I just purchase two TFO Professional series four piece fly rod blanks (9ft 4wt) for a project. I have built on several other brands before but never TFO. Both blanks look beautiful but when I put them together the male end (which has the finish buffed off) does not extend all the way into the female end up to the new finish. It leaves about a half inch of the buffed area showing. I have never seen this happen before with any rod let alone two of them and it is present on each section of the rod. Have any of you seen this before. Sections snug up nicely otherwise. The only way to hide it is to wrap above and below the joint.

Bryce Abbott
Go & Do Likewise

That area is left for future wear. There's nothing wrong with it. If the sections fit all the way to the finished area, future wear would not be accommodated and you'd have a loose fit that would result in the tip coming off or breaking.

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I never IMHO could understand why any company would do this I see no reason for it
You should not put a wrap up to the female cause as it wares it will hit the thread

Bill - willierods.com

This is SOP for TFO.

Batson and other companies have colored blanks They don't do that

Bill - willierods.com

Just like a couple of people have said above, its normal. TFO is one of several companies that have their blanks built and colored like this. I think it looks terrible. Orvis and TL Johnson did the same thing on several of their models.

Just build it out like any other fly rod, I also will concur with Bill B about not putting a thread wrap on the male section too close to where the female section seats, it will need a bit of room to wear over time and the female section will eventually seat itself further down the male section, it may take a few years, depending on how much use it gets, but it will wear a bit over time.

I built on two Century surf blanks and it was the same way.

Jeff

Columbia, SC

Thanks everyone for your comments. We live and learn. I followed your advice and left the male ends the way they came. Not very pretty but it is what it is. I donate a rod to the Boy Scouts live @#$%& every year to help raise money for shooting sports at a Summer Camp. This year we decided to do one in the colors of two Universities here in Kansas and then let the fans bid them up. I was trying to keep my out of pocket low since I was making two. Since Sevier is gone its hard to find a basic four piece fly rod at a good price.

Bryce Abbott
Go & Do Likewise

MHX Fly Rod Blanks take a look

Bill - willierods.com