I was asked to rebuild/refinish an old square blank rod. I'm going to clean the blank, replace the cork, and then replace the guides. So, any pointers on applying the finish? Does anyone have experience with this type of rod blank? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks!

Are we assuming this is an old square bamboo fly rod?

I'm guessing this is a square, white/clear, solid glass, two-piece blank that came with solid aluminum ferrules and green thread wrappings circa 1956. I had one. It sure was durable.

Yes. Should I apply the finish like a round blank or to one side, dry, rotate, re-apply?

Please clarify exactly the rod's description, glass ? bamboo?

The only precaution I would take (and took, when I refinished my square W&M solid glass rod maybe 50 years ago) would be to thin the finish and put on a couple light coats of finish instead of one coat- all to keep the finish from building up ( and looking ugly) on the corners of the blank. Handle the rod carefully - the guide wrappings tend to fray on the corners of the blank, where they rub against stuff.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2022 08:11AM by Phil Ewanicki.

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
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> The only precaution I would take (and took, when I
> refinished my square W&M solid glass rod maybe 50
> years ago) would be to thin the finish and put on
> a couple light coats of finish instead of one
> coat- all to keep the finish from building up (
> and looking ugly) on the corners of the blank.
> Handle the rod carefully - the guide wrappings
> tend to fray on the corners of the blank, where
> they rub against stuff.

Thank You.

Kudos to Phil for answering in a concise manner.

I was dying to get into the ERN, the RFD, the LSMFT and similar discussions of static measurements - but I resisted temptation!

Phil Ewanicki Wrote:
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> I was dying to get into the ERN, the RFD, the
> LSMFT and similar discussions of static
> measurements - but I resisted temptation!

Good job. It's always best you don't advise on things you have no working knowledge of.

I didn't want to give advise about fly rod measurements unaccompanied by fly casting results. I prefer measured casting performance, in feet and inches, to static estimates of what performance "might" result from a particular rod build. Plenty of $ has been spent by advertisers to convince credulous buyers they can buy fly casting proficiency. Not true.

Like golf clubs. I bought a nice set of Taylor Made irons and metal woods about 5 years ago after playing with knock offs for 20 years. Result.......I still suck.