United Composite 5'6" 4-10lb midget

This is the 9th rod for 2016... It's already the beginning of the 2nd half of 2016 and I guess I am slightly behind target. :)

The blank used for this rod is from United Composite, it is 5'6" in length rated at 4-10 pound. Custom built to be a single hand casting rod with cork grip split handle.

I have never tried doing a split handle for single hand casting grip as it is only around 5" long but no harm trying.

Fuji skeleton trigger reel seat with aluminum insert and screw from Matagi.

Done with the little fighting butt and on with the rear grip.

MATAGI butt cap

Lathed rear cork grip

Fitting the handle

Fuji guide setting

Trying out the new Fuji titanium RV guide. It was said to have a faster and smoother line control when casting. It is very light and perfectly sized to work with any low profile bait casting reel.

After epoxy.

Guides layout

And for the fine touch... as usual I will apply the cork seal to the cork handle.

A photo showing before and after the Cork Seal was applied to the cork handle.
You will not see much difference aesthetically and it feels the same too, but it gives you better protection to the cork handle and prolong its' life span.

It took about 6 weeks to complete this, hope its' owner is happy about having his ideas turning into reality.

Rebuilding the Techna "Japanese" AV

A hot and steamy rod rebuilding story... LOL .. just for the name's sake.

It's other rod rebuilding to give a new lease of life to a old custom built rod from a Techna AV blank.

Started the stripping process...

Hard labor...

Everything was stripped down until the reel seat.
The rod will have all new components expect the reel seat and a set of recycle Fuji titanium SiC guides.

A new Fuji graphite winding check to sealed up the reel seat opening which was only covered with EVA and a metallic thread wrapping to finish off the unfinish part.

The new split cork handle with aluminum spacer and rubberised butt cap.

Recycle Fuji Titanium SiC guides in spiral placement half way done..

Guides done..

Matching color to the existing wrapping in burgundy and that wraps it up.
Another project accomplished.

TITAN JIGGING special rod 6' PE1-3

I have built several jigging blank and this is one of the few.

This Titan jigging special is from Phenix. PE rated 1-3.
The components and Fuji K-guides used.

Handle test fitting.

Under lay wrapping and wrapping of K-guide

Wrapping of guides

Fixing rod decal

Epoxy to rod

MHX Cockle Rod

This blank is similar to my sample blank for my own custom rod. 6'6" of length and rated at 4-8lb 2 section.

My friend called this a "cockle shell" rod because of the abalone shell used for the split butt section exposed blank.

Parts for the rod

Arrangement

Abalone deco to exposed blank at split butt.

Test fitting before epoxy

Sky blue thread with titanium trim at the center.

Guides done

On the drying jig after epoxy

Wrapping after epoxy

MGX mounted on the rod...

Medium Duty St Croix BC rod

It has been always ultra light and light rods.... but this time round, I have a medium St Croix blank to play with.

A 6'6" St Croix SC2 medium power fast action blank is up for built.

Initial design setup on paper. But that is just a preliminary design and it often ended up differently at the end of the process.

Then the actual set up take place. Measurement of handle and grips marked.

KDPS quick lock carbon printed on the hood with extended carbon tube.

                                        

Fuji Reel seat with internal poly urethane arbor

Fixing up reel seat and pipe winding check to the blank

Test fitting rod handle setting before gluing up.

This is what I was talking about, variation order.  Additional aluminum tubing to the exposed blank at the split grip section. 

The new look.

Inserted the foregrip and wrapping to the guides

And straight to the drying jig for epoxy..... after 24 hours