Never too early to plan for winter builds.
In August I committed to a special order 834-3 blank from a local blank maker. The bottom end components have been prepped and dry fit. Still sorting out complimentary thread colors. I had all other hardware in stock, including an original issue Struble U-20 dark nickel reel seat skeleton.
Update: Bottom end of this rod was bonded in place over the weekend, today I wrapped everything but the ferrule wraps.
Finished first project. Likes my Cortland 444 DT4 line out on the lawn.
Second project is a Kenney 824. Quite a bit to do here. Cork rings are glued up and inlet cut. REC nickel silver skeleton is on order but still need to turn and finish a couple reel seat inserts.
Third project came up. Black ********* blank from their CTS blank days. Three piece 864-3 blank (actual length was 8’5-1/8”) that I shortened to 8’3” (equal length sections). Gathering up components and have a nice Bubinga insert on hand.
Update: An upcoming seventeen day vacation has me proceeding with the second and third projects simultaneously. Yesterday I turned candidate reel seat inserts for these two projects and was able to get initial, about a dozen, oil-modified urethane applications done. The green dyed big leaf maple will now replace the previously selected Bubinga insert on the black CTS rod. Dark nickel hardware and green/black Jasper thread will be used on this rod.
I'm hoping to have the glued cork rings shaped into grips, and both bottom ends dry fit before vacation. Still waiting for reel seat skeletons for these rods to arrive in the mail.