Shortening a rod

[zelmo]

Lets say you decided to chop off 1 or 2 inches from a rod tip and then put a new tip top on.  In general can anything be said about how the action of the rod will be affected, or is that rod specific?

[Mobasser]

I've never cut off a rod intentionally, but have replaced a tip on rods that broke. 2 " to 3"  inches. Seems to stiffen the rod slightly.

[Jig Man]

If you like the rod I wouldn’t.  It may totally change the rod.  On rods that I have owned and had tips broken and new tips put on they were so different that I couldn’t stand using them.

[zelmo]

Thanks.  I have a Zbone LE1ML70 that I have been using for years to throw 1/16 oz slider heads with a small worm.  On my last trip the rod had an encounter with the TM and I lost the very end.  I want to try putting a new tip on to see how it works.  If it is stiffened a little I can live with that.

[J Francho]

It will slow the action. How much depends on the rod. 

[Deephaven]

A rod tip is a few bucks and worth it to check.  It will definitely change the action and probably lop some off the lower end of what you could cast, but it isn't expensive or hard to do.  Can just use hot glue to put the tip on.  Make sure to use a real caliper to measure the diameter of the rod where you will put it on and line it up carefully.

[zelmo]

2 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

A rod tip is a few bucks and worth it to check.  It will definitely change the action and probably lop some off the lower end of what you could cast, but it isn't expensive or hard to do.  Can just use hot glue to put the tip on.  Make sure to use a real caliper to measure the diameter of the rod where you will put it on and line it up carefully.

 

Those are my thoughts also.  I have other rods that can be substituted for this application so if I don't like it as much as the others I will just use this one for something else.

[Dens228]

I snapped off the tip of a Braillist right at the top guide.   I replaced the guide but it did have a definite difference in the feel.  It's now my punching rod. 

[Darren.]

I've had tips replaced by rod builders, myself. Rod action definitely changes.

I've shortened rods on purpose, like my 6' Premier ML. I took 3" off and it

is perfect to my liking.

 

Other rod shortening I've done is removing 3" off the butt end. Keeps the

rod action.

[Jigfishn10]

1 minute ago, Darren. said:

I've had tips replaced by rod builders, myself. Rod action definitely changes.

I've shortened rods on purpose, like my 6' Premier ML. I took 3" off and it

is perfect to my liking.

 

Other rod shortening I've done is removing 3" off the butt end. Keeps the

rod action.

This post is spot on. You will alter the action even if you were to lose and inch on the top.

 

I have shortened a rod purposely and took off the butt section as well. 

 

Nice post Darren.

[zelmo]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

I've had tips replaced by rod builders, myself. Rod action definitely changes.

I've shortened rods on purpose, like my 6' Premier ML. I took 3" off and it

is perfect to my liking.

 

Other rod shortening I've done is removing 3" off the butt end. Keeps the

rod action.

 

 I looked at the rod today and I lost more than I originally thought.  Turns out it is almost 3" and to the first guide.

 

How did the action change on your ML by taking off the 3"?

[Deleted account]

That's going to fish like a med rod, you  may like it or not, but it will be different. An inch or two makes a big difference. TWSS.

[livemusic]

2 hours ago, Darren. said:

I've had tips replaced by rod builders, myself. Rod action definitely changes.

I've shortened rods on purpose, like my 6' Premier ML. I took 3" off and it

is perfect to my liking.

 

Other rod shortening I've done is removing 3" off the butt end. Keeps the

rod action.

 

Darren, do you know if you can shorten the butt of most bass rods? Sometimes, the butt end on some rods catches on my shirt a lot and bugs me. Hmmm... might change the overall balance, might not be good and I don't know how you'd know until you did it, lol. Bass rods ain't cheap.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

2 hours ago, zelmo said:

 

 I looked at the rod today and I lost more than I originally thought.  Turns out it is almost 3" and to the first guide.

 

How did the action change on your ML by taking off the 3"?

Ive got 2 broken 7' ML F Premiers that broke in a car window.  One lost about 3-4" and the other lost about 7."  Taking 3" from the tip made the rod much stiffer and less sensitive, but its still useable.  The rod that lost 7" from the tip is shot.  The rod doesn't really load up at all and you cant feel a thing on it.  

[Randy Price]

Back in the day I used to stop at St. Croix's factory and buy what they called C-Stock rods.  C-Stock rods had the tips broken off and SC put a new tip on.  IF you could find one with less than 1" missing I was told by their staff that it didn't hurt the action too bad, however, most had 3-6" missing.  I bought a couple and was never happy with them.  Gave them away to kids to use.  Now SC doesn't even bother repairing them.

[redux]

7 hours ago, livemusic said:

 

Darren, do you know if you can shorten the butt of most bass rods? Sometimes, the butt end on some rods catches on my shirt a lot and bugs me. Hmmm... might change the overall balance, might not be good and I don't know how you'd know until you did it, lol. Bass rods ain't cheap.

Hack the butt off with a hack saw. Just be sure you secure the rod in a vise of some sort and make a good measurement before cutting. You can also score the line to help avoid any epoxy or graphite chipping while you saw.

 

You will need to weight the butt afterwards because it does change how tip-heavy the rod is. You can find weighted butt caps or epoxy some weights into the blank since it is hollow. You will need to epoxy a replacement cap if you go this route.

 

I did this to a rod with a 19.5" handle and just epoxied in some weights and used a generic cap to close it off.

[BigAngus752]

I surgically removed 2.75 inches off the end of a Fenwich Elite Tech MH/XF using the passenger door jamb of my truck.  I put a new tip on it and promptly discovered that it went from an XF to an unbendable titanium javelin.  

[Darren.]

20 hours ago, livemusic said:

Darren, do you know if you can shorten the butt of most bass rods? Sometimes, the butt end on some rods catches on my shirt a lot and bugs me. Hmmm... might change the overall balance, might not be good and I don't know how you'd know until you did it, lol. Bass rods ain't cheap.

 

So I did it on two BPS Carbonlite rods (White). I had to use heat to

loosen the butt cap, though that was a pain. I was able to re-install

the cap (glued on). I'll have to take a pic.

 

The balance does change a tad, though not to a point it bothered

me at all. Definitely nicer to not always catch my life vest on casts

while yak fishing.

 

Regarding balance, I'm using light reels, Stradic 1000 size.

21 hours ago, zelmo said:

I looked at the rod today and I lost more than I originally thought.  Turns out it is almost 3" and to the first guide.

 

How did the action change on your ML by taking off the 3"?

 

The action went from ML to MML, if that makes sense. I don't think

it is 100% Medium with the 3 lopped off, hence Medium Med Lite

description. I love the action with Ned rigs, drop shots, wacky, etc.