This may be off topic and if so I apologize before my hand is slapped.

Does anyone know if there are any plans around in how to make a
hex rod tube?

HI Ron,

Can't say I do. My suggestion would be to contact a rod tube manufacturere like REC and ask them the question. Hex tubes would not roll around boats which would be nice and they should look good too. I guess they would need to be extruded or made from sheet folded and then welded down one seam. Best of luck

Regards

Mike OLiver

I've seen plans years ago for this but don't know where. The basic idea was they used a thin (3/8) oak finish plywood. Cut the piece a little over 12" Then ran it on a router table fitted with, I think a 60 degree bit set so it let a very thin layer of wood left on top. the grooves were cut equally spaced so they ended up with 5 grooves and th etwo ends having the angles also cut. They then glued felt to the inside surfaces and then glue to the groove and edges and rolled/folded the whole thing and clamped it by wrapping tape around it. the wood they didi not cut throuh worked as a kind of hinge to aid in rolling. Sound complicated but once you see it it works well

A triangle shaped case would have the same effect with a lot less work. Ed

A triangle shaped case would be good for spinning rods with large guides also. Run the blank along one of the points and then the guides would point out towards the opposite side. You could even make it an isosceles triangle with two sides longer than the third for rods with the high frame guides and such.

Nathan

Golden Witch, on the left, sells them. Maybe they can help you. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Ron,

Don't limit yourself to a Hexagonal cross section. Go to Lowes or any other good hardware store and buy a section of Rain Gutter Downspout tubing. This 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" square tubing is a fraction of the weight of round PVC tubing of the same size, and much, much stronger. Square Tubing is also far less prone to breaking than Round tubing.

Best of all it is very inexpensive, appox. $5.00 for 10 foot section.

I have used this tubing to ship rods across country for the past 10 years, and have never suffered a broken tube or damaged rod.

John Mantele (aka: @#$%&)

I thank all you for your replys, I didn't make myself clear as usual. I was looking to make a maple hex
tube for a new bamboo rod blank I'm finishing.

Anyone else who may be interested can look here [www.pipam.com]