OK - for starters, it can be easy to get into rod building. My first 2 rods were made on a wrapping jig made out of coat hangers. Certainly not ideal but good enough to get through a couple rods to decide if you want to do it long term.
You also might not want to go and build a high end 10 footer for your first rod. Start off nice and slow with a smaller light-duty rod. You'll get the basics down and once started, the end will be closer in site. Don't worry about a Picasso either. Build a functional rod for your first and worry about decorative butt wraps and stuff like that later. No one has gotten their CDL for big rigs at 16 3 days after their first driving school class for cars....
Take it easy, work slow and methodically, be prepared before your start and don't be afraid to ask questions on the board...
Good Luck
Almost forgot, Don, Salthearts fancy rods are often cheaper tha a lot of other Fancy rods because the amount of time taken on the wraps. Those wraps often take longer to do than the rest of the rod. When you work out the labor per hour on the butt wrap, minimum wage looks pretty stinkin' good
