This is my first attempt at rod building so please excuse me if this is a silly question. I purchased a MHX 2 piece 7wt blank from mudhole and after looking at the blank I noticed 3 or 4 small cracks at the butt of the blank that run length ways for about two - three inches. Is this normal or should it be concerning?

Thanks,
Richard

I would say get a hold of Mudhole and get the blank sent back for a replacement.

Richard,
It is up to you as to whether you send the blank back or not.
If you plan on using a conventional grip, you really don't have anything to worry about. If I were to use the blank, I would just take thread and do a wrap up the first three inches of the blank, before putting the butt grip on the rod. This, along with the glue that holds the butt grip in place will repair the cracks and prevent any further cracking.

But, if you want to pay for the return postage, go ahead and send it back for replacement and I am sure that Mud Hole will quickly send you a replacement.

Also, the 2nd option, might be to trim the butt of the blank by the amount of the cracks if you are not that concerned about the total length of the blank. This will give you a clean end to begin your build.

Your choice.

Roger

If you have any scrap blank stock, you can slip a thin walled section with a closely matching taper inside the rear 3 or 4 inches of your blank and all will be well.

Cracks or splits in the end of rod blanks are usually caused by something being sat on or pushed against the blanks during shipment or storage.

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

I don't know why you would try to "fix" it. You didn't pay for a cracked blank. Send it back and get it replaced. I'm sure Mudhole would like to see it anyway from a quality control perspective.

I agree with Bob. I would send it back.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Send it back and make them pay all shipping. Seems like lots of these blanks are breaking.

No, a lot of these blanks aren't breaking. You must view such internet forum comments within the context of the number of items sold. If you saw 100 comments from folks saying they had an MHX blank break for no reason, and then viewed it against the realization that 30,000 of those blanks had been sold, that number of 100 suddenly seems like a paltry figure indeed.

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

All MHX blank received was perfect or near perfect.
Tom remarq sound good.
And you don't see 100 bad comment so .....

Brandon,

If you have any question simply contact the folks at Mudhole, they WILL take care of you! I have had an experience in the past where they replaced a broken blank with ZERO problems.... I need all to understand. I BROKE THIS BLANK !!!!!!!!!!! I was loading it into the car and broke the tip by my own stupidity. Todd replaced without blinking an eye.

I won't list the blank brand as it is of no importance what is more important to me is that I can call a vendor and they replace the product without hassle... This has been the case with ALL vendors that I have dealt with.

Tom Kaufmann

Might be a broken blank. Is it softer there if you squeeze it with your fingers? I would contact Mudhole in any case.

As was stated earlier , if it is in the butt section, use Mr. Kirkmans comments about placing a piece of blank inside ; do a few wraps on the outside and glue the butt grip in palce and go for it.
There will be 0 effect on the blank and save the hassle and expense of another blank shipping both ways.

Take care
REW



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2011 07:26PM by roger wilson.

As was said a long time ago - pick your battles and fight the battles that you need to fight. Don't go tilting with windmills.
If you want to send it back for replacement, Mud hole will replace it with no charge and send you a new one.

If you want to build on your current blank go for it and don't look back. The cracks will be strengthened by the inner blank and wraps and will be invisible to the user of the rod and the weight gain if any will be neglibible.

REW

Actually Roger you didn't mention putting a piece of blank inside. It was Tom who mentioned it after your post. All you said was to wrap it with thread then glue up the handle.

Lance

Lance,
Well said and I stand corrected.
Roger

First off, thank you everyone who responded! Second, I wish I would have never mentioned it was a mhx blank I was asking if it was a big deal if I had a few cracks in the blank at the butt. I didn’t mean for this to become a @#$%& contest. I have chosen to drive to Orlando tomorrow and swap it out for another bank and pick up some recoil guides.

Thanks again,

Richard

Richard,
Enjoy. Glad that you could bring up the topic.
Roger

I would send it back for the following reasons.

1. Just because you could see the cracks for a length of three inches, it doesn't conclusively prove that they don't extend further.
2. If the blank is defective, there is no way to know if there are cracks elsewhere on the blank that aren't visible.
3. The vendor has a right to examine the blank and log it in for QA/QC purposes. Any assistance we can provide to a vendor, is assistance to the rod building community in the manufacture of
higher quality products.
4. I wouldn't rest easy knowing the defect is there, especially if the blank is a client build.

John,
It is only a fishing rod blank.
This is not important enough in the big scope of things to lose sleep over.

However, you do raise valid points and your advice is well spoken.

Roger