FSU4120G blanks

[mikeyh]

Hello all,
can anyone tell me where I can pick up a fsu4120G blank & approx $$? Are they available in one or two pieces? I already have 3 plain 4120's but wanted the lighter 4120G and preferably in 2 pieces for travel. Are they much lighter than the all glass models?

Thanks all...Mike

[Stuart]

Mikeyh,

The FSU4120G 2pc is heavier then the 1pc model. Not by all that much and you would be hard pressed to feel it in hand. Excell composites in brisbane sell that blank and I think retail they would go for around $100 at a guess. It would pay to give Gary Howard a ring and see how much he would charge for that blank. I would say he would be a fair bit cheaper than a tackle shop plus he can supply you with the components for it all in one hit. A straight E glass FSU blank is going to be heavier than a composite glass and carbon of the same family. The straight glass version is going to be softer and heavier and will become even softer given time and use. On the other hand a composite such as the FSU 4120G is going to be lighter because it has less glass and will be faster in its action and more responsive due to the carbon in its walls. As a generall rule when using glass and carbon you can take 2 to 3 wraps of glass out of a blank per wrap of carbon. In a surf blank a full carbon blank isnt desirable not because carbon will explode due to amount of casting but it may cop a hit from a wayward sinker and in that case the blank will explode.

Its also important on this model that you try and bind over where the carbon meets the glass toward the tip section, its not hard to find. In some cases the carbon can lift off the blank and while this wont cause the blank to fail it poses a real health hazard if your finger or hand should slide down the blank. This carbon fibre that now sticks up when slightly loaded is sharper than a razor blade. I have been sliced and diced by a few of those blanks and I can tell you now it friggen hurts and you will bleed like a stuck pig.

Stu

[mikeyh]

HI Stu,
Thanks for your detailed and generous reply. I am sorry about my slow response – I have been flat out with work and barely had time to get on the computer once I get home. As a bit of an indulgence down memory lane, I first saw a (pure) graphite FSU 4120 about 30 years ago. I had got to know Ross Garven (NSW Casting champion) through correspondence when I wrote to him after a magazine article in Modern Fishing . My Dad would kindly stop in at Port Macquarie to visit Ross when we were on the way north on fishing trips to the Sandon River. He was trialing some of the graphite models but they had huge problems with brittleness (as you indicated). I believe they didn’t have the technology to make hybrid blanks back then.
I have 3 FSU 4120’s in various forms and built quite a few to sell to friends many years back. I really like the exfast taper and thin walls…very light but still powerful in the butt. Don’t get to do any surf fishing or HSS off the rocks now I am in Townsville so they have been sadly sitting in their storage tubes for many years.

The only reason I want to go 2 piece is for air travel or if I want to take it in the car with no racks. Are the 2 piece blanks as strong and are they noticeable as 2 piece rods compared with the one piece blank? Am I correct in understanding you that you can get 3 types now: standard glass, E glass and graphite combo? I might just have to build myself a new 4120 Lastly Stu, do you have the contact details for Excell Composites & Gary Howard at hand? Many thanks for your time

Cheers, Mike

[Stuart]

There is only 2 styles of FSU and that is an all glass and a composite which has IM6 carbon and Eglass. You may want to consider a FSU 5/4120 that simply means it has 5 wraps in the butt and 4 in the tip section. Its actually a nice blank for snapper and surf fishing at full lenght. The two peaice model has a slim line join so it wont stick out like a pair of ball balls like the snyder 2pc blanks did. The contact details for Excell is 32741099 Gary Howard 38813550. I would say Gary would be the fist choice because he has everything you need for the builds under one roof. The two peaice blanks are fine if you bind over the female section and even bind a guide on the top of the join. That will increase strenght to that of the rest of the blank. Technology has come a long way but unfurtantly some manufacturers dont utalize the new cloths and resins that are on the market. It would be good if some of these companies stoped focusing there attention on blank appearance and more into performance we would or could have some real blanks that are weapons. There are some good blanks around but most are made to catch the eye of those wanting to buy a blank rather than design and roll a blank for peak performance. I have woffled on yet again.

Stu
Precision Rods

[mikeyh]

HI Stu,
you can waffle on all you like ! I am really interested in rod/blank design but have been away from the scene for ages and more so in the last few years because of my 2 young boys. So it is enjoyable for me to read about your knowledge and experience with these things. I would be quite happy to talk about blanks and rods all day.

Sorry for a few more questions....the FSU5/4120 (never heard of these) - are these available in composite in both 1 and 2 piece? I built a few 5120's to sell years ago but from memory they were real beasts - could easily handle 6oz whereas I found the 4120's topped out at around 4oz max ( #8 ball sinker + pilly for the surf with 6kg line.) The combination of 5 in the butt and 4 tip would be a very powerful rod....almost tempted to make one for an overhead just in case!!!! Do these guys have a website with the range of these styles of blanks so I dont need to bug you any more?
Thanks again Stu for your time.

cheers, Mike

[Stuart]

The correct code is FSU4-5120. Snyder use to make these and Im not to sure if Excel do but it would be worth a call. If your going to be using an 8 ball then use the FSU5120G, this blank will be able to handle that much weight. I have my own surf blanks which I dont do much of these days but for example I can cast a unweighted pilly a country mile as well as dead lift 10kg straight off the deck with out bending through to the foregrip. You wont find a surf blank anywhere on the planet that can do that.

[sid_fishes]

can i have 1 please

[mikeyh]

Thanks Stu, I will give Excel a call to see if they have the 5-4120 in composite. In regard to your surf blanks - like Sid Fishes says....they sound great!! Thanks again for all your help

cheers, Mike