Here are some pictures of a 6' 3# I've built up. The blank is a Sevier Tiger eye full flex 4 piece blank, bought from Dan Craft. The handle I made myself after knocking up a drill lathe jig, the rings came from Solway Components and are burnt burl and CG3 natural rings. The reel seat is a Harrison's seat with a pistachio insert. Thread in chestnut Gudebrod with no CP and Sulky light copper trims. Rings are standard American pattern chrome snakes and an aluminium alconite three leg chrome stripper. I've enjoyed making this and wouldn't hesitate recommending anyone to have a go. Any comments appreciated and any questions welcome.

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"Water is peculiar stuff. It circulates mysteriously, rising invisibly from the sea as vapour, forming clouds, falling as rain, creating streams and rivers that return again to the sea. You can swallow it in sips, but it can swallow you whole if you fall into a deep place. You can't catch hold of it, but it can catch hold of you, even if you just look at it."

Lovely rod built to your own needs/specs ,well done and enjoy it Sc,
Corky

Great job SC,
Scott at Solway and Steve of Harrisons are great guys who are never too busy to help.
Top Conker

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Used to be an angry young man, now I'm an angry old man.

You can bomb people into pieces but you cant bomb them into peace.

how much ££ ???? id buy it seriously , what did it cost you to make ? just looking at this post i fancey having a go

Well, the blank cost £20 plus the same again in postage and the same again customs although I did buy two blanks at the same time. Reel seat £15, cork for the handle about £15, about £5 for the rod rings, £5 for both threads and two lots of epoxy for the handle, reel seat and thread wraps £15. Plus I spent another £100+ on wood for the drill lathe jig, thread wrapper and a few tools and the rod turner was £25.

If you want to build a rod because you think it would be cheaper, don't bother!! It's cheaper to buy one, but much more fun and satisfying to build one yourself.

Thanks for your comments guys, next one is a 9' 5# with future plans for a 7'6" 4#, a 8'6" 4# and a 9' 9#. And i'm going to be really sad and have them matching.Then I might stop!!

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"Water is peculiar stuff. It circulates mysteriously, rising invisibly from the sea as vapour, forming clouds, falling as rain, creating streams and rivers that return again to the sea. You can swallow it in sips, but it can swallow you whole if you fall into a deep place. You can't catch hold of it, but it can catch hold of you, even if you just look at it."

Two cynical comments

i) A £20 Blank - looks like a 'gold handles on a plastic coffin job'
ii) My what strange hands you have !!

Seriously , the build is excellent as is the gingerbreading but why bother on an intrinsically nasty Chinese or Korean Blank ? Better to do a worse job on a seriously worthwhile blank .

The blank is the rod - the hang on bits aren't !

Best wishes

Steve P

Because Harrisons don't do any rods less than 7'6" as you said yourself, would you have me chop a foot and a half off the end?

Is it strange that it's comfortable and fits well? I made the handle half an inch shorter than normal, as it's a short rod I thought it would look more in proportion. Thats the beauty of custom rod building isn't it? Also whats wrong with the handle?

And Steve what is gingerbreading?

Ben

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"Water is peculiar stuff. It circulates mysteriously, rising invisibly from the sea as vapour, forming clouds, falling as rain, creating streams and rivers that return again to the sea. You can swallow it in sips, but it can swallow you whole if you fall into a deep place. You can't catch hold of it, but it can catch hold of you, even if you just look at it."

Steve, you can't say that.........Hardy make some ok rod's.....

Seriously though i hear the Tiger eye blanks make nice rods, maybe not the lightest, maybe not the flashyest and certainly not british but plenty of people seem to enjoy fishing them. You can't keep knocking non british blanks/rods...the world is full of them and some of them are quite good!


Great job Ben i hope you enjoy fishing it!!


Trev

Thanks Trev. At present the blank fits the bill, when I've got a bit more money floating around I will probably step up a gear or two. It doesn't come out too heavy, it weighs just over two ounces. It's light in my hand which I guess is what counts.

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"Water is peculiar stuff. It circulates mysteriously, rising invisibly from the sea as vapour, forming clouds, falling as rain, creating streams and rivers that return again to the sea. You can swallow it in sips, but it can swallow you whole if you fall into a deep place. You can't catch hold of it, but it can catch hold of you, even if you just look at it."

Harrisons do a 7ft 3/4wt.

I had one built last year that i passed onto a mate of mine. Lovely little stick avail in the usual choice of Harrison colors etc.