Mike Barkley

Pacd Bay Camo grip with cut down 10 ga. shotgun shell (spent, of course LOL)

Made from the template in Rodmaker and a piece of Mesquite from Andy Dear's wood pile( Thanks, Andy). Still needs a few coats of Tru Oil

Here's where I am when not building/wrapping!!

Cork Clamp

I just marbled the top portion of seat (no foregrip)and put a clear coat of LS over the whole seat except for threads and where reel fits. I'm happy with the way it turned out!

Pack of 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" foam sheets 40 different colors for under 5 bucks! Great for grip accent trims. http://creativehands.net/secondaryhtmls/wheretobuy.html

AMTAK 5'lt IM6 Cub Scout rod. After hearing all the horror stories about yellow thread, I went with an "underwrap" of LS colored with TAP yellow pigment instead of thread. Worked out pretty nice (I think)

Jig for cutting rings into thin slices

Jig for cutting Checkerboard and Diamond rings

Finally finished (except for a final sanding/Tru-Oil) First useable project from about $400 in lathe/equipt. Far from perfect, but you always remember your first

Marble split grip - No foregrip Marble finis on Butt wrap area Mesquite/Burl split grip

Rogue 663J with marble/split grip/no foregrip

Split area, inscription area and guides were marbleized (guides look sharp but pix sucked)

Penn Stae 3-jaw self centering chuck $50

Turncrafter Pro from Penn State Industries. Almost identical as Jet only bigger motor and $50 bucks cheaper

Marbleized reel seat

Marbleized split grip area

I ordered an extra headstock for my lathe and mounted an ATV wheel bearing in it. I swap it with the tail stock if zI want to do a handle on the blank. Use masking tape on the blank to insure a good fit where it goes through the blank. I forgot to add that on the previous picture, I use a piece of all-thread rod to glue up and turn handles

Grizzley Hobby Lathe($39)w/Grizzley Drill($39) Mounted on a board with handle for portability. Works great for cork, EVA

Golf club ferrules make good winding checks for light rods

The wood is stabilized Burl Maple turned by Andy Dear

Rod I donated for Downriver Wal;leye Federation raffle

Gel Coat pigment and Glass Coat First attempt