I have been asked to build a two piece rod for the first time. It will be used mainly for bass. I am looking at using MB 842-2-MHX or SJ842-2-MHX blanks. Any suggestions or cautions are appreciated.

Ralph

Two piece rods are easier for me than one piece since I don't use a lathe; I use a manual winding "platform" that I made, and two piece is easier. I can think of no special precautions relative to two piece. One nice thing to include in a two piece is putting dots onto the blank at the ferrule to make alingnment of the pieces easier. Decal Connection has dot decals that are nice, and the Rodbuilers Magazine had an article a couple years ago about a tool to make dots pretty easy. It is not universally agreed as to the need for it, but wrapping the female ferrule with about 3/8 inch of thread for reinforcement is easy and good insurance against failure of that ferrule.

two pieced rod blanks are built on two separate mandrels at the factory and then fitted to each other. sometimes there may be a slight curve in either one or both sections. Loosely assemble the blank and sight down it and rotate the upper section until you find where the blank is in the straightest axis. Mark both sections with masking tape and a marker, and then make your build on those marks.

The SJ's are usually a tad faster and perhaps a tad less powerful than the MB's. Someone at Mudhole could dial you in on the differences in their blanks.

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Be sure to wrap the female section of the ferrule. When a blank is at rest it is round. When it is under load the round shape of the blank changes to a kind of oval shape. Failure to wrap the ferrule will cause cracking and splitting over time of the edge of the female end of the ferrule. This will cause a catastrophic failure of the blank and also void most warranties. Usually 2 times the circumference of the blank should be long enough. Of course put finish over the wraps. Good luck and good building. Buzz

Thanks for all the good advice. It sure is good to see that after being away for several years Tom's site is still as good as ever.
Thanks again.
rhr

DO ABOUT 2 TO 2.5 X THE DIAMATOR FOR THE WRAP. AN CLOSE TO THE END.
BUT 1/16 INCH UP WILL NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM AN THE WRAP WILL NOT COME OFF ON YOU .

William Sidney
AK