Recommended Reading
Between 40 and 45 custom rod builders either subscribe or renew to RodMaker Magazine each and every day – weekends included. A few will include a note or comment asking what back issue would be best for a new builder to buy. That’s really a tough question for me to answer.
Soon we’ll have published something like 100 issues of RodMaker. Nearly every single one of them contains something that is tailored almost specifically to novice rod builders. Trying to recommend even a few, let alone just one, isn’t easy for me to do.
However, keeping in mind that beginning rod builders probably run into more trouble with their first few epoxy finish attempts than anything else, I tend to recommend Volume 9 Issue #1. It contains a very insightful article on applying epoxy thread wrap finish and explains exactly what causes lumps, bumps, valleys and hills, in what most hope will be a perfectly smooth and level epoxy coating. More importantly, it explains how to achieve that smooth and level coating with a minimum of fuss. It’s easy – once you read the article.
RodMaker Volume 9 #1
Experienced builders who are subscribing for the first time also ask for recommendations on back issues. Again, there is just so much to choose from that it’s terribly difficult for me to suggest just one. But if you ask, I’ll most likely steer you to Volume 10 Issue #3.
RodMaker Volume 10 #3
Within that issue is a comprehensive and detailed article on human ergonomics and the biomechanics associated with fishing rods. If there is any single area where both commercially and custom made rods are lacking, it lies in the poorly sized, shaped and angulated handles, seats and grips we most often employ. It is this one area where the greatest room for improvement and advancement remain in the continued evolution of the fishing rod.
Tom Kirkman
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This post caught my eye. Although I build rods as a sideline business my day job is working as an OC — occupational therapist. Ergonomics are very important to those who are physically impaired in some manner. I ordered a copy the day this went up and received it this afternoon. Not only is the information well presented, but the amount of research that went into this is impressive. Many of the mid-20th century military studies on bio-mechanics that you mention are still considered definitive today. Very well done. I never imagined for a moment that this kind of research and work went into your articles. Very impressive.
Tom you know me as the guy who can’t spell crep LOL In all seriousness I believe Rod Maker has turned the world of hobby rod building up side down. I can remember in the early 70′s no one shared a single word of advice. The first information that was of any use to me came from Fenwick Rods, built in Kent and at that time was owned by a great man named Green, He also opened Sage after selling Fenwick. He was the first man to take the time to help me. Then came Dale Clemon’s with his book Fiber Glass Rod Building which was followed up with Advanced Rod building and Thread Art. Now by the mid 80′s someone has published a pamphlet of some kind. Of all the info books on rod building some were written in the late 1800′ or early 1900. With all that none have come close to Tom’ mag or His book on rod building. I know I have left a few publishers out I am sorry for that reason that happened is because you guys are advanced builders. I was talking about how I learned the craft and who was a major influence on me. Thanks Tom Tom your RodMaker Mag. was a major influence on the success of my rod building business, from a garage to a store front. I retired in 2000, but I still build rods
Thank and Good Wraps Bob