New Fishing Rod Builder Tip - Guide Wrapping

When I first started building fishing rods, I worried about the 1st build and messing it up. This would waste a perfectly good rod blank right?

I wanted some way of practicing installing/gluing reel seats and wrapping guides. I read that some people would buy used fishing rods and strip them and then install reel seats and guides. There must be another way though????

So, I thought to myself...."what can I use that's shaped like a fishing rod?"

...than it came to me....a wooden dowel rod.

So, I bought 12 on Amazon.com. I got the 3/4" x 36". I think I paid maybe $15. This would give me 12 mini fishing rods to practice on without worrying about messing it up and ruining a good rod blank.

It's great to practice without worrying about a new rod blank. It's allows you to relax and try different techniques. I learned a lot using these dowel rods.

Installing reel seats was pretty straight forward and I didn't need much practice although I did learn how to wipe excess epoxy off of the reel seat and how to tape reel seats effectively. The real practice was with applying epoxy finish to the guide wraps and how much to use and how many coats is best.

2 thin coats of Flex Coat worked the best for me. It turned out crystal clear, smooth/even and with good depth. No bubbles at all.