Hey guys,

I just received an email from a customer about a rod I built for him a couple months ago. I inspected and stress tested the blank before I built on it and there were no defects or scratches on the blank. This is a musky rod built on a Tackle Industries blank. I always stress test and flex these blanks thoroughly before I start building on them. The customer says he didn't fish with it at all. He sent me an email with a picture of a deep scratch/cut in the blank between the first and second guides. He then sent me a picture of what the blank looked like when it broke after he flexed it. I've never seen a break like this, has anyone else? It looks to me like the blank was cut with a utility knife or something similar.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

thanks,
jeremy

Such lengthwise splits are indicative of a blank that has been subjected to a crushing force. Something may have been dropped on the rod, or the rod may be have pressured into or onto another surface. Either way, that's a crush force break. The customer may be completely unaware that the blank was subjected to such force, but it has been. Possibly in shipping, or perhaps something he did with it unaware. If the blank is flexed at this point, it will exhibit further lengthwise splits as it splinters and then breaks.

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Yup. I had a rod break like this when I stepped on it. I'd placed it on the wood floor to take pictures and had a misstep. Long, longitudinal cracks just like this.

Terry

Good call. I had a buddy drop a tackle box on a rod of mine and found the lengthwise splits the first time I picked it up and used it. Wasn't sure what had happened and he only fessed up about an hour later.

What did you ship the rod out in? I have had some problems with those triangle tubes that the post office will tell you are just fine to send a rod out in. So I now charge double the shipping and send them out in a PVC pipe.

What did you ship the rod out in? I have had some problems with those triangle tubes that the post office will tell you are just fine to send a rod out in. So I now charge double the shipping and send them out in a PVC pipe.

Shipped in a HD .25" wall cardboard tube.

jeremy