I just received a Phenix blank that I ordered for a customer and there is an issue with the blank that is making me pull my hair out. The blank came with a sort of, I don't know, painted on decal or something that can be scraped off with a razor blade but the finish on the blank is not under the "decal" and the decal is half under my planned split grip and half exposed, to make things worse it does not correspond with the spine so I cannot adjust the grip spacing to make it look like it was part of my plan. Does anyone know how to get this thing off? I thought of using a solvent, but any solvent that would take the "decal" off would likely take the finish off. I have no idea what to do and even worse I am in a rush on this job, aren't they all a rush huh? But practically three weeks back ordered and of course the customer putting the order off means that I have to hurry. lol. As always any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
James

Could you just paint the blank in the exposed area of the split grip to hide the decal?

I have several ideas that are acceptable to me but my customer is very precise on what he wants and seeings as how he has paid 300.00 in materials I don't blame him for wanting what he wants. I will present him with such plans only if no one on here can tell me what to do about it. Why would Phenix do such a stupid thing, how about including a decal with the rod information on it separate from the blank like the rest of the industry. Or at least make the "decal" removable like the rest of the industry. I am sorely disapointed, if they make such ridiculous decisions regarding such things I worry about the quality of their products.
James

Be sure to pass your frustration on directly to customer service at Phenix. I would have similar frustrations, and I have some Phenix blanks on the way to try out. But they need to hear directly from builders about these types of experiences in order to make corrections.

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

JAmes, I would offer help but after your last comment I'm not going to bother.

Phenix has a reputation for making high quality products. That nomenclature is screen printed on the blank - they spent extra to have that done and it was done for a purpose.

First, so it won't peel or scratch off easily. Second, so any warranty return will have the logo fully in place so there is no question as to who made the blank. GUSA used to screen print their logo on their blanks as well.

Phenix, like most commercial and many if not most custom builders, does not build on the spine so they're not likely too concerned with that aspect of the logo alignment. More than likely it is on the straightest axis.

Consider hiding it without removing it. Wrap over it. Put some type of signature wrap there and if you ever have to return it for a warranty situation, you can remove the wrap and the required logo will still be in place.

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Doesn't seem that complicated to me. Wrap over it or paint it.

I haven't seen any of these blanks, but this might work: remove the finish off the blank where your split grip is going to be. Then put a "new" finish on, then this area should look like the rest of the rod.

Explain to the customer that this is the way Phenix marks and keeps their warranty in place. Then let the customer decide to wrap over, paint, or whatever....give them the options! I'd say it'd be a nice place for a hook keeper :-)

Shikari did this writing in the split grip area as well.

Seems to me that the makers could screen print in the 1st 2" or so of the rods butt. That part is nearly always covered by a grip of some kind.

DR

Put one of the new electric decals outlined in the last Rod Maker magazine over it.

Awesome, thanks, thats why I always go to you guys, I had no idea that there was so much thought put into such a feature and I personally still don't like it because it seems like I have to work around it. It sounds like I offended some people and I don't know wny, I have every confidence that phenix makes amazing products that is why i talked my customer out of a 300.00 G Loomis and into this Phenix that I had no doubt was and is amazing. A decal cannot effect the awesome action and light construction.

Tom, as far as building on the spine or the straightest axis I have heard both methods on here but I actually thought that they were supposed to be used together like when their seems to be more than one spine then I thought that one is supposed to pick either the one that is straighter or the stronger spine. No matter how many hours I devote to this craft it seems like I am still learning as much now on a daily basis as I was a week after I started.

Thanks for all the ideas, and I apologize to anybody who was offended by my opinon, between the off ended on here and the one in my personal e-mail I will be sure to keep my opinions to myself.
James

The spine is rarely going to be along the straightest axis, nor exactly opposite it either. Since spine orientation can't make the rod stable (stop twisting) nor affect casting accuracy, it may not be something you will wish to bother with.

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