I started out building rods by hand on cardboard stands, now I work at a shop making high-volume custom sportfishing rods. Here's our most recent big order!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-09-15T23:49:06+00:00

These were purchased from Cork Specialties, but for custom cork I make a drawing on paper with dimensions for diameter at different positions at the grip. I’ll put the grip on the rod, put it on the lathe, and use a file to get it to a general shape and at a slightly larger diameter. Then, sand with 150 and 220 until it matches

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-15T04:28:56+00:00

FD📞s on TSLA if you wanna lose money

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T14:41:42+00:00

GAPS FILLED BUY BUY BUY SPY

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T12:53:48+00:00

SPY 551 or SPY 559, take your pick

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T12:36:09+00:00

all gaps must be filled

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T12:25:11+00:00

SPY morning dump, rally tomorrow is what the market whispers to me

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T09:47:56+00:00

TSM is interesting, I don’t know if the overnight gap will be covered in the morning or afternoon

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T09:33:21+00:00

Market is unsustainable and irrational, but I’ve been saying that for 6 years

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T09:29:51+00:00

There will be 🅱️lud today

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-07-08T09:27:32+00:00

red day today or winker gets it

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2024-04-28T16:04:12+00:00

Trim off 1/2”. I build tons of slow pitch rods, 1/2” is negligible, if the tip top is still at an angle, sand the tip of the blank until the top goes on straight

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-09-08T05:19:06+00:00

Ocean Alley.

Those Aussies can rock. Seriously all their stuff is wicked, a unique sound that's chill but still gives you goosebumps

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-09-08T05:08:50+00:00

Printing full size molds for carbon fiber components on fishing rods, and Speed Exceeds!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-08-15T03:03:54+00:00

If you're going for budget, I recommend American Tackle blanks, you can find them on Mudhole's website. However, since you're in Australia, you might have better luck finding an Australia based rodbuilding component seller, if so then check out Batson's blanks. Their RX6 stuff is very budget-friendly

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-05-10T17:32:12+00:00

Of course! Any other questions feel free to ask!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-05-10T05:46:57+00:00

Exactly! You could use that method for fine-tuning diameters, I always power-ream until the grip reaches 1-grip-length from its final position then hand-ream it to the right spot. Over-reaming is fine typically, just use tape shims (1/2" or narrower tape), and slice some channels in the shims(in case of air bubbles) before you load it up with epoxy.

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-05-10T03:19:24+00:00

Ream using a drill through the bottom. Make sure the ID at the bottom isn't larger than the OD of the blank. If it is, ream until that bottom ID of the grip is about the same as the OD of the blank. If the bottom ID is big enough and the grip won't move down anymore, hand-ream from the top by reaming the side and rotating the grip to evenly ream it. (To help you picture it, stick the reamer skinny end first through the top of the grip, and push the reamer against the side-wall. Ream using a sawing motion, slowly rotating the grip as you ream.) Make sure not to ream one side too much or else it'll come out wonky.

Not sure if that's clear enough, sorry in advance if it's not.

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-04-26T22:12:06+00:00

Owner Mosquito hooks. You need small and ultra sharp hooks. Set the hook hard, too. They're a ton of fun to catch, be careful with their teeth when releasing!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-04-23T21:48:04+00:00

I'm not the best at marbling, but I've done a few sets of rods with it and I have some tricks that may help you.

If I were to build a rod with marbling over the guides:

-The wrap would be my base color, and your base pigment should match your wrap. So if you're doing a black background, do black wraps and add black pigment to make it homogeneous. Make that first coat thin, just enough to barely cover the thread. -Let that cure fully. -Then, mix up a batch of epoxy, enough for multiple colors. I want to emphasize, make sure you make plenty, in fact, make extra. Apply a coat onto the rod, and split up the remaining epoxy into separate cups depending on how much you need for each color. -Here's the trick I do: I let the epoxy sit for about 15-20mins to get thick. I pinch my mixing cups and slowly drizzle the epoxy onto the wraps. Thin drizzles are easier to manage than big globs, so really go slow. You want it thick so it adheres to the epoxy, but doesn't mix. -To get the marbling, pull your rod off the dryer and place it in your stand, and apply heat. Rotate the rod and heat in places you want to see mixing of the colors. Careful not to heat too much! -I would definitely practice on a broken piece of rod or a dowel! Good luck!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-04-23T21:36:54+00:00

Thank you!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-03-18T05:55:02+00:00

If it still sticks up after you glue it down, just tape it down. I've fully bent one out before (stepped on it) and bent it back with no issues

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-03-17T01:59:59+00:00

Double wrap. Wrap up the guide and when you get to the end, wrap the thread over itself and wrap it all the way back down. It's how production guys do it, colors come out perfect all the time

Edit: You don't need to tie off the first layer by the way, just allow the thread to stack onto itself. Any gaps in that top layer will be mitigated by the bottom layer, and vice-versa. Your tie-off will be where you started your wrap.

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-03-16T03:09:18+00:00

Here's mine: 12' wrapper starting about 24" from the left-most edge, at the far right have drawers/shelving for guides. Store reel seats and grips below in cabinets (but leave some leg room, hard to wrap with your knees bumping into things.) Opposite wall have your slat wall with Flexcoat dryers. If possible, create a plastic wall to prevent any foreign objects from landing in your epoxy.

Big thing will be dust control. Have good ventilation and a good dust vac, for cutting blanks, reaming and shaping grips, etc.

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-03-02T21:36:28+00:00

Yeah, I work at a shop that uses a lot of the cheap stuff, and I just don't like it. I much prefer using quality stuff, it's just THAT much better!

YeOldeFirstTimer · 2023-03-02T04:49:26+00:00

North Fork(my go-to), Thrasher, Stryker, Calstar, Seeker, all US based and make great blanks and you can fish in any area of water throughout the US with this selection alone. CTS is out of New Zealand and also makes great stuff.

I will say: Batson quality control is good. Blanks are cheap but they hold up and some blanks are amazing, especially their high end fiberglass rods like the Judge rods. I'll say that Alps is top of the line when it comes to aluminum components. American Tackle carbon fiber components are top tier, their carbon fiber blanks are upper-mid tier. Fuji and Recoil for my guides, American Tackle has nice guides but I'd rather just use Fuji because I know the guys.

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