I'm really bummed, today I had my first blank failure. About a year ago I bought an older model Forcast spinning rod on sale from one of the board sponsors. I built it up a month or so ago for my 5 year old son, and it turned out really nice using blue ringed guides and ice blue trip wraps (my first trim bands, I usually build fly rods and like them very subtle and without flash). He's only fished it once doing the worm sitting thing and didn't catch anything. I took it out today to fish the Rappahannock river for smallmouth. On the first fish the blank broke in half about a foot up from the fore grip. At first I thought the tip portion had fallen off until I picked it up out of the water. Anyway, he doesn't know about it yet, and I'm dreading telling him about his rod. I guess I have to build him another.

Something might have whacked it between the first and second trip. Maybe. Send it back to Forecast and they might give you another or sell you a new one at a reduced fee. Tell your son you're going to build him an even BETTER one!

If it was a 2003 blank, that is why they changed the factory they had making there blanks . The 2004 on up are a lot nicer. hay maybe you can get another?

I've ordered a new RX7 spin blank to replace it. Looking forward to a new build.

Mike, Why can't you slide and rodbond a scrap piece of blank into it and repair it? Just wrap a band of your ice blue thread as well as finish over the repair. I think the two of you will be happy. Ed

The break is very jagged with many smaller cracks/splits spiraling up from the point where it broke.

Mike, As long as the blank does not have a real agressive taper at the fracture, you may be able to save it. Wrap a band of masking tape up from the jagged edges, take a hacksaw and trim it straight. See how the two edges match up with each other. if close, slip a scrap piece into each end. If there is a difference in both blank sizes, leave a small gap between the glued ends with the scrap blank exposed. Fill and taper the gap with thread or epoxy/ resin with the powder additive to thicken your mix. Cover repair with a band of color and finish. Ed



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2005 09:02AM by Ed Grella.