A few years ago I got into building rods. Took a class that supplied the materials.
Built a great 5wt that has caught many fish.

After some more experience I orderd enough materials and blanks to make 3 more rods, all from the same supplier. The blanks were all the same IM6 material in 4pc.

The problem is the 9 wt that I built for my father in law. The first time he used it was on a trip to Canada. The first or second cast the section second from the butt split and splintered where it slides in the third section.

I removed the stripper guides and I sent the rod back and the supplier returned the rod with a new section on which I wrapped two stripper guides and the ferrule. FIL took the rod out again and second cast the same thing happened again. Same section splintered like the first. I got discouraged and put the rod in the tube to send back but haven't yet.

Question is what is going on?
Father in Law's casting
My building
Blank Quality

The new year has rekindled my rod building spirt and this past week I built a 6 wt and am wondering if I am going to have the same problem I have had with the 9 wt. I cast the 6 wt a little this morning and it seems fine.

The male ferrule broke/splintered? The rod could have been defective, even twice. perhaps. Or... is your father in law assembling the sections correctly?

Mis-align the guides by 90 degrees and slide the sections together until snug. Then twist them into alignment, under firm pressure to seat the sections fully.

If the sectons are sllding apart then the male ferrule is likely to break during the cast. It needs to be well seated and should be checked a few times during a day's fishing.

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

I agree with Tom on the two possibilities but will add the following. If it's your father-in-law's rod assembly technique you are in a tough spot. The only person I can think of who would resent the question "are you sure you're assembling the rod right?" more than a father is a father-in-law, LOL. Good luck, I hope it's a defective blank!

Are you sure you are wrapping the furrules tight enough. If your wrap is not at least snug, might be give in the furrule room to splinter

Steve Gardner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are you sure you are wrapping the furrules tight
> enough. If your wrap is not at least snug, might
> be give in the furrule room to splinter


I am using the Flex Coat Hand Wrapper. The thread is very taught during wrapping such that the blank spin if I were to let go during a wrap and I maybe could pluck a tune on the thread.

My questioning of my FIL's abilities did not go over well.

LOL; Imagine that...

Putter
Williston, ND

Trey,
sounds to me like your tension is way to tight!

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

I second what Ray said.Possibly too tight and not allowing the blank to change shape under load.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

I will back off on the tension some. Thanks.