My Rod Restoration Project

[Rusty]

It’s finished…Yippeeee!!!

 

But not before one last petulant kick in the teeth. For some reason the thread didn’t come back to its original colour on the tip section as it did on the butt and mid sections, it stayed quite a bit darker. If anyone has any ideas as to why this should be I’d be interested to hear them, I won’t be re-doing the tip so it’s academic really but for future reference it would be nice to know.

 

I’m really pleased with it, there are some obvious flaws but to me that just brings home how much of an art professional rod building is. What I’ve done doesn’t bear comparison to even a mass produced rod let alone a hand built one but it’s all my own work. I thought it would be a lot easier than it turned out to be.

 

To the pics;

 

 

 

 

 

Butt section detail;

 

 

 

Obvious flaw warning. This gap was caused by removing a varnished whipping, it took off the blank varnish beneath and I couldn’t feather the edge. I re-varnished the blank end but couldn’t get a smooth joint so I tried to whip over the ridge, the thread just fell either side of it;

 

 

Mid section;

 

 

 

 

 

And the infamous dark tip section;

 

 

 

 

 

As regards cost it was a pointless exercise but I knew it would be. I’ve spent about £55 buying all of the stuff I didn’t have, that includes things like the castors, disposable knives, a new rod bag, rod rings, epoxy and all of the other rod building materials & consumables. Some of it I still have so doing another rod wouldn’t be as costly, also I made a few mistakes along the way which meant I had to buy more varnish & thread so it’s probably not representative.

 

Finally a huge thank you to all of those AN members who contributed with tips, compliments and encouragement particularly Budgie who’s guidance has been invaluable (sorry I couldn’t get the hang of high build). There were times when it was almost going in the bin and only the thought of leaving this thread open ended prevented that.

 

I’ve just had a very long parcel delivered which will contain a nice new rod, I’m off to compare Bob the Rod’s handiwork with mine….on second thoughts perhaps I won’t.

[Anderoo]

I've been following this with interest and admiration - congratulations! Looks great!

[watatoad]

CONGRATULATIONS A job very well done, are you going to use it or put it on the wall? I have loved every minute of this restoration.

[Dales]

Well done Rusty, you must be well pleased. You will have to let us know how you get on with it once you use it in anger.

[Tigger]

brilliant, your all set for opening day now Rusty

[Dick Dastardly]

Well done Rusty a very good result for your first attempt at a full restoration.As you can obviously see from doing this its just a case of practice makes perfect.

 

We will have to try and get together before your next one so I can actually "show" you hi-building techniques.It really isn't that hard to do but difficult to explain!

 

Nor got a definite answer for you on the darkening of the whipping either as when ever I use varnish (only on antique or cane rods these days) I always use silk or non preserved thread with a few coats of colour preserver. Nearly all of the "modern rods" I do are with a colour preserved nylon and usually in black and a hi-build finish. That said ambient humidity can severely affect the curing of epoxy two part hi-builds so it may affect varnish?

 

Like I said a very good first effort.Did you enjoy it though and how do you feel about your results?

[Dick Dastardly]

I'm not a big fan of the high build finish. To get it to work properly you really need a motorised rod finisher that rotates slowly (7 rpm).

 

I like to apply plenty of coats of epoxy to the whippings in thin layers to build up a good finish, but let the whipping show through. Bit old fashioned, but there you go.

 

 

Afraid I cant agree with this as even though I own several motorised tables I only ever use them (or should say did) when I was "mass producing", A couple of rod sections can be easily turned by hand as it doesn't need to be continuous for the whole time as the hair dryer method rapidly "skins" the hi-build saving runs.

 

Applying multiple thin coats of varnish is the only way to go but with hi-build Ive found it a no no.The finish is never as smooth or clear but above all not so strong as the layers dont bond properly and as Poach said can easily lift.

[chavender]

rusty thats a dame fine job ,doesn't matter how good of a job we do ,we all see where we could of done things better/different that probably others wouldn't even notice ,thats how we progress , get better .you can only take each project so far ,you may well revisit this another time and do it different next time ,but you've set the standard pretty high all ready with this one ,its a job well done & one you can be proud of .

[Rusty]

Like I said a very good first effort.Did you enjoy it though and how do you feel about your results?

 

Thanks Budgie and everybody else for the kind words.

 

Yes I did enjoy it. Some bits were more enjoyable than others, whipping was great fun and the varnish stripping although tedious was very rewarding. The whipping finishing was the most frustrating because recovering a balls up usually meant stripping the blank right back again, some of those rings have been on and off so many times they don't know whether they're coming or going.

 

As far as the results go I'm really pleased with the butt and mid sections, I don't think I could have done those any better using the chosen methods. The tip section whippings do let it down a bit but looking at the rod as a whole it's a massive improvement over the starting point. I think it's been a real success.

 

It'll get an airing today, these special circumstances justify a trip out before the 16th so I'm popping down to a NAA complex this afternoon with a couple of pints of maggots, a feeder and a Mitchell 300A for some retro quivertipping action (modern gear will be in the car just in case .

[Worms]

Looks good to me and an interesting thread throughout (pun?). You will enjoy using it so much more having done all of the work yourself believe me........ and that first fish will weigh twice what you think it does

 

As for the colour difference, well I have suffered random colour differences using identical techniques using silk threads sealed with cellulose dope and then yacht varnished. Some work perfectly others.....well, no idea! I still get great satisfaction out of using home restored rods though!

Edited June 5, 2010 by Worms