I have built on a mhx power noodle blank and like it but I was wondering if there were more sensitive noodle blanks out there? Thorne bros perhaps? I would like a blank that has a little more sensitive tip. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sid,
I assume that you are speaking of ice fishing rods?

I had a power noodle blank in the shop last week for a build. It is the perfect blank for those that want a blank with a bit of beef in the butt of the rod, but a very very limber rod. About the front 6 inches is quite limber and works very very well for visual indication of a very light pan fish bite.


By the way, if you take any of the solid glass ice fishing rods, you can put the blank in a lathe and with support on the blank spin the blank and sand down the tip and on down the rod, as much as you might want to get the action that you want.
The problem with too many of the commercial blanks that are close, is that the blank bends all of the way to the butt, which makes it less than an ideal blank. So, it works better for a larger diameter butt to get some butt power, but has a nice fast taper for the last 6 inches to get the tip flex that you desire.

For this sort of visual bite indication, the power noodle is the ideal blank.

Good luck

Sid,
You can take one of Janns Netcraft $1.80 rods.

For example:

[www.jannsnetcraft.com]

This blank comes with a size 5 tip. Chuck the blank into the chuck of a lathe or drill and grab some sand paper. Do not spin the blank so fast that you overheat the blank when sanding. But, keep the blank cool as you sand and measure and test the response of the blank frequently until you achieve the action you want. Normally, if you get down to a size 2.5 or 3.0 tip, you are in the ball park. Then, sand further down the blank to extend the length of the "noodle tip" as desired.

Since the blanks are so inexpensive, you can buy a handful and if you destroy a few on the way to your perfect blank, no big deal.

When you do get the perfect blank - keep it as a master blank. Then, you can sand other blanks down to the identical dimensions and have more of the same " Sid Power Noodle Blanks. "

If you have one of the clear or white blanks, you can just use a large "sharpie" to color the blank quickly after you finish the sanding. It is nice to spray the tip orange or pink for better visibility as well.

Take care

p.s.
If you don't have a lathe, you can use a rechargeable drill. Often these run a maximum speed that is less than many corded drills which is perfect to avoid overheating the blank. Start with perhaps 100 or 150 grit paper for the initial sanding and then go on down to 400 or 600 grit for the final finish.

If you are doing this sanding, be sure to wear an air filter. When the sanding dust comes off the glass blanks, there is actually glass in the dust. You don't want to breath it. If you are sanding, the carbon blanks, you have carbon in the dust and you don't want to breath that either.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2015 06:48PM by roger wilson.

Thanks Roger!! I will definitely have to try that. I have a power wrapper that I can use to turn blanks. I guess I'll be doing a search on here on how to paint a blank next lol.