Dale Clemens Rod Building Lathe

[PeteSorensen]

I just had a Dale Clemens rod building lathe given to me and I am curious to see if any other reel-timers have any experience with them. I got all the books with it and a great book on custom rod building by Dale Clemens. It is quite a machine. I have it all set up and I have been practicing, getting ready to put my 10wt Loomis together. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks, Peter

[gregk]

try this link, should be plenty of experience there;
http://www.flyshop.com/centers/rodbuilding/boardindex.html
By the way, how does one get a rod lathe given to oneself;-);
greg

[PeteSorensen]

My friend George Pile's dad used to make rods for me and when I asked him to help me with my 10wt he told me to come up and see him. When I did he said he would not be building any more rods(he is 77) and gave me all of his equipment with instructions to go home and set up and he would come over and get me started. It is an outstanding device. I am looking forward to building my rod with it but I want to practice first. {:-))

[kirkb]

Pete - Congratulations!! It is a very nice rod lathe indeed. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions on it as I build custom rods as a 2nd business. I might be able to help you with some unclear areas, or if not we could find them out together. You are in for some fun!!!!!!

[nativewooder]

I bought Dale Clemens equipment and books back in the 80s and really enjoyed building custom rods of all shapes and sizes until work interfered. Sandy Stein up in Vero Beach was my teacher and that was a trip. I will presume that Sandy has graduated from Earth since then. Anyway, the Clemens equipment was the best that I could find and I bought blanks from Clemens and many other suppliers and built many many rods from flyrods to trolling rods to bass rods and everything in between. I still have the equipment sitting in my shop gathering rust and dust as I am a woodturner now. Just a bigger lathe turning heavier stuff!(;) You are very lucky to have the lathe given to you since I spent over $600 just on the basics way back when. Enjoy!