Mountainclimber Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 I'm thinking of building a new rod since I can't find one that suits my needs. I would like to maintain a meduim heavy action, but would like to build the rod about 50" or so. So I was wondering do I buy a 6' MH blank and just cut the butt section off, buy a M action blank and cut some of the tip and butt section off, or do I just get a M action blank and cut the butt section to produce a MH action? Again, I'm trying to end up with a MH type action in a 50" rod. This might be asking a lot... Thanks for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Climber: I'd get a blank that is plenty long and start by cutting a couple of inches off of the tip. Check the results and do it again until you have the tip action you are looking for. At that point just cut to the final length you are looking for buy cutting the rest off of the butt. You can cut the tip by scoring around the blank with a triangular file, cut at least half way through the material. Better yet an inexpensive Dremel Tool with an abrasive disk will make short work of any blank material. Good luck, Jim P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braided Line Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 When you start cutting off sections of a rod( tip area or butt section) it`s hit or miss as to the out-come. I`d just keep looking. You`ll find what your looking for sooner or later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Glenn Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Some things to consider. 1. A blank without eyes never feels like the finished rod, it will always feel more limber with the eyes on. 2. When you cut a blank that makes it stiffer 3. Eyes are usually cheaper than blanks so buying a heavy set and a light set might allow you to achieve the flex you are looking for. Light eyes stiffer rod- heavy eyes more flex. I would waste an old rod to see how cutting affects that blank and apply that knowledge to the new blank you are getting. Musky Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshn4lmt Posted July 22, 2014 Report Share Posted July 22, 2014 St croix used to have 5'6'' blanks.dont know if they still do. I would get whatever blank you need that has the action you are looking for and shorten from the butt side,not the tip.if you go trimming the tip,you could wind up with a giant tip top guide because the outside diameter of your tip is huge,and ring sizes go up as the tube size goes up. It will look silly if you have a rod with size 6 running guides,and a size 10 ring tip top guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I think cutting off tip material is a big crap shoot because different blanks have different "tapers" and you won't know about yours until you have the blank in your hands. And if you do it, how much tip do you remove? You won't know how the rod fishes until it is completed with the handle and all the guides attached. The recommended procedure is to buy a 6' MH blank that has the action and power you want and shorten it from the butt. A Dremel with a fiber reinforced cutoff wheel does a neat job of cutting blanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Glenn Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 BobP X 2. When you cut the rod, don't be surprised if there is a difference in wall thickness from one side to the other. This contributes to rod spline. Have fun. Musky Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonoman Posted November 6, 2014 Report Share Posted November 6, 2014 That's one short lil rod you want , obviously a very specialized application...there is a business called bridgemaster located on Hwy 60 in Lake Wales , Florida that has thousands of low cost graphite blanks, last time I was in the joint I bought several for a buck a foot....I built several 7 footers for light inshore salt water fishing, they have been fine, you could purchase a few and cut them up and see how it goes...they don't get any cheaper unless they are free, plus I don't think anyone can actually tell you what you actually are going to like since its a "feel" thing...good luck, they also have all the components.....Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
