DIY Rod Wrapping Jig: A Step-by-Step Guide for Anglers
August 2024
Building your own fishing rods can be a rewarding and cost-effective hobby. One of the essential tools you’ll need is a rod wrapping jig. This guide will walk you through the steps of creating your own sturdy and functional jig using simple wood and hardware.
You can see a video tutorial here Cheap DIY Rod Wrapping Jig.
We will improve this design by adding a rotisserie spinning motor to help you get a perfectly smooth epoxy finish on your custom rod.
Find more information about custom fishing rod building in our article DIY Guide: Building Your Own Custom Fishing Rod.
Materials You’ll Need
Wood
Hardware
Required Tools
- Saw (jigsaw or hand saw)
- Drill and drill bits
- Screwdriver
- Clamps
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Pencil
- Wood Glue
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the V-shaped supports
- Take one of the 6-inch 1×4 pieces and find the center.
- Measure down 1 inch from the center and mark it.
- Measure half an inch on either side of the top center mark.
- Draw diagonal lines from each half-inch mark down to the 1-inch mark, forming a V shape.
- Clamp the wood to your work surface and carefully cut out the V using your saw.
- Repeat this process with the second 6-inch piece.
Wood Cuts
Attach the eye screws
- Center an eye screw about 5/8 inch away from the top of the V on each support piece.
- Screw the eye screws in place securely.
Assemble the base
- Take the longer 1×4 piece (the base) and draw a centerline down its length.
- Position the V-shaped supports upright on the base, ensuring they are parallel and evenly spaced.
- Mark the center of each support on the base.
- Pre-drill pilot holes for the wood screws at the marked locations.
- Apply wood glue (optional) and secure the supports to the base using the wood screws.
Add stability
- On the underside of the base, pre-drill pilot holes for the drywall screws.
- Space the screws evenly near the edges of the base.
- Secure the screws, ensuring they do not protrude through the top of the base.
Build the Rod Spinner Assembly
The last step of creating your custom fishing rod involves the application of the final epoxy finish on your creation. To do this successfully and create a flawless finish it is important to slowly rotate the rod as the epoxy cures. This spinner assembly will enable you to do this.
Parts Required
- 5 – threaded nuts ¼”
- 4 – wing nut bolts ¼” by 1”
- 2” PVC end cap
- ¼” x 6” threaded rod
- ¼” locking nut
- Rotisserie motor
- Rotisserie motor mount
- Scrap wood pieces
- you can use your judgement on sizing to match the jig alignment above
Assembly
- Build the wood support stand to match the height and sizing of the jig
- Attach with screws the bracket for the rotisserie motor
- Use the 6” threaded rod as a template and drill a hole at the top of the wood support stand
- Rod Holder
- Drill a hole in the center of the PVC cap
- Drill holes equidistant at 4 locations around the side of the cap
- Epoxy 4 nuts on the inside of the cap near the holes (make sure to not touch the threads)
- Let the epoxy cure
- Assemble per the image below
Your DIY rod wrapping jig is now complete! To use it, simply rest the rod blank in the V-shaped supports and adjust the eye screws as needed to hold the blank securely. You can now wrap guides, add decorative threads, or apply epoxy finish with ease.
Tips and Considerations
- Sand all wooden pieces for a smoother finish and to prevent splinters.
- Consider adding rubber or felt pads to the base to prevent it from scratching your work surface.
- Experiment with different base lengths to accommodate various rod sizes.
- For added versatility, you can make the V-shaped supports adjustable by attaching them to the base with hinges or slots.
SUMMARY
There is nothing more satisfying to the angler then catching big fish on a custom rod that you designed and built yourself. The creation of this jig will allow you to create great fishing rods and finish them perfectly. You can also use the jig to repair broken fishing rod guides and return a valued rod to working condition.
With a little effort and creativity, you can create a custom rod wrapping jig that perfectly suits your needs. Happy rod building!
Please send pictures of your fishing success. You can contact me by email at [email protected].
Tight lines … Captain P.