Firstly… Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Secondly…. I have an NFC X-ray blank ready to go for a build. It is unfinished type with the circular ridges running the blank. Last night I was inspecting it under light and noticed what I thought was a crack. This is a faint line that tracks in a spiral around the blank for about 8 inches 1/3 way back from the tip. Almost looks like a line was wrapped around it during manufacture, then removed. Seems like an unusual shape for a crack, unless it was twisted forcefully.
Any insights on this? Thx

I have no advise, or opinion as I would have to look at it. That being said, if it's a new, unused blank, with any defects, or suspected defects, send d it back for a free replacement part/section. It's up to the manufacturer to insure their product is without blemish, Any crack can cause failure down the road. CTS sent me a blank with a defect. i took pictures, sent the bad section back, and got a free replacement pert. Their is a waranty against manufacture defect with most rod companies.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF

Even if you twisted the blank far enough to cause a crack, the crack would fall along the line of the matrix lay-up, which is tip to butt on these type rod blanks.A spiral type mark or line is something else entirely.

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see if it can be cleaned off.

see if it can be cleaned off.

Yeah, it doesn’t clean off. I uploaded a couple of photos if anyone is interested. The whole thing spirals about 18 inches down the blank. This is near the tip end , , the blank diameter is probably about 3 to 4 mm at this point. Unfortunately, I have the grips on the blank already, can’t send it back. Learned a lesson to inspect closely next time doing anything to it

I would bend it vigorously a few times and if it doesn't break, build it. If it does nothing lost. It's not doing you any good now. Fool me once...

The fibers run tip to butt, not around the blank, so this is likely cosmetic.

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I just looked at your photo - you're seeing the edge of the pattern flag. All is well.

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I've seen stuff like you're explaining on some bare blanks , it turned out to be no issue at all . Since you got the handles on I assume you have the reel seat on also and if that's the case I would temporarily tape the guides on the blank then attach a reel and put it in a static bend . One line tied directly to the tip top and one coming from the reel and threaded through each guide and out the tip top down to a weighted object .

That should reveal if the bank in that area is compromised or not .

I've learned sometimes it's best to not look over things too closely because most of the time you will find something to nitpick about even things that nobody else would ever nitpick about or even notice , it can drive you nuts lol.

Thank you Tom

Yeah the NFC blank I just built had some odd surface cosmetics wear/finish. I flexed the rod before I built it and no problems. Its built it and I enjoy the end product.(Very light for a 10wt.) Wait time getting the blank it was longer than stated.

Roger,

There is a warranty claim submission form on the website - can you send that in, and send our folks a picture?

info@northforkcomposites.com

Alex


roger gleason Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Firstly… Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
> Secondly…. I have an NFC X-ray blank ready to go
> for a build. It is unfinished type with the
> circular ridges running the blank. Last night I
> was inspecting it under light and noticed what I
> thought was a crack. This is a faint line that
> tracks in a spiral around the blank for about 8
> inches 1/3 way back from the tip. Almost looks
> like a line was wrapped around it during
> manufacture, then removed. Seems like an unusual
> shape for a crack, unless it was twisted
> forcefully.
> Any insights on this? Thx

One should always flex the blank 90 degrees before starting the build. If there are cracks or other structural defects they should show up then.

Ditto on Phil's comment.

To flex the blank, I simply push the top portion of the blank into a carpeted floor until the blank has flexed to the 90 degree point to be sure that there are no latent issues with the blank. It only takes about 5 seconds to do this check on every new blank being used.

Best wishes.

well, I kind of did that when I located the spine, but I don't think I flexed it to 90 degrees

Aleks Maslov Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Roger,
>
> There is a warranty claim submission form on the
> website - can you send that in, and send our folks
> a picture?
>
> info@northforkcomposites.com
>
> Alex
>
Thanks Alex,
I bought it last March, just now started to build it. Looking at the warranty terms (>6 months) it would cost more to replace it ($110) than I initially paid for it… I have ordered 2 more since that time, will definitely take a close look at them