The Basic Process For Building A Custom Rod

1. Contact

A prospective customer contacts me about a specific rod. We discuss all of the various combinations available and then select the components:

Upon receipt of the required deposit, all necessary materials are ordered from the appropriate manufacturers. Delivery is generally within 10 days. In the mean time the client has sent the outline of his hand either by Fax or mail.

2. Quality Control

Upon delivery of the materials everything is checked for size, colors, flaws, etc. at such time as scheduling permits, the grips are turned down to the appropriate size and length and reamed out to fit the blank. The grips, butt cap and reel seat are then mounted on the rod blank with two part epoxy and allowed to dry. If a weave or decorative butt wrap has been selected, it is done at the point.

3. Mounting

The guide feet are ground and polished and temporarily mounted on the blank. Guide placement is determined by a test casting process, height and type of reel to be used and by applying the principals of a stress distribution test.

4. Wrap

The guides are then wrapped permanently to the blank, making sure the thread tension is not too tight or too loose, because, if the tension is too great, the wrap can actually damage the blank, causing it to break under pressure. If it is too loose, the wrap will have spaces between the threads and look unprofessional.

5. Color Preservative

Once the guides have been wrapped and the tip top mounted, color preservative is applied to all thread and allowed to dry for at least 12 hours. Depending on the size of the thread and the number of wraps on the guides, three to six coats of preservative is required.

6. Epoxy

The protective polymer epoxy is then put on with a brush, all air bubbles are removed and the rod is rotated for several hours in a dust free case. If a second or third coat of epoxy is required at least 10 hours is allowed between coast.

7. Shipping

If the rod is to be shipped to the customer it is laced in a cloth bag, packed in a PVC tube and shipped, usually via UPS of registered mail. All rods that are shipped will be insured for the replacement value. Depending on the number of existing orders, most rods will be received within 4-5 weeks from the date of the deposit. Upon shipment of the finished rod the customer will be notified that the balance of the agreed upon price will be added to his or her credit card, unless other terms have been arranged.