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Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:52 am
by Toni
Last fall my Fenwick pole broke at the reel seat. Rather than throw it out I thought I would try to fix it. Here are the results.






2) Can I fix it and make it a smaller pole? So this is what I started with. Close up.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:58 am
by Toni
3) Larger view showing both sides. I was going to make it an ultra light pole and just use the tip but then I changed my mind and wanted a mid size pole and use both pieces.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:00 am
by Toni
4) I ordered the pieces from different places. When I tried to drill the cork out large chunks came out and made the diameter of the hole to large so it was really loose. Bad grade of cork. In the mean time my daughter needed a car and I didn’t want her borrowing mine so I cosigned to get her a Kia. The salesman is a fisherman-artist-rod builder. I was able to bring the pole to him and he told me what to do and to get better cork (and where to get it).

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:01 am
by Toni
5) So this is the new cork and I used a old pole and reamer tape for it so the holes are good to go. I also learned that I needed much more glue than I had so I got some more. He also recommended that I take the first eye off because it would be to close to the reel.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:03 am
by Toni
6) This is what it would have looked like with the old cork and the eye on it.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:04 am
by Toni
7) This is with the new cork and without the eye.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:07 am
by Toni
8) Close up of the finished handle. I ended up getting a little too much glue.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:09 am
by Toni
9) Showing the length of the pole.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:09 am
by Toni
10) Length of the handle.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:10 am
by Toni
11) Close up of the top handle. Here you can really see the glue.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:12 am
by big fish lite line
wow that was painfull to look at the first picture!
how did that happen?

great job on reconstructing it looks great
I also own an hmx but mine is a 6ft light action.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:13 am
by Toni

12) New reel for the old broken newly fixed up pole.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:16 am
by Toni
big fish lite line wrote:wow that was painfull to look at the first picture!
how did that happen?

great job on reconstructing it looks great
I also own an hmx but mine is a 6ft light action.
My son hooked a snag on bottom and just kept reeling until it broke the pole. He knows not to do it that way now.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:18 am
by Shad_Eating_Grin
Nice job!

With regards to fixing the original rod, it is possible and I've done it before.

Basically, cut off the cork at both of the two broken pieces, around where the break occurred. (If you're careful cutting off the cork, you'll be able to glue them back on later, and then sand them down to remove the rough spots.)

Next, apply adhesive and put a "sleeve" over the break. The sleeve can be anywhere from 2-4 inches long, depending on the size of the break and how much stiffness you want. I usually use parts of blanks from other broken rods, as sleeve pieces. (I usually find these scrap parts at garage sales and even lying on the riverbank where other people have discarded them).

After the sleeve (adhesive) has dried, reattach/glue the cork back on. (You might have to ream the inside of the cork, to get a better fit).

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:27 am
by Toni
Shad_Eating_Grin wrote:Nice job!

With regards to fixing the original rod, it is possible and I've done it before.

Basically, cut off the cork at both of the two broken pieces, around where the break occurred. (If you're careful cutting off the cork, you'll be able to glue them back on later, and then sand them down to remove the rough spots.)

Next, apply adhesive and put a "sleeve" over the break. The sleeve can be anywhere from 2-4 inches long, depending on the size of the break and how much stiffness you want. I usually use parts of blanks from other broken rods, as sleeve pieces. (I usually find these scrap parts at garage sales and even lying on the riverbank where other people have discarded them).

After the sleeve (adhesive) has dried, reattach/glue the cork back on. (You might have to ream the inside of the cork, to get a better fit).
Yes, I found that out after I talked to the salesman but I had already purchased everything but the better cork. So I was against getting more. Also, I found out that it has a warranty. We live and learn, at least we had better learn.
I haven't used the pole yet.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:15 am
by skimpy
Nice fix:cheers: let us know when you test it out.

RE:Fixing broken pole

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:43 pm
by Toni
Well the pole works fine in casting and retrieving. Now I just need a big fish on it!!!