How crooked of a blank is acceptable. I recently bought some blanks, and didn't bother to check for straightness. Now halfway through the build, I'm finding that they are all crooked. I have bought less expensive rods and they were much straighter. I just want to get some input as to what is acceptable and should I complain to the manufacturer?

Are you talking about a gentle overall bend or warp? Or a sudden crook, particularly near the tip area.

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Bill

In addition to knowing the bend location it would also be helpful to know if the blank is bamboo, graphite or glass.

Bamboo ought to be straight, but can take a "set", and a new blank ought not have one. The blank maker ought to straighten it for you.

Graphite is usually nearly straight, just not perfectly so.

Fiberglass, and especially some of the lesser expensive blanks, tends to be the worst of the curved lot, sometimes with clearly visible curves (what Tom described as a gentle overall bend) in each section. Some mount the guides on the outside of the curve with the thought that doing so will help straighten the curve. It only sort of works for tip sections - no joy for mid or butt sections.

I've never measured a curved rod or section so don't have a direct, quantitative answer to your question how much is too much. But I can tell you that I've built up glass rods that cast and fished well with curves that I would have rejected out of hand if bamboo or graphite.

Bill,
The fact that you received the blanks and essentially looked at them and did not see any really obvious bends tends to tell me that any bend in your blanks is not too severe.

I have fished with a lot of rods that have pretty noticeable bends in the blank and fish just fine.


If I do have a blank with a bend in it, I make sure that the curve in the blank is either straight up, or straight down. One of the biggest reason for placing the bend this way, is that during general use, the bend tends to disappear.

Users of rods will sight down a rod from time to time. Just another check that many folks do with their rods. If the reel seat and guides are glued and tied on the blank, so that the curve is either straight up, or straight down,

This way, when a person sights down the rod, the curve, which is either straight up, or straight down will not be seen.

Be safe

Roger just to clarify, you wrap the bend straight up or down regardless of the spine?

Nick

The blanks are made of S glass and carbon. The curve starts about 1/3 down the bland from the tip. It is a well known blank and not cheap. the curve is about 1/2". Just wanted to get an opinion as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Should I mention to the manufacturer that the blanks were not straight or is the norm whatever you get, you get? I never ran across this problem before. I have always received fairly straight blanks. Thanks.

Nick,
Yes I pay no attention to the spine. I wrap on the straightest axis.

Bill,

If you feel the bend is excessive, let the manufacturer know. If you don't, you will always kick yourself for not doing it, especially every time you notice the bend. Building on the straightest axis is fine, but should not be used to compensate for an excessively bent blank.

The manufacturer may end up letting you know what you have is normal. Or they may replace your blanks.

Take care, and let us know what you end up doing.

Chris

If you're talking 1/2 inch off between the tip and the butt, that's normal and nothing at all to worry about. It is rare to ever get a blank that is perfectly straight as these are not machined parts - they are hand made tapered tubes and some deviation is to be expected. On a 6 foot long rod blank, I don't worry if the tip and butt are out of straight by an inch or more.

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I plan on keeping the rods as I put too much work into them already, so I wouldn't even think of exchanging them. It's my own fault for not checking them when I got them. I guess I'll have to address it with the manufacturer when I order again.Thanks for the input.

Bill,
It is not a bad idea to take any blank that you receive and roll it across a perfectly flat surface. Any imperfections pop out very quickly.

Be safe

Roger, that's exactly what I do; however, for some unknown reason, this time I didn't. My mistake.