I build my own stuff. Have all the tools to do it including a rod lathe. Frankly, you’re not saving any money building one yourself. You’re just getting a better rod for the same money you would purchase one for.
Honestly AP, I agree 100% with you as far as getting a better rod. Where I run into conflict with, say, St. Croix and Loomis is with the way they do warranty work today. Rainshadow has been a warranty nightmare. Instead of messing with these companies anymore, I find it easier to buy a rod from Scheels in the Scheels branded line-up where if anything happens inside of three years I can walk in the door with a broken rod and walk out with a new one without spending a nickel.
I wrapped rods for years using St. Croix blanks and still fish a few of them to this day. I've done a couple for myself in the last three or four years that are pet rods as I get more focused on need or specific use.. The old eyes are making it tough to wrap though unless I'm doing so in bright sunlight. My issue with today's rods is that every rod company seems to think that the micro guides are the cat's meow, when in fact they're a pain and do noting to enhance casting.
