Hello
Well we are off and running on S102M Below you will see photo's of the rod with it's apparent issues.
For those of you whom are new to my pictorials I will post pictures and give a brief explanation.
I will wait for questions and or comments before I post the next installment of pictures.
So if you have any questions please feel free to ask them.
I hope everyone enjoys this and It lives up to Steve's expectations!
Tight Lines and S102M Loops
Andy M

Andy-

You have my attention. Can't wait to see this one take shape.

We are breaking the 70 degree marker here in Minnesota tomorrow. May be musky season early this year!

Doug R.

Hello
Thanks fellas great to have you on board for this ride! I hope more jump on as we progress.
Let me point out a few things here as we start this site seeing tour.

In the first picture up above please see what happens to guide wraps that are finished with varnish on glass rods over time.
Notice the finish cracking and thread bunching over the loose guide feet,see the tarnish on the first guide as well that is from the water getting under the guide foot you will see more of the results from this condition in the next grouping of pictures.

In the 2nd picture you can see the same cause and effect just not as pronounced.

In the 3rd picture we have the male spigot ferrule missing we will get back to this later on as well.

In picture #4 that was suppose to show the female ferrule crack sorry for the poor picture.
One thing about me I will warn you about is that my photo skills stink, I don't have the time to take mutable pictures and photo shop and primp them so you get what I shoot the first time period.

Picks #5 = 9 all show the same poor quality thread finish with the same result of loose guides and bunched thread from the guides shifting up and down the blank during the flex.
Also look at the lengths of the factory wraps they are not uniform this was also true with Joe's system 10.
His S10 rod was a 2 tip rod and the spacing was different on both the joke was they rolled the dice to decide where they went on the blank.
The same has been true of every system rod I have ever repaired.

Picture #10 look up inside you can see the lip of the butt end of the blank up in there by 2".
This is strange the first System rod I saw this way, maybe the former owner made a fighting butt that fit up in there not sure but that's my guess.
That's actually a good thing and will work to my advantage.
This will save me some time as we are not replacing the grip or reel seat on this rod unless someone wants to make a project donation?
This rod is one of 5 rods that I am putting up for Doug, this ones his so he has to make some sacrifices and actually the originals are fine so no need to up grade them anyways.

The last picture is just a butt picture we all like pictures of butts right?

Actually I just got a new computer so I can use the bulk up load button now and this was my first stab at it.

The next bunch of photo's are going to be very reveling so I will do my best to get them up tonight.

Tight Lines and Reveling Butt Pictured Loops
Andy M

When you say this result is partially due to thread tension do you mean overly tight, overly loose wraps, or either?

Hello
What happens as I see it is as the thread finish degrades it allows the thread to become loose hence the thread then looses its original tension allowing the guide to shift during the flexing of the blank.
The guide then rubs too and fro against the blank abrading the blank.

I have also seen cases where the rod guide was wrapped with to loose of thread tension to begin with then allowing the guide free movement that results in finish compromise leading to blank damage under the guide feet.

It the old days we saw lots of rods with under wraps these were not merely decorative, the under wraps purpose was to protect the blank under the guide feet.

I have also seen guide feet break off at the root of the foot, this is usually due to poor quality guides being exposed to moisture by compromised thread finish.
The moisture stays under the thread and rusts the guide foot or in the case of silk rots the silk or both.

As I have stated I really don't want this presentation to turn into another Thread and Finish Topic.
We have had so very many of those here already and they seldom solve anything, people will wrap and finish as they prefer and that's fine.

I'm just pointing out the issues with this rod and others I have encountered in the past.
I will show everyone how I deal with the problems with this rod, everyone is free to take my advise or not that's for them to decide.

I love the look of Varnish finished thread be it silk or nylon, as long as the tension is right to begin with and the wraps are maintained,over coated with additional coats of finish as a preventative measure when needed they are little trouble.
I make a few bamboo rods, I use varnish on my wraps ,in my bamboo rod care guide as well as my fiberglass and graphite rod care guides l recommend you inspect your wraps often and over coat the finish at the first sign of problems.
If this rod and all the others out there were maintained they would have few issues, the biggest problem is too few fisherman maintain there rods as is recommended.

Tight Lines and Maintain Them Loops
Andy M

PS
I spent 10 hours working making the reel seat extensions,re setting the male ferrule etc etc today.

When I am certain everyone has had a chance to ask questions or make comments on the last segment I will post the next.

Hello
Doug thanks it's always my pleasure to serve you and yours!

Doug and I went over the action plan for this rod a while back Doug was very specific about what the rods new intended use would be a "Muskie Rod" mainly but also a rod that could be used for other species.
His fishing pals made the mistake of telling him that Fiberglass was not a suitable platform from which to fish Muskie.
I hope they are accustom to the taste of Crow

Saved the S10 for last because I knew it was going to be at least week long project.
Cleared my bench of all other work beforehand.

As you can see all of you including Doug are seeing it here first that should give you an idea of how COOL of a guy/ family he and his tribe are to work for!

I will load the next segment then get back to the bench as you are getting this practically in real time.

Tight Lines and Muskie Loops
Andy M

WOW! Thanks so much for all that detail! I learned a lot just then.

Andy,

Thank you! The pictures are great and very clear and for the most part self explanatory. That was probably the most enjoyable post I have seen on the site to date. What exactly is the fabric looking material? In an existing old aluminum reel seat what would be the best method of adding a removable fighting butt if there wasn't one to begin with, specifically on an older Lamiglas S-Glass rod that has a rubber plug in the end? I am a little nervous about removing the rubber plug after observing the rubber winding check completely fall apart from age when I removed it.

Hello
Well it's Monday morning so back to work on the System 10.
Edited the last segment this morning and removed all the doubles thanks for your patients.
Below you will see how I address the deep abrasions in the blank.
The first coarse of action is to remove the residue from the old varnish thread finish I start with coarse paper to remove all the high spots then 400 grit next is sanding/polishing cloth.
You will see the crazy glue being applied to the deeply effected area only then sanded down and polished again before application of the first of 2 coats of Perma Gloss.
For Perma Gloss I like to use my finger to even out the material, it just works best for me no drips or brush marks.
Tight Lines and Crazy Glued Loops
Andy M

Andy, this is an amazing thread. So much to learn here. The pictures are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Hello
The rod is progressing along rather well if I do say so myself.
In this segment you will see guide preparation, the guide placement process, preparation of the transition from the blank to the guide foot repair areas,the wrapping process, the application of the first coat of three of color preserver.
Tight Lines and Wrapped Loops
Andy M

Andy,
Was that actually a second wrap layer of the brown thread on top of the first? That rod is looking good and looks like it will last a lifetime this time around.
DT

Do you put epoxy on the initial wraps before wrapping a second time, I assume color preserver on the first wrap would be pointless.