01-26-2011, 12:55 PM
Your post is fine right here, just so you know. You could have also stuck it in the fishing tackle and tips section, but you'll get more attention here.
Antique reels..... I seriously doubt you'll find an older reel with similar internal workings as a more modern reel. I know i've got a bunch of old Penns, and an old Mitchell Garcia (yep, mitchell garcia), that are very old and still very functional. I do know, however, that Abu Garcia has a bunch of vintage bait casting reels around, and would start there. Ebay, fishingcollectables.com, and a few other places are where i'd start. Probably cost you around 50 bucks or so, for one in decent condition. You may find the aluminum covers challenging to refinish, just a heads up....
If you're going to do a rod, spend the money, which won't be much, and get one of those rod spinning gadgets that you plug in. That way, you can roll the eyelets easier, and when it's time to hit them with epoxy, you're not stuck there for an hour spinning the rod by hand. You have to continuously spin the rod when epoxy is applied to insure the finished product is nice and smooth. You may find Bamboo challenging to do unless you can find a perfectly strait one, but it would look really cool when you were done. Bamboo take paint really well, as I found out recently when my oldest son made a frog gig out of a piece and painted it up. Make sure you use the proper paint, or it will crack the first time the rod flexes. the challenge will be the reel seat, but i'm sure you've got a plan for that.
Most of all, have fun and keep us updated on your progress. Sounds like a cool project. If you're successful, maybe i'll make my own bamboo rod.
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Antique reels..... I seriously doubt you'll find an older reel with similar internal workings as a more modern reel. I know i've got a bunch of old Penns, and an old Mitchell Garcia (yep, mitchell garcia), that are very old and still very functional. I do know, however, that Abu Garcia has a bunch of vintage bait casting reels around, and would start there. Ebay, fishingcollectables.com, and a few other places are where i'd start. Probably cost you around 50 bucks or so, for one in decent condition. You may find the aluminum covers challenging to refinish, just a heads up....
If you're going to do a rod, spend the money, which won't be much, and get one of those rod spinning gadgets that you plug in. That way, you can roll the eyelets easier, and when it's time to hit them with epoxy, you're not stuck there for an hour spinning the rod by hand. You have to continuously spin the rod when epoxy is applied to insure the finished product is nice and smooth. You may find Bamboo challenging to do unless you can find a perfectly strait one, but it would look really cool when you were done. Bamboo take paint really well, as I found out recently when my oldest son made a frog gig out of a piece and painted it up. Make sure you use the proper paint, or it will crack the first time the rod flexes. the challenge will be the reel seat, but i'm sure you've got a plan for that.
Most of all, have fun and keep us updated on your progress. Sounds like a cool project. If you're successful, maybe i'll make my own bamboo rod.
[signature]