Scratched Graphite

[Little grey men]

I need some advice from rod builders..
While bass fishing on the weekend my little bloke was using my rack raider and after he got sick of not catching anything he very very gently laid it on the ground, grabbed his little thermos out of his back pack and stood back on my rod.
It didn't break but it did get a few scratches as he was wearing his leather boots.( poor little guy felt terrible, he's always so careful with the gear )
These little scratches run straight up the rod about 10mm long, you can feel them if you scratch your finger nail over them. they're barely visible.

The question is, do you think I should bind that section of rod that is scratched ? and if so how would I do it ? I have visions of the thing expolding into graphite shards on the next bass. whadyareckon ??? It's only a hundred dollar rod but it works a treat on the fishies.;)

[ryansrods]

hi mate ya could bind over it but the only purpose this will serve is asthetics ya wont be able to see or feel the scratchs i dont think it will stop ya rod exploding though it relly depends were on the rod these scratchs are and how deep they are

[Little grey men]

G'day mate, the scratches are about half way up the length of the rod. They are quite shallow. but still a worry. I know graphite does not handle bumps and bruises very well. And it does get a good work out and bends like hell with a good sized bass on the other end.....I just hate thinking that the rod has a weak spot.
Thanks for the advice.

[Owen]

Tie it off to something and load it up!
If it doesn't break it will probably be fine in the future.
If that's you're little tacker in the photo, then a rod here or there is a small price to pay for the time with your young bloke.

[Little grey men]

I'll do that tonight...good thinking. At least I'll know if it's going to self destruct.
That's my boy in the avatar..Caleb the mighty. 8-) He's inbetween rods at the moment...that's why he was using my gear, he has to wait for Santa to bring him a new little bass weapon, as his little tiny jarvis walker rod just wouldn't handle the bass that he hooks onto. It's relegated to catching garfish.

[ryansrods]

mate if ya rod breaks ya can also make a nice little stic for the little feela i have done this to a couple of rods for my little fella and have found him to enjoy the fishin alot more with a rod proportioned in size and weight to suit the little tacka my young bloke is now fishin with 3.5 foot egrell and has fulled a 2.6kg flatty on it his pb to date he is only 3

[BenatCoffs]

Don't stress too much, the paint and coatings on the raider rods is pretty thick.

Here is a backbone elite BBE7 6-10kg rod I bunged a guide on and replaced - got a little over-enthusiastic with the dremel removing it :P

http://images.benandmichelle.net/albums/userpics/10001/cutBBE7.jpg

Loaded up way more that a 6-10kg rod should be and no issues (so far!)

[ryansrods]

benatcoffs why do u use a dremal o remove ya guides have ya tried i stanly knife or pen knife

[BenatCoffs]

I normally use a scalpel, but had no blades and the coating was particularly thick, the temptation was far too great :P

[nigelr]

Hi Ben, looks like the mess I made with the angle-grinder removing the old chrome/brass reel seat from the 7144 I'm rebuilding!
Not to mention removing the solid hardwood sand spike!
Great to see I'm not the only one who gets a little impatient/heavy-handed occasionally!

[Little grey men]

Thanks for all your help fella's. I really loaded the rod up hard and it seemed fine to me. Pulled close to 3 kg of drag which is way way more than I'd ever need for bass fishing.