the details.......

What I can attest to, is the sheer functionality and beauty of this rod.....

Thanks Walt, looking forward to putting it through it's paces!!

 

 

 

[Benjamin Walter Romine]

Beautiful work, Walt. Do you use a hand rubbed oil finish or a lacquer finish? If you use an oil, I maybe able to suggest a method, from my gun stock finishing experience, to greatly reduce the time it takes to get the desired dried finish.

[Walt Foreman]

Hi Benjamin, thanks for the compliment.  This particular handle was finished with Petri's wipe-on Gel Poly finish, but the last couple handles I have used a liquid finish, Minwax's Spar Urethane, into which I dip the handle vertically and then hang it (vertically) to dry.

[Benjamin Walter Romine]

Hi,Walt      Judging from your work, I am certain you know more than I about finishing a wood rod handle to the effect you want. So please don't consider what I say as sounding too pedantic. What caught my eye was your statement that in some cases it took a long while before finishes stopped' picking up finger prints'.  A while back I came across a 'magic mix" of Truoil and ArmourAll ( yes, THAT Armour All) which when applied in a very simple way will drastically reduce drying time. It sounds as though you may not spend a lot of time with the actual application of a rubbed oil , but may just experience a longer than desired dry time.  You may have no interest in this method, but in my working with gun stock re-finishing, I sand the wood to the desired smoothness, then hand rub the' magic formula'. It will dry to the touch, with vigorous rubbing, in about 15 minutes; let it sit for 3-4 hours  and re-apply another hand rubbed coat  as many times as desired. I have applied as many as 3 coats in a 12 hour period dry to the touch at the end. There are considerations as to the type of wood used. Some woods have soft/hard areas and tend to be splotchy when finished, in which case it has to be pre prepared before applying the finish. No need to go into that if you are not interested, but one can produce some truly beautiful finishes with grain that pops! On one occasion with one of my shotguns( black Walnut), I sanded it through 1000grit sandpaper and hand rubbed 15 coats of the' magic formula' and was done in 10 days.  It turned out so well that I will only shoot skeet with it now! No woods adventures for it any more!!   Anyway, not knowing your process I thought I would mention this if your problem is an extra- ordinarily long drying time. If you would have interest, I will be more than happy to write out the step-by- step process for you.

[dick tabbert]

Very interesting Benjamin. Never ceases to amaze me as to all the info out there on wood finishes 1st I herd this one. Sounds like a good system for small items and hopefully when I need it I'll remember it. Thanks you for sharing.

[carl hendrix]

HEY BEN;; THANKS FOR THE WOOD STAINING SUGGESTIONS ;; I COULD USE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO !!!!!!!!

[Benjamin Walter Romine]

May I request prices for your ultra rods. Plan to use float/ live bait plus small rooster type lures. Since I have no experience with rod specifics, I would accept your judgment on weight and length.

Thanks

[Walt Foreman]

Hi Benjamin!  I sent you a friend request so we can PM. 

[B. Waldman]

Hey, Walt - Could we do the same? Saw you built "Nightcrawler Secrets" rods and would be curious on pricing for such a rod.

Thanks...

-T9

[Walt Foreman]

Sure thing, B.,  friend request sent!