Hey everyone;

First: how much will cigarette smoke affect finishes. I figure over time it will stain them (yellow). Is this right and what other affects if any are there?

Second: I got two blanks (11' surf rods, 2 piece) from some one. Basically sight unseen. I got them very cheap, so I figured there were blems. I found that the tip section for both blanks are not straight. They both have curves to one side. Is there some way to straighten them out? I will use the blanks for "through in the back of the truck rods" if I can straighten them or if I can get them close and it not hurt anything.
Any thought?

Tight lines.

Smoke certainly isn't going to help. Nicotine stains everything it comes into contact with. Having smoke in the room while your finish is curing is also going to have some effect on the clarity and brightness of your finish, depending on how much smoke gets into the finish surface.

All blanks have some amount of curve or warp. It is actually rare, but nice, to get one that's perfectly straight. Unless yours are terribly bad, don't worry over it. Trying to straighten a graphite blank is not within your means and you'll probably damage the blank with any sort of attempt with heat, and you don't stand a chance with any reverse flex type of thing. The curve you have is not a "set" that has taken place since the blank was made - it's the way the blank came out of the oven and off the mandrel.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/2005 11:11AM by Tom Kirkman.

Paul,

I agree with Tom in that you really don't want to attempt to straighten that blank. Even if you were able to warm it enough to reset it, the blank would slowly relax back to its initial state over time. The graphite fibers are very elastic (as is the cured resin to a large extent), and over time they will apply a restoring force and try to return the blank to a state of equilibrium.

You can also observe this relaxation effect in fairly new blanks if there are internal residual stresses built in during the manufacturing process. Those internal stresses will slowly relax over time, often causing the blank to twist and turn, sometimes to a measurable degree. Increasing temperature will accelerate the relaxation process.

Mark




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/2005 11:35AM by Mark Gibson.

Paully;

I hope you are not using any chemicals with volatile fumes near where anyone is smoking. Inhaling heated acetone fumes adds a new dimension to the dangers of smoking. I am pleased to say I was able to quit smoking with little effort thanks to The Patch and a free course at my local hospital. That was after 45 years of smoking a pack a day or more. If you ever want to quit and need a free personal coach just contact me.

Dave

Gentlemen;

Thank you for the information about the not so straight blanks. I thought there wasn't much if anything I could do. But it pays to get advise.

As for the smoke and finish question. Please don't misunderstand the source of the smoke or the location. I had noticed a few rods I had done, as well as most of the other rods, in a tackle store were yellowing. I know there is a lot of smoking in this shop, and thought that was the problem. As for smoking around my place, NOPE. I quit. It will be one year ago this November.
Dave I am aware of the affects of the chemical fumes. I work in a plant that actually has a lot of acetone and some much worse chemicals in it's processes. But I do thank you for commenting on it. I know others read these discussions and there me be someone who didn't know.

Thank You again.

Tight lines.

If you do get smoke on the rods it usually will come off with water.