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Rod life? (20 posts / 2,977 views)
powell7 powell7
Posts: 387
Post #1 30 Oct 2020 20:51
0
Hi all

I have some fox rangemaster 2 rods that iv had for probably 15 years.
They are in perfect condition but I was wondering if rods degrade over time?

I don't want to buy a new set of rods just for the sake of it.

Thanks, Chris
oldgeezer oldgeezer
Posts: 27,037
Mr Linky Poo
Mr Linky Poo Post #2 30 Oct 2020 21:05
0
In reply to Post #1
There are a lot of people that believe rods go soft over time

but speaking one day to someone involved in the production of carbon rod blanks he said its ball shine
maybe glass fibre does but carbon apparently does not
my DAIWA AKN 12FT 2.75LB AMORPHOUS certainly havent gone soft
Baza1075
Posts: 552
Post #3 30 Oct 2020 22:33
0
In reply to Post #1
I have a few rods dating back to the early/mid 90's which by today's standards feel soft but are still as strong as they were in their prime and still hitting the same distance.
Amebix
Posts: 21
Post #4 30 Oct 2020 22:41
0
In reply to Post #1
i dont think there will happen alot to carp rods over the years they are not cast that mutch. i have been flyfishing alot with two handed speyrods and they go soft after a few years or at least used to .i guess its the the residue in the blanks thats wears out after time.
cyprymike cyprymike
Posts: 1,268
Post #5 30 Oct 2020 23:36
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In reply to Post #2
Good to know I agree my amorphous and my NGs all seem fine.
luckyjim luckyjim
Posts: 3,626
Post #6 30 Oct 2020 23:44
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some may say that their rods don't go soft, it could be that they do at a slow rate and the user doesn't really notices it, I have a set of 3 rods that are marked up at 2.5 tc, when I put them to the test - on average they were 1.5, an older set of 1.75 now test at 1.25 and just over 1, so I think rods do go softer over time, IMO.
Amebix
Posts: 21
Post #7 31 Oct 2020 00:27
0
In reply to Post #6
off course they get softer if you cast like 200 cast a day . but noone is doing that maybe 200 cast per year......
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,199
Post #8 31 Oct 2020 08:01
0
In reply to Post #1
I've got a pair of 2 3/4tc Harrison Ballistas that I've had since the early nineties. They've been through some serious abuse over the years, casting 4oz leads and dragging in huge rafts of weed.
After reading a similar thread a couple of years ago I decided to see what their current TC is. I checked, and checked and checked again, but the scales still read 2 3/4lbs.
Perhaps the quality of the blanks makes a difference?
Jslinn Jslinn
Posts: 2,403
Post #9 1 Nov 2020 14:06
1
I have a set of 25 year old 13' 3.5tc balisters that I've used for spodding and Marker work for 20 years and distance work PVA bags to 110 yards and they have not changed and still put my new 3.25 torrix to shame when casting.

It was considered that the resin used in building the rods was the main contributor to rods softening and certainly found cheap blanks in the 90s changing TC over a couple of years.
zinno
Posts: 1,381
Post #10 1 Nov 2020 16:32
0
I still have a pair of kevin maddocks p challenger 12ft 2.75, (18 years old) everytime I fish with them (I only use these on channel now) I am surprised how good they are after all these years.
Don't feel like they've gotten much softer
Calabro
Posts: 335
Post #11 1 Nov 2020 16:47
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In reply to Post #1
If they still do the job, keep them.
Jslinn Jslinn
Posts: 2,403
Post #12 1 Nov 2020 17:53
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In reply to Post #10
Challenger MK1 or Twos? Needless to say the ones where awesome the twos well a split cane would be better.
zinno
Posts: 1,381
Post #13 1 Nov 2020 18:26
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In reply to Post #12
1: Hand builded buy Kevin Maddocks, I bought them from my uncle who wanted the dual tapers so they are actually over 18 years
phil090781
Posts: 2,335
Post #14 1 Nov 2020 19:21
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In reply to Post #9
This is my understanding too. A guy I know in the trade told me that cheap carbon blanks have a higher resin content, and will go soft over time due to repeated bending causing tiny invisible cracks in the resin. Conversely, good quality blanks have a low resin content and will perform for longer with little or no reduction of performance.
NickGordon NickGordon
Posts: 3,121
Post #15 2 Nov 2020 08:27
0
In reply to Post #14
And the premium brands are autoclaving the rods. I believe this is vacuuming them before drying to remove all excess air in the resin.
This will prolong the life of the rods.
jeffire jeffire
Posts: 4,442
Post #16 2 Nov 2020 14:20
0
In reply to Post #1
Would,nt bother pal they will be fine ,As said fly rods go softer due to constant casting, none of my harrisons have ever altered or my maximisers for that matter.
OatcakeFred OatcakeFred
Posts: 1,466
Post #17 3 Nov 2020 16:15
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In reply to Post #1
Keep 'em mate, if they're performing OK, they won't be a problem. I bought some Century Armalites in 1987, 2 @ 2lb test curve and 1 @ 2.1/4lb test curve, and I still use them today. Had them stripped down and rebuilt about 4 years ago by the same rod builder who built them in 1987, they're spot on. I still use them for > 95% of my carp fishing today, got some Greys for long distance work. Even had 20lb+ catfish on them.

F
Singlebleep Singlebleep
Posts: 2,380
Site deviant...
Site deviant... Post #18 4 Nov 2020 07:38
0
I think that the ‘rods going soft' argument started after Century started advertising their rods as being autoclaved.

This then inevitably then started the reverse theory - If autoclaving drove out air bubbles making a stronger blank therefor non autoclaved rods weren't as strong = they go ‘soft'

The rest as they say........




Jslinn Jslinn
Posts: 2,403
Post #19 4 Nov 2020 23:26
0
In reply to Post #13
Absolutely awesome rods a friend/pal would use my 12 ‘ 2 3/4 TC and cast a baited rig 150 years sone 23 years ago and they where extremely accurate with donking fish in the head and catching moments later. Sadly my set where stolen from a Basildon public water. Had the challenger twos which where crap in comparison although I managed 3 thirties from Farlows during a season with them then blow one up. The other two although not used regularly are binned off as Marker and Spod rod with a pal.
essesxandy essesxandy
Posts: 3,199
Post #20 5 Nov 2020 07:36
0
In reply to Post #19
Using decent gear on a public water in Basildon, are you mad?
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