4/26/17 Rick Elrod made a post regarding Blanks breaking, one of which broke in the split grip 5" up from the butt. Some of us remarked that this was an unusual place for a failure. Well it has happened to one of my builds 7ft spinning rod rated 3/16- 3/8 6-10 lb. line. My son made a 2 hand cast with an unweighted fluke (actual weight with hook 13 gm.) The blank snapped off 4.5" from the butt. This is a very nearly new build fished 3 or 4 times. No damage otherwise. Simply snapped off. So it can and does happen! Still seems to be a strange place to break!

Lynn,
One of the biggest reasons for unusual blank failures is because of hidden damage in the blank.

Sometimes a blank can get bent, crushed, sat on, and still have the blank look perfect. Then, at the least inopportune time, it simply snaps.

The key is to look very carefully at the break.

Mr. Kirkman did an excellent article a few years ago on blank failures and pictures and diagnosis of the issue.

One key thing to look at is, the break itself and how did it break.

If you have a virtual 90 degree square break, there is a reasonably good chance that it was a blank defect.

But, if you have long shards of blank going in both directions, then one is more likely to have a blank with a crushing failure.

But, there are many many variations on this simplistic approach.

On a new build like this you can normally call the manufacturer for a possible blank replacement.

Normally, the only thing that the manufacturer needs to warranty the blank is to have pieces of blank on each side of the break. i.e. ask the manufacturer what they require for warranty replacement. Many of the manufacturers ask that they have each side of the broken blank plus 6 inches on each side.

That way, the manufacturer can examine the break under a microscope and determine with a high degree of certainty - the cause of the break failure.

-----------------
In your case, you can typically save the blank section with the grips and reel seat and all of the guides and tip top off of the rods.
Then, you can either build a new full length rod using the replacement, or trim the new blank to match the former blank and then use an internal spigot to repair the rod and rewrap the guides on the new blank.

Good luck

It's pretty close to a dead square break. I took pics and sent them to the manufacturer. If he wants to send me another blank, great! I wouldn't even consider doing anything other than repairing it. Post was sort of an F.Y.I. thing.

Hello Lynn & Roger.

I checked my index and there are 2 that could be the article Roger is talking about and they are: volume-3 / Issue-1 Page-22 : "Defect or Abuse?" or maybe volume-7 / Issue-5 Page-24 "Breakage Reducing".

Hope I got it right & that it helps you out some.



Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thanks you guys.

Remember that it is possible for a blank to be damaged in shipping. Blanks get shipped sometimes twice or more before arriving to the eventual customer. The package you received may look fine, but the one your supplier received from the manufacturer may not have. Always give each new blank a critical eye and proper flex test prior to building on it.

.................

I bent the crap out of it, gave it the hairy eyeball, I even spined it, but built on the straightest axis. Broke straight across the inscription and decal (my 2 favorite things). It will live again.

Hairy eyeball, don't hear that often.

See you on the water, Doug
Captain Paddlefoot