Yup, they are wrapped all the way out to the tip. I think the wrappings out on the tip section wouldn't necessarily be that disadvantageous. Consider this, the tip sections are thinner than the butts, or if applicable, the mids. As a percentage of the dimension of the cross-section, wraps on tips would make up a larger part of that cross-section. Usually, most of the action is in the upper 2/3 of the rod, and that's where you would really want to apply the "splint", wouldn't you? The lower 1/3 of the rod usually sees very little of the bending force, unless it's very wimpy, or you have a huge fish on. Normally, the reason for using the intermediate wraps was to stiffen the action for casting. Casting uses mostly the top 2/3's of the rod. The weight of the matrix would have some effect on the rod, but I would bet it would be mostly minimal, as the wrap/resin matrix doesn't have a whole lot of mass, unless you're really gooping the resin on.
Mark
At 08:48 AM 10/7/2003, you wrote:
Mt 2 cents (being a renegade)
>From a purely structural standpoint, if the intermediate threaded portions were long enough, the additional finish material that impregnates it and bonds it to the rod material would have the effect of stiffening the rod by increasing the effective cross section. And if the material had a resistance to bending, it would increase the stiffness exponentially, since it is away from the center of the bending moments. It would be akin to putting splints on the rod like you would a broken leg, but it would be a tubular splint. The extra weight would be on the minus side in the lower half of the rod, and probably would not offset the advantage of increased cross-section. The longer the 'splints', the stiffer the action.
Are these rods intermediate-wrapped all the way to the tips? These wraps out towards the tip area would seem disadvantageous, as the cross-section would not be assisted that much- the rod being very thin- but the weight of additional wraps slowing down the action.
Like I said, from purely a structural design standpoint.
DonO
