what company makes the best rod blanks

[corey90]

i have brought from northforkcomposites but am looking for other companies

[casts_by_fly]

how long is a piece of string and what are you using the string for?

 

There are a LOT of great blanks on the market (NFC being one).

[TOXIC]

I’m not a rod builder but have always heard good things about rainshadow blanks. 

[casts_by_fly]

Just now, TOXIC said:

I’m not a rod builder but have always heard good things about rainshadow blanks. 

 

Also good blanks.  I've built a bunch of rainshadows, though all were in the lower lines.  I've not done a high end rainshadow.

[roadwarrior]

47 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I’m not a rod builder but have always heard good things about rainshadow blanks. 

I have several and would HIGHLY recommend them to you. Mine include the Eternity

and Immortal lines. I think you will find these rods comparable to G.Loomis GLX and 

NRX.

[Dwight Hottle]

4 hours ago, corey90 said:

i have brought from northforkcomposites but am looking for other companies

You answered your own question. 

[Bdnoble84]

I think you might have more luck in the rod building forum

[MickD]

What is your definition of "best?"  

[Alex from GA]

I've built several on the Rainshadow Immortal blanks and they're very sensitive and tough.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I don’t use just one brand. Most of the name brands have unique or stand out models. Trial and error and experience is a big part of rod building. Rainshadow, Rodgeeks and MHX are all worth a look

[spoonplugger1]

Which rod company is closest to you and may have the regional differences and techniques nailed down more solidly? There are differences and rod companies build to the environment they do their testing and R & D in, NFC has a western bent, deeper, cleaner waters. St. Croix a mid-west, the Texas and Florida companies companied have to contend with more vegetation, shallower, stump filled waters, heavier presentations and build accordingly.

[MickD]

What is your definition of "best?"

 

[corey90]

On 1/29/2023 at 8:08 PM, MickD said:

What is your definition of "best?"  

high quality. Strength, sensitivity, durability and crisp actoins

[spoonplugger1]

Not one of those attributes can't be found at a bunch of companies. You don't survive building poor rods/blanks, especially in the upper tier products. Sensitivity is not something you can quantify in a company's rods, or line of rods, how it is built by the company, or you play such a huge part in the end result, for good or bad, one of the most sensitive spinning rods I have ever built was built on a lower carbon, old school guide selection, old school shorter grips and the old heavy reels, I still don't know what was so special, but when a light jig head touched bottom, or structure it let me know like few rods since have done.

[WRB]

I am sure DVL can build accustom rod from whatever blank meets your needs.it’s up to you to define what you need.

My last custom jig and worm rods came by way if Lamiglas who used to make custom rods for me. 

Call Lamiglas to order a rod equal to the Loomis NRX but light overall weight (under 4 oz) with a similar fore grip in a 5 power fast action rod.

Lamiglas suggested I contact Alex at ALX back in 2012 as he had Lamiglas rod blanks I was looking for. Alex built 3 rods for me that exceeded my expectations. 

Try talking to Alex, he still make custom rods.

Tom

[MickD]

16 hours ago, corey90 said:

high quality. Strength, sensitivity, durability and crisp actoins

High quality, whatever that means, AmTac, Point Blank, Rainshadow, MHX, NFC, Phenix, Lamiglass, and many others providing blanks.

Strength- Have to ask, what is your definition of strength?  

Sensitivity- Go with the priciest stuff  you can afford and it will have the highest modulus and most likely, but not guaranteed, the highest sensitivity.

Durability- Might be in conflict with sensitivity since most high mod blanks are more fragile than low mod blanks.

Crisp actions- I think this means fastest recovery speed, which would again lead to the highest mods you can afford.

 

It's not easy.  But defining your priorities as much as possible is helpful.

[spoonplugger1]

The truth of the matter is that there are a finite number of carbon materials that make a good rod blank, the resins used to bond the fabric together into something we can use is the secret sauce that improves rods today. If you choose to not use NFC blanks and a few other companies or buy your blanks on price alone you are missing out on the innovations that are happening today in carbons and resins, for most companies it is easier to set back and let others do the testing and R & D and then come in with copies after the forerunners prove out a concept. I can think of 4 new materials alone not counting resins that NFC leads the way in developing, one is the complete surprise to them while developing a completely different product for a company that has nothing to do with fishing in anyway. There are the innovators and the also rans using 20+ year old tech brought in from Asia and spend their money on sales speak and flashy ads. The innovators have small companies, that spend a lot of time thinking up new materials and products and producing what they already have out there, for NFC that is oars, carbon grips of two designs, finished Edge Rods, and all the side products mentioned before, the whole time you have choke points in your supply chain and in your production, after all the carbon products at one time or other has to go through the long baking process in huge commercial blank ovens, you need room for rolling tables, wrapping stations, taping machines, presses to remove carbon products from mandrels, etc. Things blank buyers like Rainshadow, Mudhole, Phenix, etc. don't have to have room for, they are pretty much just warehouses with offices, parts pickers and shipping and receiving. Conex boxes and trailers show up, you empty them, put everything away, go to a meeting about your flashy new ads and catalogs, and wait for someone to order the stuff, pack it up and send it out again.

Our job is simple, buy innovative US products and contend with the known advantages and disadvantages, or buy the other way. Just don't expect an unlimited quick supply of the best for the least, it doesn't work now and never has. Some put their money where their mouth is. Edge Black Widow Rods, blanks and the material used US; reel seats US; grips in house US; REC guides US built.

[MickD]

I feel compelled to mention that while NFC does provide a multitude of fine blanks, trying to figure out what the power and action they have is problematic.  Very problematic.  Because they describe rods of different powers and actions with the same subjective words.  A medium power "drop shot" blank will be very far under the power of a "spin jig" rod that is called medium power.  An ultra light spin blank could be called "fast action" when most builders would consider it slow.  But they must think it's fast for an ultra light.  This results in even experienced builders buying "surprises," blanks that they never wanted but based on the subjective descriptions, thought were right.  If you want the "best," and described accurately with CCS numbers, go with Point Blank.  Point Blank publishes objective numbers describing power and action.  https://www.common-cents.info/CCS_basic_Layout_1.pdf  CCS was developed for fly rods but it works with everything.

[spoonplugger1]

Fast and x fast can be built into any power blank, from any material, the power has to be first anchored down as appropriate than just give it a very soft tip for x fast and not so soft for fast. The Sage SPL fly rods are the perfect example of mistaken identity, anyone would tell you they are and fish like a moderate rod from many other sources. CC the blank and you find it is a low powered, lower than its published power, but for a fly rod about as fast as they get. Many of the Fenwick fiberglass fly and gear rods are the same way. Action has nothing to do with reaction, but many confuse them.