Rod building

[Jay Murakoshi]

A while back, I purchase 3 Sage Xi3 blanks (good deal) and now sitting here looking at them and thinking about taking on the task of building the rods, one at a time. Can't find anyone here in Fresno, so it looks like I've been selected. It's been 30 years since I've built a rod. So here are a few questions:

Where the best place to purchase the reel seat, corks, stripping guides, snake guides, tip top

Is there somewhere where I can get the measurements for the Xi3 guide spacing

What's the latest rod finish

Thanks

Jay

[mloconn1]

This link will give you the guide spacing.

http://www.sageflyfish.com/about/rod-building/

I've used Mudhole, Batson, and Anglers Workshop for info and parts to build my rods.

hope this helps.

[DLJeff]

Hey Jay -
If you're looking for salt water rod parts (I can't imagine you'd be looking for much else), try Larry up at Chico Fly Shop (I'm not sure if he's still around but I can find his phone number if you need it). I really liked the old long barrel Powell style reel seats with double nuts and Larry was having them made for a decent price. If not, try Raptor Rods, Lance can set you up I think.

As for wrap epoxy, I still use the good ol' Flex Coat stuff. You can get thin or thick, I think. Use the thin if you want to apply multiple coats and get a good saturation into your thread wraps. Use the thick if you want to get a good epoxy in a single application. Obviously you have to use a turner with either.

Oh yeah, one last suggestion - up size your tip top, snakes, and stripping guides. I usually go with a 20mm and a 16mm on most of my salt water rods, and the smallest snake I use is a 5.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

I'm definitely using larger stripping guides and big snake guides. As for tip top, it's big size.....
I'm still looking for a good heavy duty reel seat
j

[Dan LeCount]

The guys at Anglers Workshop have guide spacing charts for all the major manufacturers and sell a ton of rod building tools, accessories, guides, tip tops and handles, some parts partially prefab in case you didn't have a lathe or other large piece of equipment. They are also really easy to work with when it comes to having questions about stuff fitting, colors matching, etc.
http://www.anglersworkshop.com/
Their website has some stuff, but I'd probably get their catalog because it has a lot more in there.

[Ralph]

I feel your pain Jay. Put them on eBay and buy a pre-built rod with the proceeds.

[Frank R. Pisciotta]

Ralph---Agree with your E-Bay solution.... Admittedly, there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in building one's own rod.

Jay---I like you built my last fly rod over 30 years ago. I attended Andy Puyans rod-building class when his Creative Sports shop was in Walnut Creek. It was a 4wt specifically for Yellow Creek. You have to decide how precious/valuable your time is....

Frank R. Pisciotta

[DLJeff]

Thanks for that memory, Frank. I used to ask Andy for help turning my cork. In his unimitatable style, he'd say "Well, I'll let you know when I feel like putting on my cork shirt and you can bring it over one evening." A week or so later I'd bug him again and he'd say the same thing. Finally, he'd set a day and tell me to come over to the shop around 8 or 9pm. The fun part was watching him un-bury his old South Bend lathe, find the cutting tools, move boxes to make room, find the masking tape to protect the rod, set up a cork ring as a brace for the tail stock, and finally start the job. He'd stop the lathe every once in awhile and have me grip it for size. He'd always say stuff like "Are you casting a fly rod or milking a cow with that grip?" But the really fun part was Andy's fee was a bottle of Scotch and then we'd have to put a decent dent in it after the rod was done. I miss that man.

[stanbery]

I build rods as well but am not in your area.
Look up Pete and he would be able to help you out.
http://www.renaissanceflyrods.com/

If you want to build it yourself here is a link to Sage
http://www.sageflyfish.com/about/rod-building/
Click on "See Model spacing charts"
Click on Choose rod family and scroll down to XI3 4 piece
Then choose rod Family
and it will give you a detail of what you will need to build your rod.
Look something like this

Build your own fly rod with Sage premium fly rod blanks.

Choose rod family: 4-PieceXi3
Model 1090-4 XI3
Guide Spacing Chart
Number of Pieces 4
Line Weight 10
Rod Length 9'0"
Size Spacing
Guide 1 4 5-5/16
Guide 2 4 12-5/16
Guide 3 4 19-7/8
Guide 4 4 28-1/8
Guide 5 4 36-5/8
Guide 6 4 45-3/8
Guide 7 5 54-7/16
Guide 8 12J 64-9/16
Guide 9 20J 77

The tip top you will need to measure.

More then likely this is for saltwater right?
Measure the butt section, depending on the size of the butt section would decide which reel seat
to get.
Grip you would use a full wells grip on a saltwater rod or a rod bigger then 6wt.
Also do not forget the winding check, Hook keeper, and tip top.
To look something like a factory build use dark blue thread with blue metallic trim.

Couple vendors to look at would be
http;//www.acidrod.com/

http://www.mudhole.com/

http://www.jsflyfishing.com/

Angler Workshop listed above is good as well
http://www.anglersworkshop.com/

Enjoy the build.
Jon