I ordered several of the 'grab bag' blanks that Mudhole offered last week. I was thinking of changing 1 or 2 of them to a 2 piece rod. I figured that the cheaper blank would be a good test to work with.

Is it best to use ferrules or to sand down the blanks and not use ferrules?

Is there a preferred approach or a 'stay away from' approach?

it can be done but you would need to make a spigot type Ferrule or build up the tip section for a slip over one it would be a blob on the blank. or if you don't mind using metal ones that is your 3 rd option
you mentioned sanding down the blank that would for sure make then junk .

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

You can make a slip over rod by using two of the same blanks and cutting them so that one top section will fit over a cut bottom section. Careful measuring is required!

I figured that using the metal ferrules would be the easiest. I havent done much investigation on it yet, nor do I have the blanks yet.

I have several production rods that have the little rubber tip on the bottom section for the 2 piece. Any ideas where I can something like that to use? I do have some extra butt caps that I might be able to use if the size is right.

I would use a spigot type ferrule and wrap the tip section where the spigot fits in to the tip section for graphite blanks chopping up a blank just for a ferrule is silly.
metal are easy just figure where you are going to cut and mic it out and order accordingly if the blank is gloss finished just scuff it a bit where your metal ferrule will be glued don't for get to taper the ends of the ferrules there they meet the rods so if you want to wrap then you have a smooth transition from blank to ferrule

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Ken,
The easiest way to do the job is to buy two of the blanks.
Cut one of the blanks in 1/2.

Take the lower 1/2 of that first blank to use as the butt section. Then, depending on the thickness of your blank wall, you can start about 20 inches below the 1/2 way point of the 2nd blank and cut it. Slip the longer top half over the lower 1/2 and see how it fits.

You can then progressively cut off pieces of the longer upper half, until you get so to the point where the two blanks lock nicely together.

Then, you can decide if you want to trim any length off of the butt section to get the overall length of rod that you desire. No ferrules needed or wanted. Just use the two blanks to make one.

As one of the posts suggested - measure carefully. When making that first cut in the 2nd blank, be sure that you do far enough down the rod, so that the end of the blank will slip nicely over the first blank. Let it be quite a bit longer than necessary to be sure that you get the right fit and then trim the upper section for the final fit.

It is interesting that you bring this up.

I had a 2 piece broken rod come into the shop yesterday. I went to my box of blank cut offs and found a blank with the similar desired action of the former tip section and went through the exact procedure that I outlined above. It only took about 10 minutes to get the perfect fit and length for the new tip section. Now, I just have to wrap on new guides to the tip section, coat the wraps and the rod will be done.

Good luck

You also have the option of cutting the blank where you want, then making a ferrule out of a separate piece of blank material that fits over the top of both of them. When you have it measured just right then epoxy the ferrule to the tip section and have the tip section be the female end. Taper the edge of the mated surface so thread can climb up the ridge to reinforce the ferrule. If you have a choice pick something a little sturdier than thin wall graphite for the ferrule, due to strength issues. Some fly blanks I have seen lately come to mind for the thinness of the walls: Probably might want to steer clear of those...

Metal works if you do not mind the dead spot! It may not be "SILLY' to use two blanks,if you are looking for performance and appearance !!

If you have a stash of broken rods you may be able to find a section of old blank that will snugly fit over the blank where you want the ferrule to be located, without any wobble. Want about a 2" over lap on each end so the total length of the ferrlue should be 4" - 4.5". Measure multiple times and dry fit before cutting the blank or the ferrule. You will want a little gap between the two ends of the blank to take care of wear, this can be done by filing a little off the male end. Wrapping the ferrule is always a good idea. I have done this many many times and these oversleeve ferrules work very well. This is the way we made two piece rods before the tip over butt two piece rods where invented. You could also make a spigot ferrule using an old blank piece of a piece of solid fiber glass machined to fit the inside taper of the blank. However this requires cutting the blank first and then making or finding a ferrule.that fits. With the oversleeve ferrule you cut the blank after you have the ferrule ready to go. I have a friend still using a rod with an oversleeve ferrule I made over twenty years ago.
Norm

Thanks for the all the suggestions. I probably will go with using an old scrap blank I have and create an oversleeve ferrule. This would allow me to accomplish the task without having to purchase other stuff. I dont have any solid fiberglass to create a spigot ferrule. Like I said previously, I dont have the blanks yet so Im not sure how its gonna go as of yet. I will definitely reinforce the sleeve and put an overwrap on it. This will probably be one of my fall/winter experiments :)

Something else for your to do list: keep an eye out for solid rod blanks. You can buy them new, but also find old rods at yard sales, etc. I have even used those fiberglass poles you put in your driveway in the wintertime to tell you where to plow the snow, just chuck it up and sand in a taper.

Thanks Phil. Will have to check out the fiberglass poles. Been meaning to check yardsales, but just havent gotten around to it yet.

Ken - Here is a previous post by Mark Talmo that may be of interest to you. I have not tried this method but it sounds very interesting and allows for one to fabricate a ferrule for any rod. [rodbuilding.org]
Norm