Here is a dumb question from a newbie. All I have done so far is strip 4 rods down to the handle and blank and re-wrap and re-finish them. I haven't built from the ground up yet but I have seen the video several times. My question is this....I have several broken rods laying around that I keep for parts which have handles and reel seats that are in good shape. Can these be salvaged for re-use or does the glue-up type construction render them a one-use item?

Hard to get stuff off without damaging it. Considering the very low cost of many seats and grips these days, I can't imagine it would be worth your time to even try to salvage those components.

You can buy seats for just a couple or three bucks. Grips for a dollar or two. It won't be the greatest stuff on earth, but it'll be at least as good or better than what you have on those old rod scraps.

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Thanks.....good point.....The only reason I asked is that I bought a custom rod from a rod builder in Cleveland, Tennessee who alternates between cork rings and a harder, gray ring that appears to be graphite in his handles. I really loved that handle and wouldn't you know it.... I dropped a dang hatch lid on the rod and broke it. If I can find where to get the graphite (I think) rings, I can make them for myself....Ever seen them anywhere for sale?

Steve,
I aggree with Tom. However, If you have a "special" handle on a rod that is no longer
usable you can cut the blank where is exits the foregrip and A) slide a smaller dia. blank
thru the old blank or B) carefully ream the old blank out. There are several ways to accomplish
this and I bet other builders will chime in with a success story or two. Learning some of these
techniques will enhance your repair skills later on down the road.

Also, some rod manufactureres do a poor job sometimes and you may find that with a little
elbow grease those handles can be disassembled completely. Great parts for practice builds!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..