I know a blank is never going to be perfectly straight, but how much is too much? I had a blank replaced under warranty and when I was puting a bend in it I noticed it was really bent. The bend is not a slight wiggle. It is about 2/3rds of the way up from the butt. It is more of a turn in the blank so the tip ends up being around an inch off of the center line. I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a replacement. Same exact situation. Now I have the third replacement blank and it too has a bend, but not nearly as significant. It is probably only half an inch off. Is this typical of rod blanks and I have just been fortunate to not notice it in my previous rods or should they be a lot straighter than this with just a small wiggle or two of maybe a millimeter or two, but the tip is still in line with the butt overall?

Thanks

An overall curve or warp between butt and tip, even a pretty good one, isn't a problem and is quite common. But a sudden crook is a different matter.

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Where are you getting your blanks ??? I have gotten many from sponsors on the left and even the worst have only had a slight bend in the tip. If you are getting your's from that action site, watch out.

Bill - willierods.com

The blanks are coming directly from the manufacturer. They are straight for 2/3rds of the blank and then make a few degrees turn and then are straight again to the tip. I should also add I can bend the blank opposite the turn so it stays straight. It is just when I put a bend on the blank when testing the backbone or looking for the spine the bend in the blank stays and keeps the top portion offline from the bottom.
The manufacturer asked for the first two replacements back. I think I will send them back and just forget about this rod. I don't have any confidence in the blank since one snapped and three others seem defective so I am not going to put my time and effort into building it. Anybody want to buy a 7' 15-30# blank that is slightly bent? hahaha

Does not sound like any suppliers here ??? These guys only sell quality stuff !!!!

Where did you get them ??? Don't be afraid to say.

Bill - willierods.com

Tom Locke Wrote:
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> I should also add I
> can bend the blank opposite the turn so it stays
> straight. It is just when I put a bend on the
> blank when testing the backbone or looking for the
> spine the bend in the blank stays and keeps the
> top portion offline from the bottom.

Are you saying the blank does not return to the exact same shape after you manually bend it??

I'll tell you, that just doesn't sound right. I'd return it.

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Joe Spencer Wrote:
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> Are you saying the blank does not return to the
> exact same shape after you manually bend it??


That is exactly what I am saying. It looks straight. I bend it. 2/3rds of the way up from the butt there is a bend of a few degrees. The blank before and after the bend is straight so the tip ends up being off center from the bottom. If the blank is the hands of a clock it is 12:30 rather than 12 on the dot.

I agree it does not sound right and since it is the third blank I expect them to be able to diagnose the problem and fix it. It is a major manufacturer so I doubt there are many of these rods out there. I don't want to name the company as they may have a mistake, but the customer service has been top notch and I figure they will fix it. I just want a rod so I will use a different blank.

I thought that was what this board was for ? It would be nice to know so other builders do not go though the same thing

Sounds like they were not cooked enough.

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/08/2009 03:13AM by bill boettcher.

About 5 years ago I had 2 Loomis blanks that could have passed for boomerangs....

I have received several Loomis blanks from Mudhole and all of them were straight where you could not see any appreciable curve or any other type of deformity. I believe that Mudhole checks their blanks when they receive them from the manufacture & return any that do not meet their requirements. JMHO

The first, straight one came from Mudhole. The other three came direct from the manufacturer. They all look straight until you put a bend in them.