MHX custom built for Old School Pistol Grip handle

Yet another MHX  blank for this project. A 6-12lb 6'6" shorten roughly about 6" to accommodate the pistol grip to make the overall length of the rod at 6'6"

The aluminum ferrule was custom made to fit the blank and the design of the  follows the standard aluminum ferrule available in the market.

The butt of the blank fitted nicely to the ferrule. 

Testing fitting to the pistol grip

ALPS zirconium guides

Guide line up..

Black with metallic gold thread trimming

Wrapping at decal area

This will be another fun rod on the pistol grip....


( 2017-5 )

MHX Medium action spiral baitcasting rod

Another full cork rear handle rod in the making. Many prefers this kinda cork handle nowadays. I don't know why... maybe it's trending now. Why not EVA? Why cork? Is it better??  For all I know, it's still a very personal preference. Some love it and some don't...

Stacked cork ready to be latch..

Testing fitting the components before putting them together.

I have to make sure that all really fits well before epoxying them together.
Normal I will do this a few times , just to be sure.

These guides are from ALPS with zirconium rings. Had no problem with them for all the rods that I have built . Spiral guide placement.

 

EVA fore grip with MHX decal in the front.

Another closer look at the handle.

 

Overall view of the handle. Very simple.

 .....and finishing it off with a big M..............Matagi butt cap

Recycling PALMS

How often do you recycle parts from your broken rods? Hmmm.. Let me rephrase that question, how often do you break a rod? LOL... Some broken rods are worthy to have their components recycled and some don't.  I am sure you would not want to have a custom rod done up with the USED cheap low quality components.

Normally the guides and quik-lock can be savaged easily but reel seat and butt cap are case to case basis.

These are the guides savaged from the rod. The condition is still good despite of some dirt around the rings. After some soaking and brushing, it will look like brand new... at least from afar.    
                                                                   

All the components will be on this MHX blank.

I will try to retain its' original design as close as possible but using EVA foam handle. A new Fuji ACS reel seat with the old KDPS quik-lock from Palms.

Slight different at the butt section. I fixed a butt cap instead of the eva butt.

Putting it all together and it look something like the old design...

A new winding check in front of the fore grip.

The new decal for the new rod.

The guides up. Same number of guides used.

A full view handle of the completed rod.

ME's Andrew's + MATAGI baitcasting rod

Some old school look for this built up with Andrew's fishing burled wood insert and silver color hardware.

MHX light action blank rated 6-12lb 6'6" in length.

The pre-form cork rear handle comes in 10" length.

Then it was shorten to 7"

MATAGI butt cap

ALPS Titanium zirconium guides and you can rest assured that rust residue will not built up at the guide foot.

Fish weaving that I do occasionally...

After 3 layer of Thread Master epoxy coating

Guides wrapped pending epoxy

Done with the epoxy

Finished rod handle

Fish weaving with rod decal

Rod handle rear view

and full view of the rod...

AFM MHX 6'6" 8-14lb with a TWIST

They say "Start with the end in mind" is to imagine how would your built be when you have completed the rod. Is it going to be what you imagine it to be or it will be another disastrous built?

This is another MHX rod blank project, 6'6" 8-14lb , fast action medium power.
Tastefully selected Andrew's fishing reel seat and MATAGI butt cap.

Preform cork fore grip

Cork rings for rear handle.

Stacked, glued and ready to be shape.

Shaped cork handle pre-fitting

Trying some new weaving pattern. Not that perfect but I guess it should be okay.

Completed. But...

But, I guess not all fisherman liked weaving pattern on their rod and the weaving was removed.

The rod was finished with a simple and clean metallic wrapping at the fore grip.

Simple metallic wrapping to guides

Static load test to spiral guide wrapping for centralization and adjustment.

Final static load test before epoxy.

Epoxy done and cork handle are sealed with cork seal.

Epoxy to guide

For the grand finale, fixing up the butt cap.

Pending curing.

The outcome of the completed rod. I remembered doing a similar built some years ago. 

Hope to see the rod in action soon..