With the proper application, you can acheive a beautiful custom rod. Techniques for measuring properly can be found online in different "how-to" videos. We suggest using the boil method for application versus the heat gun method to eliminate cracking and reduce application time. Simply place your pre-measured shell in a small dish of water and add a tsp. of white vinegar to it. The vinegar breaks down the calcium in the shell and makes it pliable. Place in microwave for 4-6 minutes. Then, simply peel the back off and roll around your blank. We have used shells in place of butt wraps, between split grips, and under guides. Check out our gallery to see the finished product.