DESIGNING YOUR RODBUILDING AREA

[FLATLINER]

Paul's post made me think back to when I was working in my basement when I was living at my parents house. I was new to building and at that time, and I was relegated to the Ping Pong table. All I wanted was my own space so that I didn't have to break down every time my Mom did the laundry!
Well, the years have passed and when I built my house, I was able to finally have my own room, custom built for rodbuilding. From advanced bright lighting to a 25' counter space to the guide grinding section to the label making section to the finishing station and then the packing station. It's all there!! Take a look, its a perfect setup for my building.

This is the guidefoot prep area with grinder, dremel and files

This is the main building and thread wrapping section




Blank storage to keep the blanks straight and out of the way

Foilfast printer to print 7 metallic colors for my rods


track lighting to keep my eyes from going bad

THIS ONE IS LENGTHWISE SODN THE TABLE. THE BED OF MY LATHER IS 15 FEET WITH A RENZETTI ON THE CLOSEST END.

4 banger rod dryer

Finish application section of the lathe complete with flexcoat slip clutch for easy application and maneuvering of the blank.


Grip/unibutt assembly area and final prep area for shipping

THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE FINISHING SECTION

ANYONE HAVE A SPOOL OF THREAD I CAN USE???

THE BASEMENT HAS THE TURNING LATHE AND THE CLEMENS LATHE THAT I USE TO TURN MY GAFFS WHEN I APPLY FINISH TO THE GAFF HANDLES, DRILL PRESS, TABLESAW FOR THE CUTTING OF BLANKS AND THE DRILL PRESS.
Well, Thats my shop.

Why don't y'all post up yours so that we can all get some ideas as to how we can better set our shops up?

Kevin Knox

[BYRD]

NICE!! That is a great set up. I like the rod blank storage area. I may have to incorporate something like that in my shop. Right now I have a milk crate full of PVC and the blanks are placed in PVC based on size and then style. Great pics Kevin!! See you at the ICRBE!

[WAHOONBOX]

WOW......I'M IMPRESSED. LOOKS DUST FREE TO ME....


FINALLY, A ROD BUILDER WHO ACTUALLY BUILDS HIS OWN RODS! NO THAT'S A CHANGE.... NO WANNA-BE HERE SUBBING RODS OUT TO OTHER BUILDERS THAT'S FOR CERTAIN! ....ALL IN HOUSE CUSTOMS !!! Angler's Envy....THESE SHOTS REMIND ME OF BACK IN THE DAY WITH ERIC CLAPTON AND CREAM .......IN DA WHITE ROOM, WITH BLACK CURTAIN.......


HAVE ANY SURGEONS EVER ASKED TO PERFORM ANY OPERATIONS IN YOUR OR?


ROD ON DUDE....I MEAN ROCK ON DUDE.

BOX

[paul708]

WOW......I'M IMPRESSED. LOOKS DUST FREE TO ME....


FINALLY, A ROD BUILDER WHO ACTUALLY BUILDS HIS OWN RODS! NO THAT'S A CHANGE.... NO WANNA-BE HERE SUBBING RODS OUT TO OTHER BUILDERS THAT'S FOR CERTAIN! ....ALL IN HOUSE CUSTOMS !!! Angler's Envy....THESE SHOTS REMIND ME OF BACK IN THE DAY WITH ERIC CLAPTON AND CREAM .......IN DA WHITE ROOM, WITH BLACK CURTAIN.......


HAVE ANY SURGEONS EVER ASKED TO PERFORM ANY OPERATIONS IN YOUR OR?


ROD ON DUDE....I MEAN ROCK ON DUDE.

BOX

dust free for sure.

nice room kevin.

i can never seem to get all the threads up

i got those blanks for you if you still want them
and we are expectin a few new new blanks to test.
if you are interested let me know.
i keep meaning to call.

[FLATLINER]

Thanks guys! Yeah Box, no subbin in my plans. I take a lot of pride in my work and I enjoy doing it and also have the time. So, Build on, I will!!! Your Beast stick is on the lathe now. Its gonna be right! I hope your line can handle this stick. Heck, its not a stick, its the trunk!!!!

Paul,
I got that broomstick, I mean, blank. Its in the pack of pic 13 against the wall. Its being built and finished tonite. Its a BEAST!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin

[paul708]

Thanks guys! Yeah Box, no subbin in my plans. I take a lot of pride in my work and I enjoy doing it and also have the time. So, Build on, I will!!! Your Beast stick is on the lathe now. Its gonna be right! I hope your line can handle this stick. Heck, its not a stick, its the trunk!!!!

Paul,
I got that broomstick, I mean, blank. Its in the pack of pic 13 against the wall. Its being built and finished tonite. Its a BEAST!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin

i though you wanted 3 blanks?
oh well. no problem.
i guess i will do something with them

[FLATLINER]

i though you wanted 3 blanks?
oh well. no problem.
i guess i will do something with them

Yeah, 1 to go out the door and 2 to go up on the rack

[canyongear]

Wait till you see what Kevin's building for our trip to MHC...a couple custom 80# rods tweeked just for GBT. Pics to follow next week, hopefully bent over and screamin'. What better place to test the new WT Express guides out..for the new mid range rod line.

[FLATLINER]

dust free for sure.

nice room kevin.

i can never seem to get all the threads up

i got those blanks for you if you still want them
and we are expectin a few new new blanks to test.
if you are interested let me know.
i keep meaning to call.

Yes. Dust free, dirt free. I have special HEPA filters on all of the air vents that go into the room. Also, since it is a room in the house, no PLEDGE is allowed on the railings that go upstairs or any furniture on the second floor of the house.

Between builds, I actually clean everything up and vacuum the tabletop and floor to keep everything clean. I am doing alot of rods each week so its sometimes a pain, but worth it. I realized back in the 80's that I was spending more time looking for a tool than actually building, and it really pisses me off when I have a need for a tool, I start searching while keeping one hand on the rod to hold something in place, can't find it, get pissed off and take my hand off and then have to back up and redo whatever I was doing. So, to me, its worth the little time that I take to clean up, get a fresh start and start off the next build on the right foot.

Also, the quickest way to get contaminants on surfaces is to not clean regularly. BOX jokes about the OR appearance, but everything is actually cleaned with denatured alcohol on a monthly basis.
I believe that the appearance of finish is the most important thing, next to construction fundamentals and quality components. You can have the best built house, but if the drywaller is on the sauce and it looks like crap, then the house will be looked at poorly. The same goes for fishing rods. If all of the fundamentals are sound in construction and then you have dust or dirt in the finish, the overall appearance will be looked at as second rate.
Paul, you can send me any blanks that you want tested. I know a few people that will put them through the paces out there, me being one!! I will be more than happy to test them out. Of course, since I am building them and putting them out there, the price will have to be right. Im just a call away.

Kevin