Here is my first blank EVER, only 4 years in the making from start to finish. Well the blank its self only took a week or so off and on. The collection/building of the tools and such the 3+ years.
So this is a Sharps Lee Wulff 5'8" 5wt. Blank.
It came out well for a first go.
I find it hard to get some good photos but here are some of the raw blank sanded.
Cheers Ron.

congrats.....feels good doesn't it. and i didn't even see a single glue line.

That is annoyingly good. My first blank didn't look anywhere near as nice. For that matter neither did the second or the third. looking forward to seeing it finished. Well done.

Simon.

Nice work. How are you planning on wrapping it?

Looking good overall. However that end view is a little splintery with raised fiber--not a problem since presumably it will be under the reel seat. However you can avoid that by sawing into all the surfaces from the outside before you go through the middle and cut it off.

Mike

Thanks for the kind words Simon, yes no glue lines, Matt, that I can see, but my eyesight is not what it use to be
Mike, yes I will do that I kept trimming it up to the mark , but still getting the frizzes.
I am going to turn a maple reel seat and wrap the guides with purple and green silk thread, more photos to follow. I am thinking spar varnish BLO and some mineral spirits for the blank finish.
Thanks to all who helped me with this it has been fun and just the tip of the iceberg, so many tapers to try.
Cheers Ron.

Nicely done. I hope my first hex is nearly that good.

The Pearsal's purple gets very dark with spar, FYI. A very deep purple color, nearly black. Just a heads up in case you haven't tested it.

Hi, looks beautiful also a great feeling finishing your first blank, a better feeling is when you catch your first fish with it.
Well done.
James




smartflyrods

I just started finishing rods with tru-oil if you are looking for an easier way to finish the rod. You can apply six coats in a day and wrap it twenty-four hours later. Much simpler than working with spar and much faster. Anyway, the rod looks great. Be sure and post some pictures when its done.

Looks like _ell. I'd quit while yer ahead.....



Jeremy. (P.S. You get my email Ron?)

Looks like _ell. I'd quit while yer ahead..... tongue.gif



Jeremy. (P.S. You get my email Ron?)

Yes I did, thanks. Ron.

You can take a turn of masking tape over the cut-off point, mark your cutting point on it, and cut through the tape to minimize 'tear-out'. Also, be sure to use a very fine tooth saw. The X-Acto saws work fine for this (no financial interest). Follow Mike's cutting recommendations and you should eliminate tear-outs.

Perchjerkert

You can take a turn of masking tape over the cut-off point, mark your cutting point on it, and cut through the tape to minimize 'tear-out'. Also, be sure to use a very fine tooth saw. The X-Acto saws work fine for this (no financial interest). Follow Mike's cutting recommendations and you should eliminate tear-outs.

Perchjerkert