Rod building (re-design) question...

[esoxangler]

This may be a stupid question to all you rod builders out there, but I am curious. Can you take a store bought casting rod, remove all it's components (guides, reel seet, etc.) down to just the blank, then take that blank and make it into a spinning rod? I have a St. Croix Avid casting rod that I purchased several years ago that does not get any time on the water. It's power, action, line/lure rating would make a great walleye rod. Thanks in advance.

Esox

[Scott A]

No that's not stupid.

Sure you can.  Most of my builds have been of older rods that I can't stand to part with.  You can strip it to the bare graphite and leave it naked or paint it.  I have an old spinning rod that I am considering re-building as a baitcaster.

Note, that stripping a rod can be alot of work depending on how well it was put together.

[flechero]

Note, that stripping a rod can be a lot of work depending on how well it was put together.

For sure!

Not to mention that unless you get really lucky (or refinish the entire blank also) you'll see where everthing used to be.  And, add to that the risk of damaging the blank when removing each of the components and heating the old epoxy...  well you get the point.

I think a rebuild is much, much more work than starting from scratch.... so much so that I won't rebuild one at all.  My time is worth more (to me) than the cost of the components.

[ejtaylor822]

I'm with Flechero.  Tearing down to the blank and rebuilding is very time consuming, tedious and a lot of opportunities for something to go horribly wrong.  There is much more time invested - at least for me anyway - in the tear down than the actual build.  

I will replace a guide or two - not a problem.  I will swap out a busted reel seat or damaged grips - its a pain but not terribly bad.  But, to strip the whole thing down to the blank and start over, well, it should  be a high-end premium blank, and/or a family heirloom.  

Otherwise, my advice is if its something you want to do yourself, just be careful and go slow.  Otherwise, keep it as a backup or maybe look into selling or trading to get what you want.

Eddie

[esoxangler]

Thanks everyone. I contacted several builders, they said they could do it, but it cost as much as buying a new Avid. They also both offered the alternative of building a new rod, then tearing down the ones I have. So as ejtaylor822 suggests, I will more than likely sell or trade them on this forum at some point.

Thanks again!

Esox

[Red]

I have done this.  I built a rod a while back, didn't like how it turned out.  So i stripped it down to the blank.  The only thing that was saved was the guides.  The reel seat is the biggest problem.  I had to make several small cuts around with a copeing saw and break each little piece off.  Was a pain in the freakin arse!!  I will never do this again.  However I did not damage the blank so I do plan to rebuild it someday.  Like someone else said, unless it is a high end blank or has sentimental value, don't do it!

Cliff

P.S. Removing the old epoxy is no easy chore either!!

[.RM.]

Agree 100% with flechero, and, ejtaylor822....

[Bucket]

If you plan to do the work yourself, I'd say go for it. But like the others have said, if I'm going to do it for someone, I'd talk them out of it due to cost.