adhesives

[Danny]

Okay, so your building a rod, what do you guys use to glue it all together. I get different responses from everyone I talk to. I know what I like, but I'm kind of wondering if there is a better way. For example, do you use 5 min. epoxy on the reel seat, or 2 ton epoxy. Do you use tip top glue for the tip top or do you go with epoxy? Do you use Elmers to attach the grip (I hope not) or something else. Tell me what epoxies/glues you use where and why.

[Drake]

...I get different responses from everyone I talk to. I know what I like, but I'm kind of wondering if there is a better way...
You will continue to get different responses because I don't think there is a right answer.

I finished up a 3wt. a couple months ago.

Reel seat: Gorilla Glue (not necessary, it was just sitting in my uncles wood shop when I was ready to glue my seat on)

Handle: Tight Bond II (JayMorr and Jason told me about this stuff. It's water proof, strong, and doesn't cost mush. You can also get it at Home Depot.)

Tip top: Flex coat

Guides: Flex Coat

I also recently watched a video by L.A. Garcia. He used Flex Coat for everything.

Also, do a search on this web site. There is a lot of info on what people prefer.

[Norm]

I don't know what the graphite rod builders use be I'll recomend some epoxies. To laminate strips of bamboo together to create a blank I use a very strone epoxie called Epon. Bow makers use this to laminate their strips of wood together for its strength and flexibility, I have had no problem with it and use it to put my grips on. I attatch my ferrules to the bamboo with golf shaft epoxie, I figure if Tiger Woods can pound golfballs with clubs glued together with this stuff its good enough for me, its designed for its superior shear strength. I put cork rings together with a hide glue similar to elmers but its made by tightbond. For graphite I cant imagine you need a special epoxie for a tiptop (not much shear force there), and as far as glueing the grip on any old epoxie used sparingly as not to make a mess or a good wood glue like tightbond should work fine.

Norm

[Drake]

I need to clarify. I should have said I used the Tight Bond II to glue my cork rings together. I used FC to glue the handle to the blank.

[Ouzel]

Your are right, there are a lot of different suggestions about glues because because there are a lot of glues on the market.

You've gotten some good advice but you need to decide what glues your going to use and where.

I'll suggest for the tip top 'Flexcoat's Tip Top adhesive, low heat, quick and easy.

If you build a rod with a stiff butt section 2-ton epoxy will do fine, if you enjoy a rod that flexes down into the handle you will need a flexible glue and as already recommended to you "Epon" works fine. It also works fine if you build the rod handle from rings rather than a finished grip.

Yes, there are a lot of glues on the market which is a lot better than boiling down horse hooves.