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Ken's Custom 7' 6" 4wt. - Rod Specs
 
Components  
Source
Cost (approx.)
Blank - Forecast Hook & Hackle $14 (sale)
Weight - 4 wt.    
Length - 7' 6"    
Pieces - 2    
Action - Fast    
Finish - Deep Gloss Navy Blue    
Modulus - 31 million    
 
Tip top - Pacific Bay Chrome Hook & Hackle $1
Guides - Pacific Bay Double Foot Snake Guides, Chrome Hook & Hackle $4.50
Stripper - Hiloy, Chrome Hook & Hackle  
Hookkeeper - Standard U, Chrome Hook & Hackle $0.25
Winding Check - Nickle Silver Hook & Hackle $3.50
 
Grip - Custom MP Turned Grip   $12.00
Burl Cork Natural Brown I disliked this vendor so 2
Burl Cork Red I won't be listing who or 11?
Cork AAA Grade Rings the price I paid. 2
 
Reel Seat - Titanium Carbide Uplocking Damon Rods $18
Reel Seat Insert - Mortised Angle Cut Bloodwood    
 
    Rough Component Cost - $53
 
Other Details      
Thread - Main Guide wraps utilized Gudebrod Nylon, Size A, in Garnet (0206) and Gudebrod Metallic, Size A, in Silver (9002). Buttwrap also useds Gudebrod Nylon, Size, in White (0002), Gray(0245), and Black (0001)
Color Preserver - U40 Color Lock
Finish - Flexcoat High Build    
       
Comments      
A pretty straightforward build that I put a lot of time into. Ken Follensbee and I worked together to pick out materials and colors and the result was definitely something Ken will enjoy for a long time.
 
Things I learned while building this rod

Well, lets see, this was my first grip turned on my new Ryobi Mini Lathe....the grips fit on a standard pen mandrel which works out great. Folks, if I haven't mentioned it before, do NOT buy a cheap, no-name lathe on eBay!

I also tried a neat idea on Ken's diamond wraps...I bordered two adjacent sides with black thread, one side with gray, and the other with white. The result was that the diamonds got a slight bit of "3D" shading added to them. Very subtle, but it is noticeable when you really look at it.

 
Pictures
This angle-cut bloodwood mortised reel seat by Damon Rods blows me away! Wow does the seat come together nicely with the custom turned red burl cork grip. A good closeup of Ken's winding check and hook keeper.
3D shadowing on the diamond wraps. This is how they look from the sides. The lower inscription on Ken's rod.
A good overview of the butt decoration on Ken's rod. The stripper guide Ferrule wrap
The Double Foot Snake Guides And finally, the tip top on Ken's Custom 4wt. Ken's First Fish on his first day out with this rod, a 20"+ rainbow!

 

 

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