Blank supplier

[tacklejunkie]

Dohhhhhh
Picked up allllll the goods to build the rod today but the dude at C&M gave me the wrong size reel seat.

I bought the first one on this page. Silver hood 9.5mm
http://acidrod.com/trigger_seats.html
I needed a 9.5mm ID for this blank but was sold a 14mm ID reel seat.
That's another $30 round trip to C&M in gas... when I can find the time!
This custom rod building stuff is tedious, that's for sure!
I had the blank there with me. Not quite sure how this misscommunication happened.

Can't really start on anything just yet. I'm also building my own cork jig to save $129.
Making my cork handle from scratch. /bought burnt cork and high grade regular tan cork.

I have a snake skin from a baby rattle snake that was on my backpack one day at silverwood that I killed. (stupid me, my mistake, lesson learned, I know i know). I'm thinking about using the skin as a decoration between the split grip. Get the snake skin out of my junk pile and immortalize my stupidity/lesson learned.

[IN2DEEP]

For future reference
If you're looking for a Rainshadow(Batson Enterprises) blanks/components
Give this place a try. They are located near Batson.
http://www.utmostenterprises.com/utmost_001.htm

I ordered a Rainshadow blank and had it in 3 days and $8.00 shipping
The ordering was a little different. I e-mailed them and they got back to me quickly letting me know that it was in stock with a link to pay through paypal
Very satisfied with the transaction
Scott

[tacklejunkie]

Thanks for the input In2

Heading to C&M today to swap out my miss-sized reel seat.
I think I'm gonna go with silver winding checks instead of rubber too, since the reel I'm trying to match is green, gold, black and silver. The rod should match right up.

The guy at C&M seemed a bit hurried and frustrated with somebody trying to spec out and order some guides the other day. He also forgot some guides in another guys package the same time he got my reel seat wrong. I was trying to be real cool and easy on the guy cause looked like he had a rough morning. I think a custom rod shop has to deal with quite a few odd orders and requests being in that type of business.

On the flip side,
If you want to make sure you get all the right parts for your rod (like the reel seat) everything has to be test fit first.
Or if you order online you need to order one size larger and smaller than the third size which is the size you think you need and order it too! That way you don't have to go through the return shipping process... and eventually have extra parts instead.
In the long run ordering on line this way will become more expensive.

It's either more expense and be left with extras, or go deal with the local rod shops trying to hurry you out and help the next guy. thus causing return trips because of wrong (hurried) parts.

Since my return gas in a F-150 to San Dimas can reach $20-30... I need to start ordering online.
I think the added expense of extras to get sizing right might just be less than driving back there repeatedly.
The bonus of having extras on hand close to sizes you may need is not so bad either.

[tacklejunkie]

And another thing.
Here is how you save $129 on custom cork checkers.
F the man!
Merry Christmas. =D
Lathe and glue to your blank when dry.

[tacklejunkie]

Major ownage. Pimpin' the cork. Came out perfect weather I used rod handle epoxy or Elmers (new improved) wood glue.


Here's the pattern for you rodbuilders. Right click, Save as, save.


Also finished up my other rod.
I wrote:

T.J.'s Stolen Rods.
3-8oz
RX7946 25-40lb

In between the wraps, sideways, I wrote:

Fish it like you stole it.

then put my signature. (not shown)

[tacklejunkie]

Now back to our custom corks.
coming along!
Not perfect, but hell I did save $129 remember?

Oh, lordy. Check the custom stub! "I can hardly contain myself".

[tacklejunkie]

Some more work done on the split grip... but far from finished! Wait till you guys see what I'm cooking.
I call this grip style "Checkered mushrooms".
Also, my new little Jack Russel Terrier mountain dog I am training to take with me to Mt Whitney!

[vanillagurilla]

nice tj!, i used to have a russel, smart lil dogs bro. Hey you can use that degree wheel for acid wraping also!

[tacklejunkie]

Petty sure I'm going to acid wrap this rod.
I'm gonna use it for plastics and jerks anyways so should be ok..
Will be weird, have to do lots of cast testing to be sure I get it right.

Yeah my uncle had one of these dogs when I was little. Smart lil fox hole hunting dogs. Stand up to big dogs three times their size. I got him from the pound for practically nothing!

[vanillagurilla]

yeah you just gota watch them, they like to dig. invest in one of those tennis ball throwers or a bat to hit the ball hella far with lol. thats the reel seat i was looking at, but with EVA grips, let me know how the acid wrap comes out and if your comfortable doing it agian :) lol.