Finishing Touches
Now for All the Pretty
Tip and butt blanks are done and ready for the tedious process of bringing my rod to life, adding varnish, rod guides and grip.
I varnish rod blanks with two coats of petroleum-based spar varnish (after, unfortunately, using water-based varnish for the first 32 rods). Petroleum-based spar varnish is the real deal and gives a much harder and glossier finish. Adding Penatrol to the varnish eliminates ripples and penetrates the varnish into wraps and guides. I WET-sand the first two coats with 2000 grit paper. Blanks get one last dip of varnish over all the wrapped guides and ferrules.
At first I attempted brushing the varnish on but only got drips, streaks, runs and bubbles. Came across yet another Rube Goldberg device that fixes this issue. Got a rotissery motor and rigged it up with a stand and simple pulley to sloooowly retract a rod section out of a PVC tube filled with petroleum-based spar varnish. Works like a charm.
Snake Guides
I've really gone down the rabbit hole now and am making my own snake guides with an Art LeClair Snake Maker. I touch up guide feet with a Dremel to create a flat base on guides for wrapping.
I hand wrap the snake guides, agate stripping guide, tip-top guide, and Rush River Rods for ferrules with Pearsalls and UTC silk thread.
Personal Preference
Looking for a way to set my rods apart aesthetically from the teeming masses I discovered enameling on copper. I create very liberal interpretations of fishy patterns on the slide band reel seats and keepers. Maybe not the traditional presentations Garrison might have approved but then WTF!
The reel seats and slide bands are 5/8" and 3/4" copper pipe caps finished with Thompson Enamels. Enamel comes in powder form sprinkled onto the metal then fused with a 3750° Map-Pro Gas blowtorch. Fun.
I use a variety of assorted exotic woods for the reel handles: Buckey Burl, Cocobolo, Bocote, Bubinga, Padauk, Madrone Burl, Afzelia Burl, Spalted Tamarind, etc. Lathe turning from 1" and 1-1/2" square stock.
