How well do the older Fenwick Feralite/Fenglass take to rework such as replacing df guides with sf and exposing previous wrapped areas? I've had good success with bare graphite blanks before, not so good with the colored variety. Thanks.

Sometimes you get the brass ring sometimes you don't...To remove the old finish use heat and a plastic impliment to scrape with[as in the library here} Remember not much heat and if you have done graphites you will see that the fiberglass can withstand a bit more heat.
Discoloring will be there so you may want to underwrap or make a longer guide wrap to cover this discoloration. Myself I have used a alcohol lamp for finish removal as there is always that one time that a heat gun or torch will "bite" you.

Tight Lines
Tight Wraps
Fishin'Stix by Fred

I've done several of these. The worst ones a lot of finish defects where the clear coat was flaking off. This and the difficulty in getting the old epoxy off can be challenging on the really old ones. If you move the guides from the original positions, some of the old guide spots are likely to show a bit. Very careful heat application and some careful work can get them looking pretty good. The tip areas on these rods won't take a lot of heat. I had one with a small defect in the tip and the first application of heat made the top 4" just fall off. It probably would have broken anyway so I sleeved it and put a guide there. The customer was cool with this as it wasn't functional when I got it.

I would like to hear what others tell customers that bring old rods in for rebuild. We never know if there has been any abuse or nicks in the blanks when we get them for rebuild. I always tell customers that there is no guarantee if the rod breaks after my repair, other than for my workmanship. I can't guarantee the condition of the blank when I get it.

Terry

This is an interesting topic, my main concern with the translucent blanks is small cracks or what I call "pings" to the blank, small spots where the blank has been hit and has shattered slightly. How should these be repaired?



Tim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2008 12:02PM by Tim Kelly.

Do the old Fenwicks use epoxy or varnish for the wraps? It looks like varnish to me. If that's the case, then you should be able to remove the residue with mineral spirits.

Minor dings are less of an issue with glass than graphite. If it's a major crack, then the repair would be the same for a broken rod. You have to glue a piece of scrap blank inside to reinforce the spot.