Marbled UFO Grip

[tacklejunkie]

"Shiskabob Grip" or "Marbled UFO's"
A hell of a lot more comfortable than it looks too! It's actually very functional and perfectly spaced for two fingers. :Cool:
First attempt at marbling. Learned a lot for next time!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/new2piecespinrod5.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/new2piecespinrod3.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/new2piecespinrod2.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/new2piecespinrod1.jpg

Here was how this rod started.. as a $40 Forecast spinning rod kit.
I plan to marble the guide thread epoxy in the same coloration.
I did the marbling by hand and the cork lathing on a drill
Everything was sanded before it was glued so nothing will move or come loose.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9161.jpg

PS the bonehead lady at C&M got all the guides wrong again!
Seriously their customer service is subpar. I get to spend another $20 in gas to go change out the $1 guides to finish the $40 rod. lol

[City Dad]

dam it TJ, if the lord wanted the colors on you reel handle to mix he'd a done it in nature!!!

Kids these days... always gotta monkey with stuff. Where can I get one?

[tacklejunkie]

Dude,
I even trimmed down the Fuji seat so you gotta slip the reel foot under the front hood first to get it in the seat.

It's all over. I'm just getting warmed up.
I shoudl have marbled the snakeskin checkered silverwood spirit too! Next time.
Too much good stuff.

Go get a blank and I will personally murder it for you.

[Ifishtoolittle]

Neat! Although the handle seems a little uncomfortable to fish with IMO.

[tacklejunkie]

Like I said, it looks very uncomfortable...
until you try it! Then it feels like a million bucks.

I will take pictures later of the rod in my hands and you will understand.
Mostly your hands don't touch the UFO part at all. Your hand holds the rod by the reel seat. One finger also goes on the rod blank itself. But, you can also use the UFO part, and it was spaced to be very comfortable on your hands even though it looks very very akward, I agree. But it feels like love in your hands!
don't want to go crazy on my mobile broadband until I figure it all out. Pics to explain will follow. Trust me, it feels good!

[smokehound]

One with green instead of red would be awesome.


BTW, have you ever considered staining the cork with a dye? That would give it a little more zing!

I personally think the grip looks comfy.

[tacklejunkie]

I have thought of staining and dying the cork.
Only thing is I bet you it would come back off on your hands.
Any way I could think of doing it would come back off.
Specially since I put the rods in rod holders that can be full of water in float tubes etc.

Burnt cork and white are pretty cool for now.
They have red and green cork too etc etc.

[smokehound]

I have thought of staining and dying the cork.
Only thing is I bet you it would come back off on your hands.
Any way I could think of doing it would come back off.
Specially since I put the rods in rod holders that can be full of water in float tubes etc.

Burnt cork and white are pretty cool for now.
They have red and green cork too etc etc.Good point.. You'd have to clear-coat it...

[tacklejunkie]

Woot went back there today and picked up the right sized choke and three receeding guides. Then I chose three microguides out near the tip.


Thus should be cool. Everyone says the micro guides are for spiral or bottom guide rods... I'll give it a shot. Also plan to marble the guide thread finish.

That red is metallic and should be catchy in the sun. Picked up red metallic thread that might go on somewhere too as trim.

This will be one hell of a two piece.

[tacklejunkie]

Rod is done! Absolute sickness!
Will post pics when I get home.
It looks waaay nicer than it did before!
Can't wait to test it out.

[tacklejunkie]

OK rod done and dry.
Gonna go test it soon.

Instead of marbling the wraps, I just used red metallic and silver trim to match the reel.
I also trimmed up some of the marbling with the threads as well to help smooth things out.

I used a "new concept" style guide setup although the guides are not Fuji new concept guides.

Came out beautiful!
Here's to my new 4lb two piece 6'.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9191.jpg

I wrote "TJ's Stolen Rods, 4lb Only!, RX6SP721-2*, and signed my name" over the "foregrip" marbling between the red and silver trim using a silver paint marker and then added a hook keeper well out of harms way.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9192.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9193.jpg

Here you can see why this rod is so comfy.
It has a slot for your finger up front of the seat,
your three fingers go on the seat around the reel foot which feels great and your palm rests inside the channel carved of cork behind the reel seat.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9194.jpg

As far as the split grip and casting goes...
I felt that a full blank split grip can be somewhat slipper sometimes.
I also didn't feel a full length cork grip is necessary because of the weight.
So, I added some "UFO's" to throw grip in where I felt I needed it but still save weight where I didn't!
The rear butt is shaped for comfy finger slotting also.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9195.jpg

You can put your hand anywhere on the blank while casting and it won't slip and it will feel like it's in control of the cast.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9196.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9197.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9198.jpg

I marbled the 2 piece joint wraps for added appeal.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9199.jpg

Here's the micro guides and oversized tip top.
I like to gouge those into the ground so thought I'd go with the classic/beefy style.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9200.jpg

I marbled and trim wrapped the tip top. slightly overdoing it. Still looks great and works fine.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9201.jpg

a close shot of where I did the inscriptions.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9202.jpg

The rod holder and bait wall is filling up. lol this only the half of it.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9203.jpg

One last shot of the luscious wraps and finish.
I made sure to add trim wraps in front of and behind the guide foot for added strength and of course I used extra finish to try and prevent it from cracking like so many of the rods I have bought do. Those guides are locked in!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Custom%20Rod%20Building/DSCN9204.jpg

[smokehound]

Very nice. That looks even more comfy now that you demonstrated.. Looks great for tossing big-hammers in the harbor!

[tacklejunkie]

Meh the rod action came out a bit lighter than I wanted it.
It's about like a trout rod for panther martins and small rapala trout jerkbaits like CD-5 etc etc etc.
A bit light for a 4lb drop shot rod. More like a "Moderately-fast light action" rod.
I need to find another blank.

One heck of a nice trout rod though. lol
Will be good for the Sierras a bit later this year.