I figured that an electric drill, a Dremel tool, a six-pack of adult beverages and a couple or three evenings out in the shop would do the trick and I would have a nice set of hand-massaged rods and a deep feeling of satisfaction. How little I really knew, as I was soon to find out.

The first thing I did was clean up a set of stock big block rods, take the caps off and press the bolts out. Then I got out my trusty electric drill and the Dremel. I went to the hardware store and bought a selection of grinding wheels for the Dremel and the old hand-held electric drill.

I iced down the Heineken Light, turned on the radio to a Cardinals baseball game, turned on the fan and began to grind. And as it turned out I ground and ground and ground and ground … and I was still on the first rod and the third beer.

The cutting stone and grinding wheels that I used with the Dremel were somewhat effective in moving metal but the high-pitched whine of the Dremel began to grate on my nerves like an off-key Maynard Ferguson trumpet solo. So, after ruining a couple of cutters and about a half-dozen grinding wheels, I turned off the damned drill, took a long pull on my light beer and surveyed my progress.

I had about three work hours in getting one rod prepared. That number didn’t include the time spent driving to three or four parts/hardware stores looking for grinding wheels for the hand-held drill nor the money I had invested in buying them.