johnnytheboy Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 hi there, how does a rod blank come, is it just the carbon, or is it sort of shiney with some sort of finish?? just wondering as i'm looking into building a pike rod tightlines john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesehead Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 John, Most blanks come with a finish already on them. www.mudhole.come is one source on our side of the pond don't know if they will ship overseas or not though. : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 Its just a shaft of graphite or fiberglass. Usually with paint/finish on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytheboy Posted December 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 thanks guys i have some hand made pike bait boat fishing rods and it looks like the blank is just a factory finish, however round the eyes and at the signature there is a heavy clear cloat, can i get away with leaving the blank as it comes from the factory and just flexi coating these areas??? tightlines john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman Posted December 15, 2004 Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 Fishing rods don't NEED any finish on the blank itself. I have several rods that are raw graphite. Actually, performance-wise that is best as there is nothing to inhibit the blanks action. An unfinished blank will weight slightly less than a finished version. Granted, this is splitting hairs. You only need to put finish over your guide wraps and, if you write on the rod, the inscription area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytheboy Posted December 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2004 cheers that sound more like my kinda way of aviding doing to much, there is some blanks suppliers here in the UK, if i can't get one i think i'll get st croix musky ones from the states, see some prices at janns seem ok but i'll likely get killed on postage thats some musky in the picture 52" is a real beast, what you catch it on???? tightlines john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman Posted December 16, 2004 Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 John Not to knock this board, but swing over to rodbuilding.org and ask about blank suppliers for the UK. There are several people that frequent the site from the UK. You may run into someone that purchases a number of blanks from the US and can share shipping, or find a dealer overseas that can take care of you. St. Croix's Heavy power casting blanks would work for Pike. In addition their Muskie series. Can't say enough good things about the 3M76MHF for both Pike and Muskie. My recommend for a great all-around Muskie stick. Yea, that Muskie is 52" long with a 27 1/4" girth. Caught her on a crankbait made by Musky Mania. An Ernie in black Perch color. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnytheboy Posted December 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2004 cheers matt, i'll nip over and have a look, had alot of fish on ernies but more on jakes, nothing that size though, its a belter tightlines john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
