Expert: Joe Douglas - 10/28/2009

Question
hello. i just obtained a beautiful vintage fenwick fs68 fishing rod and the upper section (top 1/3) is bent. i would like to get this upper section straight. please advise since it would be a shame for this rod to sit and gather dust...

Answer
Hi Ted,

I assume this is a "set" in the rod from stress or from improper storage.  Any rod can acquire a set over time.  You can still use the rod as it is, but it will certainly look better, and probably work a little better, if it is straightened.

Low heat from a source like a hair dryer or heat gun should help.  Fix the heat source in a vise or some other device that will hold it steady or ask someone to hold it for you.  Turn the heat on the lowest setting.  Grasp the rod in your hands on both sides of the bend.  Bend it back toward straight and pass it through the heat slowly for a few seconds.  Remove it from the heat and check to see what progress you have made.  This is not a quick process.  Go slow and keep the heat low.

For some bends you make the adjustment in small increments with your hands close together and for others you make large sweeping adjustments with your hands farther apart.  Make sure you do not overheat the blank as this will cause damage and can lead to blank failure.  Slow and low heat is the ticket with frequent stops to check things over.

A set or permanent bend is essentially caused by the fibers along the outside of the bend being stretched through some sort of misuse or overuse.  What you are doing is lightly stretching the inside of the curve to match the outside thereby returning the rod shaft to straight.

Good luck,  Joe