Shortening a rod blank

[JeffD]

I know it can be and is done all the time, but what is the affect on the blanks action. I'm building a couple of rods. Both blanks are 7', one being fast action and the other is moderate fast action. Both rods a medium heavy power. Because of deck space,  I need to shorten both of them at least 3". I don't think taking material of of the butt changes anything in the action, but to what degree will it affect the power?

[Deleted account]

If you want the rod to fish like the full length, cut it from the butt. Cutting the tip, even an inch or two, can change the feel a bunch. 

[Jigfishn10]

In my opinion, no. 
This is a very old pic.

One of my kids was an infant when I did this and I’m guessing my son who is 17 now. I say this cuz I had to rebuild when he was taking his nap. ?

This was a full cork butt that my then puppy got a hold of. Chewed about 2-3” from the butt. 
I hated the handle anyway so I cut the 2-3” with a dremal cutoff attachment and cut the mid-section of cork out with a utility knife/box cutter. 
i was going to just paint and finish epoxy but there was way too much epoxy left on the blank.

I decided to wrap with gold thread and tried my hand at a maroon fishnet thread art. 
Well, sorry for the long post but I never felt a difference in action. Just a little different in casting and fighting a fish.

[Chris Catignani]

Yes...most rod cutting is done from the butt.

But if you need to make a rod a little stiffer you most certainly can cut it from the tip.

[JeffD]

So, you don't think removing 3" from the butt will affect the power?

[Jigfishn10]

13 hours ago, JeffD said:

So, you don't think removing 3" from the butt will affect the power?

JeffD, who are you directing that question to?

 

I doubt you'll notice any discernible difference.

[MickD]

Cutting 3 inches from the butt will affect the power and action only slightly, slowing the action and slightly decreasing the deadlift capability.  Cutting from the tip has a much higher influence on both.  I have never liked a rod which lost even only an inch of length from the tip. 

 

You can easily simulate cutting from the butt by taping guides on and taping the reel seat on in two different positions and comparing the results.   

[MikeK]

55 minutes ago, JeffD said:

So, you don't think removing 3" from the butt will affect the power?

Casting power not at all and lifting power not significantly, but find exactly how it will feel to you.  Mock up a reel seat with some masking tape bushings on the uncut blank at the length you would put it from the butt.  Put a tip on the rod and tie it off against a weight and load it like you are fishing.  Repeat with the reel seat moved 3" forward on the blank. 

[MickD]

I agree with mocking it up, I disagree that "casting power"will not be affected at all.  It will change a little if only from the length change which changes the geometry of the rod and theoretically will cut casting distance due to the lenght reduction.  But as stated, it's easy to mock up and get the answer yourself and not rely on opinions of others.  Cast it in both configurations as well as loading it statically.

[Chris Catignani]

On 12/30/2021 at 5:57 PM, JeffD said:

So, you don't think removing 3" from the butt will affect the power?

Maybe a little on the moderate rod...but not enough to make much of a difference.

None on the fast rod.

[Alex from GA]

I have 2 extra fast blanks that I cut 7" off the butt of one for a small stream kayak finesse worm rod and left the other full length.  The short rod fishes like a fast action rod and the longer one is still extra fast.  I imagine if you cut enough off it changes the action.