Hello,
I have never posted here only read the information that builders have. First I would like to say thank you for this forum and everyone willing to help. The question I have is about putting ferrules on a rod. I have a customer that wants a rod built for heavy species, Large catfish, flatheads and blues. The request is a long 2 piece rod that is heavy enough to handle this. I have researched the rod blanks that will perform as he wants but am not sure of which ferrule system to use and which would be strongest in this situation. I guess I am asking if tip over butt, spigot or a reinforced metal ferrule would be best for this? The rod would be 8 foot, extra heavy, braided line set up for a bait caster. Has anyone had experience in this situation? Any ideas on the best ferrule? Anything I need to watch for on a rod this heavy? Any help would be great!
Thanks

I would opt for a tip-over-butt ferrule. That's what most modern multi-piece rods use.

You do understand that you don't have to "put" these on the blank - they're integral.

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The blanks he is looking at are not offered in a 2 piece. It will have to be built unless you know of something I don't?
thanks

In that case you can either build a tip-over-butt ferrule (use glass) or make a spigot plug, or install metal ferrules, although this last option wouldn't be my first choice.

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Thank you for the answer. With modern materials is one of these choices stronger than the other or would the choice be based on the finished look only? I have not used a metal ferrule in years except for bamboo.

Strength isn't really the issue. What you want is something that will flex across the junction. What you don't want - is a solid, stiff area in the middle of the rod. The ferrule should move and flex with the rod, sharing the same characteristics across that area as the rod itself.

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Yes, I understand the flex issue. I have built many fly rods and 2 piece rods and know that the ultimate goal is to have the flex in the rod as close to possible as the flex in the same one piece rod blank. I am asking this about strongest because I am comparing this rod to salt water blanks for heavy fish. I personally have never built a 2 piece heavy blank except for 10 or 12 wt fly rods. All of the salt blanks I have built have been heavy 1 piece. I am looking for the flex in the joint but worried about the pressures on a ferrule trying to fight a fish in a 40 to 70 lb class. Sorry if this sounds stupid? I do not want my customer to hook the fish of his life and have the rod fail because of something I did.
Thanks again

If you make the ferrule too strong/stiff, there is an excellent chance that the rod will fail at either end of the ferrule area. That's the main thing to be concerned with.

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Lee,

I'm not exactly sure as to what your specifications are.

The Lamiglas TP rods might be what you are looking for.
The blank for the TP 8680 SP-SG is rated as XXH. It does have a sleeved tip over handle ferrule.

[www.lamiglas.com]

Don Becker