I have a True Temper Unispin that has a crush in the butt section of the blank. It's a fiberglass blank. I know the rod combo is an antique and a collectors item, so I probably won't be using it. But I would still like to fix it and make it look half decent. How would I go about fixing the damage.

Thanks,
Bill in WV

I'm very interested in answers to this one as I almost posted a similar question myself today out of general curiousity.

I've never been asked to repair a glass rod. Doing graphite repairs, fiberglass is used. What is used for fiberglass repair? My common sense is confused on this one. Part of me thinks fiberglass as well, but my other and sometimes dumber side of me thinks using glass might be bad, for the same reason that we don't use graphite to fix graphite?

I think the best method available is to insert an inside length of fiberglass as near as possible to the inside taper of the original blank. Extend it well beyond the crush point - because the fractures will extend beyond the crushed area - likely several inches. Use rod bond on the inside
"ferrule". Set the piece in a rod dryer (as you would use for turning guides) and allow to dry. Once the repair is dry over coat with a thin coat of guide epoxy. The objective is to fill in any remaining splits - NO BUILDUP of finish beyond the original. Overwrap with white silk or size A nylon (silk I think is actually better) beyond any possible "splits". Apply another thing coat of lite build guide epoxy with no CP - this will allow the original color of the blank to show through. I think you'll find that the rod may actually be "fishable" again.

Thanks Ken,

That was fast. Where would I get the fiberglass "ferrule"? Could I use a section from an old rod?

Bill in WV

You can use a old fiberglass from a old rod. I would use Rod Bond to glue the repair plug in-place. After you have you have place the plug in the desired area and befor the Rod Bond cures. I would clean up the outside area where the bond seep threw with alcahol and wipe clean. Then I would wrap the affected area with 00 or A thread let it set over night and then place a finish coat over the wrap.
Good Wraps Bob

Bill,
Yes, likely any chunk off a broken hollow fiberglass rod will work in the butt section. This is an area of the rod that isn't likely to flex very much.
Folks can correct/comment on the next part: I think that the idea of using fiberglas inserts on mid and tip sections is that the flex of fiberglas will not further alter (too much) the original flex of a graphite rod. The earliest "repair kits" that were offered by Clemens Custom Tackle (now out of business) include various lengths/thicknesses of "raw" graphite material for inserts and were (I THINK) better for repairs to thin tip sections - although they too changed the overall "action" of the rod.