I have a bunch of fishing rods. I just finished attaching a cieling rack hanger in my garage to store them horizontally. I have previously stored all my rods upright or in a tube. Will prolonged two-point horizontal storage harm graphite blanks?

Phil,
Likely not, but why not use a box.

Are you speaking of a fishing rod with or without a reel attached.

If you get a 10 foot long cardboard box, you can put in 50 rods if the box is deep enough and by having a cover on the box will keep the rods free of dust, dirt, and rodent damage.

Never know if and when a mouse might get in and start chewing on a nice juicy cork handle.

If you wanted to be sure to avoid the problem, you could use 3 supports for horizontal storage rather than 3. But, if the rod is fully supported in a box there will be 0 chance of damage and or dirt on the rod.

Good luck

yes it can cause the blank to warp if it is or gets to warm where they are stored.
the best way is to up right with no pressure on the blank
even with the new bonding agents for the blanks it still will react like storing records flat they will eventually warp

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Storing rods horizontally with only two suspension points is likely to cause warping. Where I live it gets hot in the summer and high in the garage gets pretty hot, not a good place to store rods.

8 ft vinyl fence post with caps on both ends works for me for transport and storage.

Good idea David.

If you like garage storage it's a piece of cake to build the vertical storage racks similar to those sold commercially, with the slanted board at the bottom where a horizontal dowel goes across to gently accept the butt and slightly preload the tip to the back, then up about 3 feet have another dowel go across to provide a resting place for the blade of the rod. Simply build these along the walls inside the vertical joists, or whatever they are called. Easy in, easy out, easy to see what you have, easy to get just one out. No chance of warping, IMHO. The other ideas with all the rods together in a closed container are fine for protecting the rods, but not so good for seeing what you have and selecting rods. The storage I describe allows either just rods or rods with reels. A plastic sheet hanging from above keeps most dust off but still allows easy access. If not clear, I can take a photo and post, but you'll see racks like this at the stores like Cabela's.

Access, visibility, and separation are issues and I have limited wall space. I imagine (hope) warping would take place over a a period of years rather than months. Does anyone have a photo of a rod warped by a two-point horizontal storage so I can weigh the damage versus other options? Most of my rods are for salt-water use.

Thanks for starting this thread Phil. I have been thinking about a good way to store blanks in my basement, better than leaning against the wall. A simple horizontal rack hanging a short distance down from the ceiling joists would be out-of-the-way.

John Shear
Chippewa Falls, WI

If you are set on horizontal storage, increase the suspension points to 3 or 4, that will reduce the risk of warping.

Phil

I store my built rods horizontally in my basement with cup hooks on 2 thin strips of wood mounted across the floor joists. The wood strips are spaced about 4' apart. The rods I store are all 6' to 7' long light and medium spinning rods. The rod is hooked on the 1st cup hook right in front of the foregrip. It doesn't get hot in my basement. I have never had a problem with warping rods in the last 15 years or so! I store my blanks in 6' to 7' cardboard shipping tubes attached between the floor joists. It all works well for my storage situation.

Rog

No reason a person cannot do a combination of these ideas.

I store all my Surf rods (up to 13'6") in my Garage without a Problem

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Out of curiosity...have any of the "they're gonna warp" crowd ever stored a rod horizontally, like the OP suggests, and suffered a warp?

I've never had a graphite rod warp, but I set a certain amount of rod racks up spaced for what I anticipate will go there. I have some spaced for my salmon/steelhead rods, fly rods, and shorter stuff like boat, bass and trout rods. Set up is simple, butt than the next one about 3/5 the distance of the rod. Haven't used more than two total on any rod. I left enough room at the butt to move the rod back and forth on the rear grip length to miss a guide, etc.

JAY Those rods in my post are hanging in a uninsulated metal garage, have not had any problems with warp or bending. They are heavier rods most rated over 6 OZ. Been hanging like that for years

Barry Thomas Sr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JAY Those rods in my post are hanging in a
> uninsulated metal garage, have not had any
> problems with warp or bending. They are heavier
> rods most rated over 6 OZ. Been hanging like that
> for years

Barry, I have confidence in horizontal storage as well. Common sense says to me that if you store them without a belly in the blank, then it is impossible for them to develop a permanent belly or warp. Support the thing where it weighs the most & it'll be very difficult to screw it up.