A fly rod i built for a customer a year ago recently broke and i will obviously replace it for him, but I had a question for those who have encountered this before. The rod broke about 4 guides down from the tip on the upper section fo the blank it was of no fault of the customers, but broke in an area where it could have only been cause by a defect in the blank. Could i just order the same blank and only use the top section? Or will I have to make a whole new rod? It would obviously be easier on me if i would just put guides on a new top and use the same bottom portion. any advice would be appriciated............thanks in advance.......eric

Depending on the manufacturer, normal practice has been to return the broken rod and they will fit a new tip if available. Best bet is to call the maker and explain your situation, then follow their instructions. If the particular model is no longer available they will usually substitute a current blank of equal or higher quality. In the last few years most companies have changed their warranty policies and may charge a nominal fee, however I have always received excellent service from the various manufacturers. Good Luck !!

Rarely do manufacturer defects show up in a rod that has been in use for a year. It is of course possible but most defects are going to show up soon after completion of a rod.
Not to say that your customer intentionally broke the rod but there was possibly more to the equation than just a manufacturer defect IMO.

Dan Craft
Dan Craft Enterprises

Most likely your customer hit the rod on something, or overstressed the tip, at some point. It may have broken then, or even weeks later after he had forgotten about the initial impact. As Dan said, rods don't suddenly become defective a year after their first use.

The manufacturer may be able to simply replace the tip section for you. Return the entire rod and let them try to fit a new tip for you.

.........

Check out this artical C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Reducing Rod Breakage - 042505.htm
Don't know if this worked but it is the Reducing rod breakage from the magizine



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2005 09:07AM by bill boettcher.

sounds like what we call in hockey town i high stick a rod deffect would have broken long before good luck though like every one else said try the manufatuar first...........

Bill,
That is an invalid internet address!! The address that you posted is pointing to your hard drive (which we can't access)

Mike

I know sorry.
It is the artical on Rducing rod breakage that is in the Think the April issue of Rodbuilder

I think Tom also sent a copy of the article to flyanglersonline.com didn't he? Could access it in their archives.

Thanks again for all the advise. after looking at the blank I am curious what would cause a clean break. I assumed if ti was over stresses of broke in some other manner (car trunk or something) that they would splinter? thanks again to all