Fly rod and Rod tube winter project

Thanks for the kind words guys; from where you sit; it probably looks like i know what im doing.

Still waiting for materials; today i finished the last two things i could. Knowing i wanted a way to identify the reel i pulled out my electro/chem etching machine; which hasn’t been used in ages and dug thru the stencils looking for something remotely applicable. Lo an behold, i had an “Alaskan Super Grade” and by removing Grade it fit well. I guess going forward this reel will be my “Alaskan Super”. It’s not entirely suitable as the name would lead you to believe this was a King Salmon reel; actually it’s only a lowly 3/4wt. Reel! But it looks cool and that’s all that really matters!
Then on to the Ratchet knob. (spool to Americano’s) The J.W Young 3 panel grip knob is hand’s down the most comfortable IMO and no self respecting Pirate would leave the good stuff behind, so I used Delrin for mine.

Today i finished up the hardware that makes the crank knob complete now. Probably don’t look like much but at 74 those threads look pretty small while single pointing them on the Lathe. I also put the spool billet in the lathe and roughed quite a bit of stock off. It can set a day or so incase there’s any internal stress squirming around in there trying to get out!
For perspective that first screw that looks like a “plow bolt”, is only a 10/32!
Im still having fun. I’ll move over to the Mill and slot those 2 round head screws tomorrow.

A decent fly rod is worth protecting. Years ago I bought an Eagle Claw combo rod for spinning and fly fishing. It has short sections and came with an aluminum case. It is a crummy rod but I have taken on the back of horses and mules, down the Grand Canyon, and on plenty of canoe trips. The fishing can be spectacular out where other people rarely go, and that rod has always been there. I have a fancy fly rod that I use for day trips and in power boats and the drift boat, but some of the best fishing experiences of my life have been with that old crummy Eagle Claw rod.

One of the best was wading in shorts in a big creek in the Sierra Nevada mountains on a pack trip. I had some beat up flies a friend tied for me. I was catching golden trout every third cast for about an hour. There was no one around. The fish were only the size of brook trout. I put them all back, but it was maybe the best day of fishing in a life of fishing.

Like ppine’s Eagle Claw combo fishing rod, I have an old fiberglass Fenwick combo rod that went all over Alaska when I was a young man. It even went to Japan with me so I could fill out my life list of all of the Pacific salmon species.
Since I retired with time to do it , I have bought a S-type fiberglass, graphite and bamboo fly rod blanks. Plus the Tennessee handle grips and rings, guides, threads and finishing coatings to build my own combo rods that are mainly used as fly specific rods. I know they are functionally better than the old Fenwick rod, but don’t provoke all the great memories that the old rod brings back to me whenever I see it.
……..BB

Rods i’ve built or repaired always seem to find their way into the “favorite category”.

Had a pretty good day today but had to cut it short to start on an Ebony mouthpiece for a friends Alphorn.

The spool is staying absolutely true so i finished the outside profile and the bushing bore. On the crank side i still have the latch recess and mill work, on the opposite side some turning to accept the check gear.

That ugly packing follower will provide the material for my line guard.

That ugly packing nut cleaned up fine and will make nice line guards, however i had to buy a smaller corner rounding mill so the guard will get screwed on later.
The latch recess in the spool is done as is the latch cover. It was left on the stump for easy holding in the mill.

the Alphorn mouthpiece is done too And makes noise, which is good i guess? Now my buddy can give the Ricolla cough drop guy some competition!

Today’s focus was on some of the small spool parts.
The pictures show where i started and how i ended up. It seems like the farther i go the more little things i need, tooling components; longer 3-48 screws etc, and being the holidays my progress will come to a halt directly while i wait for the mail. Once the last of the machine work is done there’s gonna be some butt time while i wait for the spool and frame to be Anodized.
No problem, im still having fun and it will certainly get fished this spring!

If you don’t hear from me for a couple days, you folks have a Merry Christmas!
Mike

Today was a good day!
The bushing end of the shaft was machined a little tight to the bushing then the O.D of the bushing was machined to a snug fit in the spool while it was still on the shaft; with the aid of double sided tape and a live center. This insures good concentricity once assembled. When everything comes back from the plater the bushing will be installed in the spool, which will make the shaft too tight. At assembly the shaft will be polished to a good running clearance.
The end of the shaft was machined to accept the retaining latch and a small recess was machined in the cage. Once the shaft’s done and assembled that little shoulder will be flush with the inside of the cage.

Once my parts reel shows up i can fit the check’s and springs then it will be ready for some color! While the cage and spool are at the plater i can take care of the remaining loose ends.

Really impressive. Beautiful work.

Bob

Thanks Bob, im having fun.

Today being Christmas eve i didn’t get too carried away but i did make a little progress! The shaft and it’s retaining bolt were finished and i made a dummy bushing (delrin) so i could mock up everything and check the latch function. Good thing i did because i needed to open it’s window of travel a skosh! That latch is one i pulled for the test, i’ll get a new one built before final assembly.