By George J. Roth
1. If you
desire to shorten a rod blank, there are some simple guidelines you
should follow. These guidelines will help insure the rod is not damaged
in the trimming process. In this case, a 7' S-Glass blank is being
shortened to 6'6". Tape is placed at the section to be cut to act as a
guide and to decrease the risk of splintering the blank.
2. My
preferred method of trimming a blank is with a Dremel. I recommend that
you use the Heavy Duty discs for this job. The cutting wheel is applied
lightly to the surface of the blank. The blank is then rotated slowly,
to make an even cut. Once the cut has been completed, the butt section
of the blank can be smoothed with sanding screen.
3. If you
elect to use a hacksaw to cut the blank, rather than a Dremel, please
follow these instructions. Mount the blade so the teeth of the blade
are angled away from you. Use a blade with the smallest teeth
possible. As you start the cut, apply a downward pressure on the blade
as you bring the saw "towards" you. If you apply pressure going "away"
from you so the teeth sink in to the blank, the blank will be more
likely to splinter or worse yet, to split. Rotate the blank as you cut
it. Just remember to "be GENTLE"! These newer, high modulus blanks are
fragile and you have to baby them.