Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I like the way it looks!  I need to get out tomorrow.  Hopefully, not too many leaves.

I have had several st croix customs over the years and I can say the SCIV blanks are leaps and bound above the SCII.  Not only do they perform great but I absolutely love the cobalt blue color.  I have one that a friend built for me with a custom carbon fiber handle and a waeave of my name and a kayak paddle.  the sensetivity of that rod is unreal and you can feel a flounder fart from 10 feet away.  I have never fished the SCV and only have limited time fishing with the SCIII. At some point I plan on building myself a few more.

Last edited by pier_man0909 (Nov-09-16 5:28PM)

Way to go, George!  Looks like a winner.  I want to see it in action!

First rod I built was with a cardboard box w/ v-notches cut out on either side and a book as a thread tensioner.  I still don't own a power wrapper or have been to NC for the rod building show.

My advise is to start small and if the addiction hits, then move up.  I build just for me or a few select friends.  I wouldn't want to do this for $$

Power wrapper won't help much for drying because the RPM's to high

Get something with an RPM under 10 and you'll be good

I built my first one with a rotisserie motor from a grill - then shelled out the coin for a 'real' one

Here's a good thread on drying motors

http://rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,347032,347032

And here you see a company advertising a power wrapper & drying motor

http://www.americantackle.us/equipment.html

well, its on.  I found a great deal on a power wrapper/dryer and ordered it.  It came today.  I feel like a kid in a candy store.  I have another couple boxes of random supplies coming too that should be here thursday.  overall, I spent more money than I anticipated (and could afford) on equipment and supplies but I got a real good deal on everything so I feel its justified.  Once I get some money together Ill have to buy some blanks to build on.  I get laid off after christmas so ill have plenty of time to build over the winter.

Thanks.  There were some good black friday sales going on.  There werent really any kits on sale that I was looking to build so I took advantage of cheap supplies, tools, and equipment.  Have you built on any of there MHX blanks?  how do you like them?  Ive heard good things about them and was thinking about building a MB843 which sounds like a good all around blank.  Coming from a surf fishing background, I also want to build a CTS surf rod but it may be quite a while before I can do one of those.  at almost $400 just for the blank and crazy high shipping (9' tip section), it would be quite an expensive project.  especially considering I havent done any real surf fishing in the last few years that definately isnt the priority.  maybe ill get lucky and get a show discount on one of those blanks if I get to go.

I am quite fond of st croix myself.  they make excellent blanks.  Unfortunately, they are quite expensive.  a lot of the mhx were supposedly reverse engineered, or copied from g loomis blanks and are of very high quality as well.  I have never fished with a g loomis so I wouldnt know what to expect.  I dont think I will like them as much as st croix but im sure I will like them too and the lower price point will allow me to built more as "practice".

okay.  just a little update.  first build is underway.  I actually found a good deal on some rainshadow immortal blanks.  after doing a lot of research I found they were very well liked and from what I gather, they would be comparable to the st. croix scIV series.  I ordered 3 blanks to get started.  To be honest, they seem a little overpowered to me and not exactly what I was expecting.   regardless, they seem like really nice blanks.  I have my first handle built with winn grips and am waiting on a single trim ring for above the reelseat before I start wrapping guides.  that should be her monday.

Hope I get to show it to you with a thumbed smallie

Take some pix of the build & post them

pier_man0909 wrote:

I cant post pics on here.  I dont have a photobucket account.

There are other ways but I'm not sure how.

Send them to me by email.....