Northeast - My new addiction (Rod bldg) who else has it

I took a great 2 day hands on rod building class at Jersey tackle in Brick the past 2 weeks came out of the class with a beautifull general purpose fluke /stripper custom rod .

Already bought a couple more blanks to build and can't wait to do them I definatly feel like I'm hooked on the custom rod building and was wondering if any others on THT do any rod building and

I see it as great winter hobby

I would like to try it, but not sure where to start..... any suggestions for someone from the N.E. ??

Fin-

I always wondered what the cost would be compared to buying a custom built. I have bought several nice rods from CMS in New Bedford but while poking around the store and adding up material it just didn't seem cost effective to build yourself. Of course their supplies they sell are at retail so that plays a part. I also would guess that like many hobbies this isn't all about the money.

What is the basic cost for the equipment and then what it would cost in material for say the rod you built. I really do want to give this a try and CMS previously held class but they stopped now.

Fin-chaser - 1/26/2009 6:35 PM

I would like to try it, but not sure where to start..... any suggestions for someone from the N.E. ??

Fin-

Rod Builders Workshop in Kingston Ma. Im pretty sure he holds Seminars.

I starded doing research online and I know a couple of people that Had built rods I started looking around for rod building classes I didn't like the idea of the show and tell classes(seminars) So I happen to find Jersey tackle here in Nj that did the hands on I was able to get a couple of friends(4 of us) and we took the class together it was a lot of fun

for $150 we got a full 2 days instruction and built the rod from scratch we each did our own , much better then show and tell because everything looks really easy when someone who's been doing it for awhile does it

Take a look over here....... http://striped-bass.com/striper-fishing/

This one's quicker....

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/forumdisplay.php?f=28

Sleeper - 1/26/2009 3:40 PM

I always wondered what the cost would be compared to buying a custom built. I have bought several nice rods from CMS in New Bedford but while poking around the store and adding up material it just didn't seem cost effective to build yourself. Of course their supplies they sell are at retail so that plays a part. I also would guess that like many hobbies this isn't all about the money.

What is the basic cost for the equipment and then what it would cost in material for say the rod you built. I really do want to give this a try and CMS previously held class but they stopped now.

its hard to compare costs of custom built to stock rods you really have to know the difference on all the materials especially the blanks used and the quality of the eyes used as well as the reel seats these things really have a wide range of prices I guess its like most other thongs stock vs custom there usually is a difference

As far as the equipment needed you don't really to spend much $$ at all to start you can cut some V's into some scrap wood or sturdy cardboard for that matter and wrapp by hand a power wrapper is good but you can start without it you however do need a slow spinning motor with some kind of chuck or holding device to spin the rods slowly for the epoxy application on the guides and to dry the finish they can be bought for about $30-60

I usually build a rod every winter. I've made some as gifts. It's cool when you personalize it for someone. Go to rodbuilders.org Good site to learn. Good people. Mudhole.com is probably the best site for supplies. Most production rods have sloppy wraps, bubbles in the flexcoat, crooked guides. You'll start to notice that when you go to a store and know that you can do better.
Have fun.

Richie - 1/26/2009 7:41 PM

I usually build a rod every winter. I've made some as gifts. It's cool when you personalize it for someone. Go to rodbuilders.org Good site to learn. Good people. Mudhole.com is probably the best site for supplies. Most production rods have sloppy wraps, bubbles in the flexcoat, crooked guides. You'll start to notice that when you go to a store and know that you can do better.
Have fun.

very true now that I know a little bit (i'm only a beginner) I've started to notice all the little stuff
Agree on the sites you mentioned but I was surprise how much inventory Jersey tackle actually had and How competitive their prices were , after the rod building course we got a 10% off card for life at all items in stock so a lot of the stuff actually comes out cheaper and for me its local enough that i can hand pick the stuff, I've ordered from Mudhole before and their site is the best on line and the people are very helpfull also

I took up rod building about this time last year , and I was gut-hooked from the start.. I started off with a DVD from Doc Ski, and got more info from sites like rodbuilding.org, and Stripers online (http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/ ) which has a great building board with some top builders willing to help out a noob.. To give ya an idea what i mean by gut-hooked.. I started my 1st rod in late Feb. and by the time I launched the boat in mid April I had built 6.. it's addicting.. As much fun as it is, I don't think you will save much $ over buying factory rods though.. especially if you are going to use quality components. But you will be able to make exactly what you want, and get great satisfaction catching fish on them. I have no chops for decorative wraps yet, but that is a whole other world that I hope to get to soon.. I bought a book from Billy Vivona (http://northeastrodbuilders.com/ or check SOL site) on the subject, and would recommend it to anyone interested in fancy threadwork . I agree, its a great winter hobby!
Here is a shot of my 1st with it's 1st :)
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa267/Treebeard63/Picture034.jpg

I was in the class with Msilva4 and he's right. It's addicting! With my experience as a builder/finish carpenter, I decided to build my own wrapper. It'll be cool to catch my first fish on my first rod that was built on my own wrapper. It seems that this is a nice hobby that I can do for a long, long time.
The posts are right on from what I can see. I believe you can definitely build a much better rod by investing in the sweat equity. The custom rod we built sells in the same shop for about $150. The class was $150 and completely "hands on", not a sit down and watch lecture. Jersey Coast B &T in Brick has tons of rod building stuff and if you take the class you get 10% off all rod building stuff. The class definitely teaches you alot about what to look for in a fishing rod, whether you are building your own or buying something off the shelf. After the class I bought the same "kit" that we built in the class it costs about $45 (or $40 with your 10% off!) with a few hours work you can have yourself a rod that sells in the store for about $150.
Keep the rod building suggestions coming.
Thanks - Glen

Picked up the finished rod today , what a sense of acomplisment, can't wait for striper season to try it out , also picked up a couple more blanks to build