TW Vintage Shakespeare WONDEROD 1380 refurbishment.

This is another vintage fly rod refurb project. Some dirt on the rod, some paints around the guide wrapping came off and the cork grip are soiled, other than that the rod was kind of ... in a good condition.

The original condition of the rod.

 

 

 

 

 

Paints on the fiber wrappings are flaking off. The snake guides on this rod was rather small. Looks like a #2 all the way and that was for a 7wt line. I guess it would be okay for silk fly line.

 

 

 

 

Before and after the rejuvenation of the cork grip. A layer of cork seal was coated to the cork grip.

 

 

 

 

The original painting on the fiber wrapping and the thread wrapping. I tried to match the colors of the thread to the original paint as close as possible.

 

 

 

First coat of epoxy on the wrappings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finishing coat of epoxy on the wrappings.

 

 

 

 

 



The JOHNSON "Profile"

This rod is about to get the whole new handle...

The cork insert at the reel seat was removed.

The existing cork handle was sanded slightly before wrapping over with rattan

New section of cork insert was made for the reel seat.

The new reel seat inserted and a few coats of Spar polyutherane on the rattan grip.

There... DONE.