Good Morning~

I am afraid I know the answer to my question before I even post it. But some of you are close to miracle workers, so this is worth a try.

I made a nice little spinning rod for my Dad. He doesn't fish, but he really needs to start, needs some stress relief, time away, etc. So we are all packed for a 1250 mile trip, made it about 128 miles and seen a flash out the rear view mirror. Of course you know what it was. We actually found it in the bar ditch about a mile back.

The 'good' news is, is that it appears to be sound and...well no I guess that is all the good news. Needs a new butt grip, one of the guides has the insert popped out, several dings in the epoxy over the thread and some of the guides. All of these I can re-do even if it does take time. The part I have a question with is the blank itself. There are scratches, scrapes and dings in it too. None deep, I flex tested it and there doesn't seem to be any structural problems. So here is the question: Do I fix what I can, don't worry about the blank scratches and save it for my brand new grandson or do you have some way of putting the finish back on the blank and getting it back to dad, or do I just put it in the closet/garage and never look at it again or use it for repairs and reamers?

I know now never let someone else handle storage/transportation. Everything the hard way. This was a Christmas present, and I am just now getting enough courage to look at it again. It was going to be so exciting to give this to him and then... Ok enough of the pity party. So what do you think?

I do have to tell you all one more time....THANKS!....You have given so freely of your professional and sometimes brilliant expertise. There is just no other way I could ever find out all you have shared.

Thanks a million,
Kathi

Kathi, there is a ton of information on this site concerning refinishing/repairing a rod finish. Just do a search on the subject and you should be able to find what you need to repair the finish to a like new appearance.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

Hi Kathi,

It's hard to tell without seeing the rod but from what you have described it sounds fixable. If the scratches are only surface scratches you schould be able to cover them. If it's a gloss blank I've had good luck with Gudebrod Rod Restorer (#SC442). If you have the ceramic insert for the guide super glue will fix that. The rear grip can be re-installed over the butt of the blank by using tape shims. A little work and should be good as new.

Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

It sounds like this rod can be restored with some TLC. If it will flex without making funny(unfunny?) sounds, go for iit and let us know how it turns out. C2