I never saw an explanation of how muti-piece blanks are made. I know about graphite and scrim prepeg fabric and that it is rolled onto a mandrel and then heated under pressure. That only explains the making of one contiguous hollow blank. Do the manufactureres make blanks of several diameters and tapers for the various sections? It seems like the only way possible to create the overlapping ferrule system. In that case a multi-piece blank would actuallly be a combination of several blanks. Am I close being correct? This is just one of those things that inexplicably piques my curiosity. Thanks to all who respond.

When I went through the St Croix factory, they just had seperate mandrels for each section of the blank. After it was all baked and such, each section went through a sanding process to the the blank to the correct size. I also believe there was an extra piece of the graphite and such in the area of the ferrule. During the sanding process, the blanks were measured with a digital laser micrometer to check the size.

Thanks Mike.

I thought that was the way it would be done, but hearing from someone who witnessed the process gives me confidence to answer the question if ever asked. If I can ever get to visit a manufacturer I will jump at the chance.

Dave

In most cases, each section is made individually and then the ferrules are hand fitted to join the sections. Most fishermen are under the impression that the rod starts as one-piece and is then cut into sections and ferrules installed or "glued on." Obviously, not the case.

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

Is that the case when internal ferrules(like Scott fly rods) are used as well? My impression was that these rods started as one piece and then were cut and the ferrules added. Just curious. Thanks, Brian

Actually, most of those types were also made in individual sections and the ferrules installed after the fact. Many companies don't have rolling tables long enough to do 9 and 10 foot one-piece rods.

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