Fishing World

Posts Tagged ‘Repair’

You can easily repair small leaks in fishing waders with a little seam grip.

How to repair fishing rods when it’s a 1-piece pole. Here are some of the basics for repairing a 1-piece pole. You can elect to use a sleeve from a custom rod blank that matches. But, it does change the rods action and sensitivity greatly if broken in the middle.

Rod blank sleeves can be bought or you can cut your own off a pole that you no longer use. When using this method of repair, you’ll at least get to keep it in your arsenal of favorites.

Likewise, you’ll be able to use much of the same parts from your old one or buy new. The choice is yours. Threads can be cut off with an exacto knife and tip top usually can be heated and pulled off with pliers. If you decide just to replace the tip, a tip sizer is required. Remember though your rod sensitivity will change slightly. Tip-top rod glue is available and should be used.

*Note here when cutting a 1-piece repair sleeve that the sleeve should be no longer then 6 inches. Using a vise and, wrapping a soft cloth around the clamped area, cut the jagged edges off your existing pole evenly and sand edges smooth with 120 grit paper. In like contrast, if you cut a sleeve off an old pole, prepare as well.

Possible, required parts and components are 1/4 inch masking tape, felt tip pen, epoxy glue, rod finish, matching rod color, and color preserver for the thread.

Lay the new rod blank sleeve next to the dressed part. Slide the sleeve over so it fits 3 inches and snug onto the prepared part. Maintain 3 inches on both sides, making sure not to cut off too much. Once you have a good fit, you’ll require a 2-part 5 minute epoxy rod glue to complete the repair. Once dried and set up, you can now start replacing your line guide or guides, if needed. Usually, one is only required to be replaced.

Use 1/4 inch masking tape to line up your guides. However, if it’s a single foot guide, you’ll have to use a 2-part 5 minute epoxy glue here also to attach. To distinguish the location mark a dot using a fine tip felt pen at the end of the foot location. Also, use the epoxy glue sparingly.

After the guide is secure you can start wrapping the thread. Matching thread is readily available at tackle dealers. Wrapping can be quite tedious and since this article is just about the basics of repair, I highly suggest an instructional guide on the subject.

Wrapping the thread can be put on with a homemade rod wrapper using 3/4 inch stock pine with 2 bases and by attaching 2 V-blocks. Glue 2 pieces of soft felt in the V’s. Or, Pac Bay has a nice rod wrapping machine with thread tension. Also, when applying rod finish Pac Bay wrapper will also keep it from sagging and dry evenly giving it a professional look.

As I mentioned earlier, these are just the basics. By obtaining a good instructional guide on the subject comes in quite handy for other repairs too. So there you have it in a nut shell. I hope these basics of repairing a 1-piece pole has helped you decide whether you would like to attempt this repair.

As always good luck and good fishing.