I've learned my lesson just built a fly rod ,completed it and transported x country to my son .Took 3 practice casts and it snapped right abv. the ferrule joint .With another rod bought from another company after using for 1 day the ferrule broke. It's not the the point of getting your money back or the hours of time you put into your work.It's the disappointment you feel and the look on you son face.

Obviously any rod can break, but the chances of that happening are going to be somewhat greater with a 2nd or blem than with a first quality product. You save money on these, but you also take a little greater risk.

.....................

Like Tom told me once before --- quality is not cheap.

What is a second?

I am new as tyhe question probably telegraphed.

Joe <*}(({{>>{

They are blanks the factory has chosen out that aren't quite up to snuff for them. Some are a bit crooked, some have slight cosmetic boo boo's. The first runs are the highest quality.

That said, I used to build on a lot of these second rods. I didn't have any more breakage problems then than I do now using the firsts. But those rods were mostly IM6 material in all fairness and I'm using the higher end graphites now and they are a bit touchier as far as dings and bangs causing the rod to break later on, too.

Putter
Williston, ND

I have made a very good business on 2nds and give them a no questions asked breakage policy. I'm into my 13th year now, in fact I am now the oldest tennant here at the marina which is 14 years old. Got to be doing something right. Jesse

Personal opinion. I did at one time build on seconds (20 yrs ago). My seconds came from a well renowned rod and blank company.. Well after I had spent time and money on 6 different blank series and each one failed. I stopped building on 2nds. The money for me was not the issue, what was the issue was the time and energy I spent on these rods. What I do now is build on discontinued blank models. I never build on seconds. Most rod companies have a repetition to keep up for their products and have discontinued selling second. There has been a influx of blanks on the internet @#$%& sites selling what are suppose to be number one blanks, but in reality are seconds. To stop this most blank companies have stopped selling 2nds. Just my 2 cents and thoughts. (Go for quality not quantity). I think a discontinued series is the way to go if money is a issue.
Good wraps Bob

There are so many companies selling good priced blanks at nice prices
Also look for sales that come up on here. Pick up several and store them. If you have room?
Med-bass type rods and 5 wt fly seem to be most popular ?