[SmallieSam]

Thinking I may venture into rod making, but don't want to spend too much on my first attempt. Any opinions on who makes the best OEM blank and where I can get it?

[outdoorguy3]

Hook and Hackle come to mind.

Ralph ;D

[FlyChamps]

Smallie - go cheap for your 1st rod.

You can buy a Hook & Hackle Forecast kit for under $45 for the lighter weights without glues or finish, somewhat more with those items. I've built a 6'6" 4 piece 2wt and a 7'6" 4 piece 4wt and they fish fine.

I read somewhere that as you get to 6wt and above the Forecast blanks get heavy.

After your 1st rod you can decide if you wish to spend big money on a really good blank. My finish quality is decent and completely serviceable but if I'm going to spend big money on a blank I'm going to buy it factory finished for 2 reasons - 1st the finish will be nicer than I can do and 2d if it breaks they fix or replace. On a rod you build yourself they only replace the broken section or rod and you have to build it again.

[SmallieSam]

Thanks gents. I've looked at Hook and Hackle and they appear to have a lot of kits to choose from. Go cheap, I totally agree but what about Pacific Bay blanks? I believe that's who makes the Hook and Hackle Blank and Cabela's carries a kit at a good price. Can you approximate how much time I can expect on my first rod?

I actually want to build a 4 pc. 9'6" mod-fast action 7 wt. . .

[outdoorguy3]

The epoxy used for the reel seat and the wrap finshed used take the longest time.....for curing time.

Figure 24 hours for the reel seat and, handle another 24 hours, and another 24 hours for the wrap fisnish...24 hours at least for the wrap finish. Wrapping the guides on doesn't take too long at all once you get started. That is, if your satisfied with each wrap and after finished you don't decide to re-wrap one or more guides. If you can stay at, you should be able to finish the rod in three days. If you can't devote all your time to the rod figure four or five days and 7 days max.... just doing what you can each day.

That's just me. I usually take whatever time is needed and don't rush anything because I try not to have deadlines. When it's done, it's done. I may spend one night just reaming the handle out while I'm watching a football game on the tube. Can do the same while your filing the guide feet down. Then I may get two, three or four guides wrapped per sitting in the evenings....put it up and come back to it the next day or whenever I get back to it.
Putting the wrap fisnish doesn't take real long either...because you don't have that much time to work with the Flex Coat if that's what your using. The drying time takes the time.

Ralph ;D

[Rodbuilder]

FlyChamps was right about the Forecast blanks.....dollar for dollar they are an excellent value and a great place to start when just beginning but when you get to the higher line weights they may tend to feel a bit heavy. This is because they're made from standard graphite and most of us have become accustomed to and spoiled by the lighter weight graphites. The kits from Cabela's are also good. You might consider some of the other kits available from Hook & Hackle. The H&H kits from their own "house" brand blanks are very good. They are about IM6 (lighter than the Forecast) but won't cost a fortune. I think these blanks are produced by Batson. They also have kits from St Croix, Loomis, American Tackle and a few others. Some are not particuarly expensive.

Another one that I've become very fond of is Tiger Eye. They will remind you in both appearance and performance of the really good, high modulus blanks that Fenwick used to make when they were still in CA. I would expect that you could get a blank for something in the $35 - $40 range. Dan Craft Enterprises carries them. Dan Craft also has his own extremely good blanks; most of them will run +/- $100 dollars which is more than you might want to pay for a first rod but it will compare favorably to any blank by any manufacturer.

[mike_p]

Of the H&H "economy" blanks, I'd build on the H&H IM7 blanks. You won't be disappointed unless you're looking for a fast action rod. They are the Pac Bay Rainforest series. I've built on the Forecast, and H&H IM6 blanks in addition to the Rainforest. The Rainforest is by far (IMHO) a much better value. The H&H IM6 have a heavy swing weight.

[Rod_Wrapper]

Good suggestions on the blanks.

The best low cost value is the Batson IF series blanks. The best high cost value is the Batson RX8+ or RX7+.

Plan on spending 8-12 hours on your first rod.

Rod Wrapper

[Stuart_R]

I agree with H&H I built one on the IM6 blank a 9ft 8wt I love it. Casts really nice. I think for the $ it is really a nice deal. I looked the net over that decided on it. I am in the market for e 9ft 5wt now looking for a fast action not sure what I want.

STU

[KPOJ]

I was looking to build a 8 wt for bass and light saltwater. Is the H&H IM6 a better fit than the IM7? I do like a fast action rod, but need something to turn over heavy, bulky flies.

KPOJ