I want to do some experiments to help me discern the weight of guides versus thread versus epoxy finish when I wrap various guides on various diameters of rod blank. I have a jewelers balance, which will allow me to get very accurate weights for all of this, but I do not have any sections of rod blanks I am willing to sacrifice. Where might one get sections of blank? Especially tip sections, and double especially for ultralight and light action blanks?

Mud Hole clearance bin... but you gotta drive to the store and dig through and see what you can find. I don't think their clearance bin items are to be found online.

Check your local rod repair centers, they may have scrap sections.

Flea mkt., yard sale, good will store. find a few and re-use them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2021 07:36PM by Lynn Behler.

You can wrap on dowels or small pipes as well. As long as the weight of the part being wrapped upon is constant, you will get accurate and relative results. In fact, given that no two scrap rod tips are likely to be the same weight, a constant of a dowel of small pipe may be better. There's ways around this of course, but at least you have some other options.

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

That is actually a good idea, much better than my original one! If the weather holds I will walk to the hardware store later today to see what they have.

Eric,
You can pick up a few of these:

[www.fleetfarm.com]

When you are finished, you can go out and put them in the ground to mark your drive way if you live in a house with a garage and driveway that could use markers.

Best wishes

Thanks Roger. That reminded me of another possibility: the wire flags that are used to mark underground telephone, gas, and electric lines. I suspect I can find a few of those for a very reasonable price.

Check out the larger diameter size plastic soda straws, they are uniform length and inexpensive.

Bamboo cooking skewers can be had in a few different sizes. Amazon sells 3.5 and 5mm diameter in various lengths. Probable be a bit stronger than small diameter wooden dowels and less expensive.