pemmel,

Welcome to the Fiberglass Flyrodders! It's nice that you decided to join in!

I have a Steffen 8 foot, 3 piece, 3/4 weight that I am working on. I'm not the world's best rod builder, but at least I'm slow! Which blank did you buy from Mark?

I don't think I've ever seen suggested guide spacing for a 5'6" fly rod before. I would start with the generic Fly Fisherman spacing chart. Use the spacing for the 6'6" rod, but leave off the guide at 45". Mount the guides with tape at the suggested locations and do a static test to see if they match the flex of the rod. Move them until you think they look good, then take it for a test cast. If everything is still good, wrap and finish the guides.

Tom

welcome pemmel. glad to see you've gone legit and joined us officially. ya, the slower action rods do have their attraction. let us know how that build goes. with pix! take care.
-mike

Thanks for the welcome.

Tom,
I have the same Steffen Brothers blank coming that you are building. It is suppose to ship either late last week or later this week. All depends on when Mark finishes her up. In the mean time I'll work on the 5'6" Glass and a few Bamboo builds. Really like the look of a Steffen Brothers blank. It should make for a nice retro looking build. Eventually I hope to build a Steffen Bros., Mcfarland and a Tom Morgan. I have seen pictures of the Tom Morgan blank and they are beautiful. The McFarlands have a show room finish on them also. Still waiting to see pictures of a McFarland a friend just finished up.

Darrin,
Good to see you on the forum. Didn't I read that you are going to build a Lamiglas? We gotta get those plastic rods out of your hands. Glass and Boo are the way to go. They really make for a nice relaxing day. Just remember to slow everything down.

Pete

Darrin

Which blank did you get? The Traditional Honey or the Spring Creek? Bill did up a great looking retro looking Traditional Honey for the rod swap last year.

CA on cork? I figured it would finish too hard for cork and end up cracking. Shows what I know. You can PM me the details on the other forum. Don't need to bother these guys with my addiction.
Pete

Darrin, most of my cork grips are Tru- Oiled. I wet sand after each coat with 600 grit, wipe down and rub in another. Usually 6 or so coats. After about a week, I go over it with steel wool. Knocks down the sheen so it's a nice color and protected. With todays cork, I don't want any filler falling out and have to re do it later.
Past couple years though, I make rattan grips. Better looking in my opinion and great feel.

Thanks for the feedback on the TruOil finish, Mojorising. The only grips with a finish at all like that, that I have handled, are the ones that Terry Henson makes with CA. Those are very cool in that you can feel all the texture of the burl cork.

Pemmel,
Welcome. Don't build but like reading threads fm those who do. Learn quite a bit that way. While I don't build I do own a couple of McFarland's; one glass the other graphite. Love both. Sort of wondering what Steffen Bros. look like like to see what you do with your blank.