Just a question for you guys that build your own rods. Where do you normally source your blanks? I've only been building fly rods for a short while but I tend to get my blanks in the USA. Sometimes of e-bay but sometimes direct.
Is it worthwhile financially to build a blank bought in Ireland or the UK? Can you even buy blanks in Ireland?
Kev
Rod Blanks
Moderator: donal domeney
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Rockhopper
Kev,
Just come across your post.
To my knowledge your not going to get a rod blank in Ireland, I dont know anyone who sells them. I hope more people take up rod building, its not hard and the more who do it, will give other the incentive to try it. The cost is a little less, but for me, thats not the reason I build my own, I like doing it and to use a rod built by me, givees me that bit more pleasure.
The number one blank for beachcasting has got to be Zziplex IMHO, then Cono-Flex, Century or Harrison...the problem you will have in Ireland, is the freight charges.....It cost me £37.00 to get one or 4 rod blanks over from England...that must be the same with the other makers too, because thats nothing to do the the maker, its the Freight companies charge.
All of the materials I need for building, I either get from Hopkins & Hollaway in England or Mudhole in Florida.
I know if the anglers showed enough interest to the tackle shops, one of them if not more may take the chance and stock some blanks along with some building materials. then the cost would come down some.
If anyone wants any info on rod building...please feel free to PM me... :)
Tom.
Just come across your post.
To my knowledge your not going to get a rod blank in Ireland, I dont know anyone who sells them. I hope more people take up rod building, its not hard and the more who do it, will give other the incentive to try it. The cost is a little less, but for me, thats not the reason I build my own, I like doing it and to use a rod built by me, givees me that bit more pleasure.
The number one blank for beachcasting has got to be Zziplex IMHO, then Cono-Flex, Century or Harrison...the problem you will have in Ireland, is the freight charges.....It cost me £37.00 to get one or 4 rod blanks over from England...that must be the same with the other makers too, because thats nothing to do the the maker, its the Freight companies charge.
All of the materials I need for building, I either get from Hopkins & Hollaway in England or Mudhole in Florida.
I know if the anglers showed enough interest to the tackle shops, one of them if not more may take the chance and stock some blanks along with some building materials. then the cost would come down some.
If anyone wants any info on rod building...please feel free to PM me... :)
Tom.
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Cheers Tom,
I was pretty much thinking the same. I get most of my bits from mudhole as well. Like you say, it's a little less expensive but that's not the reason. I also like that you can pretty much customize your rod.
I'm just working on a nice 9' 6" 6 weight fly rod at the moment.
My next project will be a Lamiglass 9' 9wt salt water rod
I would love to build a nice match beachcasting rod but at the moment I just wouldn't be 100% sure. Maybe before the end of the year.
Kev
I was pretty much thinking the same. I get most of my bits from mudhole as well. Like you say, it's a little less expensive but that's not the reason. I also like that you can pretty much customize your rod.
I'm just working on a nice 9' 6" 6 weight fly rod at the moment.
My next project will be a Lamiglass 9' 9wt salt water rod
I would love to build a nice match beachcasting rod but at the moment I just wouldn't be 100% sure. Maybe before the end of the year.
Kev
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Rockhopper
Kev,
Lamiglass 8) here's a one for the book :lol: :lol: :lol:
Last year when I was in Mudhole, they had a Lamiglass one piece 13ft tapered from butt to tip beachcaster blank. The taper was so severe you would need to pack out the top of the reel seat to make it fit. A pure monster of a blank...and they sell many of them, talk about ugly stick :(
Tom.
Lamiglass 8) here's a one for the book :lol: :lol: :lol:
Last year when I was in Mudhole, they had a Lamiglass one piece 13ft tapered from butt to tip beachcaster blank. The taper was so severe you would need to pack out the top of the reel seat to make it fit. A pure monster of a blank...and they sell many of them, talk about ugly stick :(
Tom.