I am thinking ahead to my second rod build (only half way through my first) and am wondering about Boron as a blank material for a spinning rod. Browning (now Quantum/Zebco?) sells a "Boron Matrix" spinning rod rod that seems lighter and less stiff than carbon rods with the same MH power/action rating. The only so-called Boron rods/blanks that I have found in the supply houses refer to expensive fly rods. Does anyone know how modern Boron blaksd perform in comparison to carbon?

Not well. Boron is not well suited to use in fishing rods on several counts. Nor do most boron rods contain much actual boron. In almost all cases it's going to comprise less then 20% (and that's being gracious) of the total fiber make up of the rod blank.

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

I am glad you were wondering and chose to investigate before jumping into the water. When you are half way through your fiftieth rod you will have a much better understanding of how written words aimed at the fishing public impact a custom builder and his work product. Your wording of "lighter" and "less stiff" surely has me wondering - - While you are at it check out titanium and bio fibers to see just how far marketing words will take a fisherman seeking a better rod.

Thanks, Tom. That is exactly what I needed to know.

I prefer punch phrases like BAM! POW! KAPLOOHEY! over bio fibre, boron, Micro

Jason Kesckes. Aint no fish'n like bass fish'n

Thank you for your reply, and your point is well taken. I am kind of a sucker for advertizing words and shiny objects (sort of like a fish!), so I am very glad that I asked. And I don't know enough rod science to use words any more descriptive than "lighter" and "stiffer" when comparing rods. I just will stick with carbon and try to follow the clear message from Tom Kirkman to keep total weight down as much as possible. I don't know if I will ever make it to 50 rods. I really wish someone had introduced me to rod building when I was younger. My grandfather carved lures, but he stuck with metal rods and steel trolling line. Thanks again

The old Fenwick boron blanks were heavier and of slower action than their graphite blanks in the same line weights, at least in my experience. Don't worry, you will get to 50 rods in a lot less time then you might think. This hobby is definitely an addiction.

I prefer punch phrases like BAM! POW! KAPLOOHEY! over bio fibre, boron, Micro

Don't forget CARROT.

Boron is much heavier then glass or graphite but it has a stiffnesss and strength that can be used in fishing rods. As Tom said very little is used in rods and when used it's used strategicly placed along the blank to strengthen. Boron is a very brittle material that is hard to work with, that and weight make it not worth using as a full cloth. Most is used mixed as thread in a cloth of glass or graphite.

Thank you, John.

So I presume a rod advertizing a Boron Matrix means just what you say, and I guess that would explain why the diameter seems to be on the low side for the MH rod I saw. I'm wondering if the strategic use of the Boron causes a bit more brittleness, and if that partly explains the fact that the manufacturer only offers a one year warranty compared to the lifetime one gets with high end carbon rods.

Regards

The fiber used to make the rod has nothing to do with the action. You can make a fast action blank from hickory and a slow action blank from high modulus graphite. Don't confuse action with speed, they're entirely different.

Boron has a very high modulus but it is a large diameter fiber (comparatively) and is rather expensive. Most often a few fibers are used in conjunction with construction that is mostly carbon fiber otherwise. Some companies have even ground it up and added some "powder" to the resin and then call their rods "Boron." Just like Bio-Fibers, which are for reel and in some rods constitute the main and majority of the fibers used, while in others they just grind up a few and add it to the resin and claim to use bio-fibers in the rod's construction. Thus, they're not saying anything which isn't true, but at the same time aren't being perfectly forthcoming with complete information.

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

Tom,

You said don't confuse action with speed. Action as I understand it is where/how much the rod bends (upper third, two thirds, etc). So would speed be how fast the rod recovers from the bent position? Don't think I've seen this word before and just want to make sure I understand it. Thanks,

Patrick Rutledge

Yes, that's it exactly. Speed has to do with the rate of reaction and recovery.

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