So, this fall I have the opportunity to take a course on composite materials in my aerospace engineering curriculum. We are allowed to manufacture anything we want out of composite material (fiberglass, carbon fiber and the like).

My plan is to make a fishing rod from scratch (i.e. not buying a blank). Are there any books out there that deal with this or does anyone have tips for best materials?

That sounds like a great opportunity.

I think the biggest problem that you have is going to be getting the tapered mandrels made. Talk to your machine shop supervisor, see if he can help you out.

Keep us posted.

Dave

Looks like I got my work cut out for me. I agree the hardest part will be to taper the rod. I just need to figure out if I want a carbon fiber based rod, or a glass based one.

It is roughly the same technique for both. It is all about learning how many layers are required for the job (what ever it is) and learning in which direction the weave of the cloth should go, to achieve the strength.

The main difference is that the carbon is cured in an oven and I assume they already have that equipment, as they are offering you the choice.

I would go with the carbon.

Dave

Yeah, I go to Iowa State University and am taking a course in composites. We have access to a shop that has all the tools necessary to make whatever we want pretty much. Also, we have a selection a of different materials.

This sounds like a challenging project and should bring you much satisfaction when you complete the rod.  Great for you.

Sounds like an awesome project. Wish I had some advice for you but keep us posted on progress. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Awsome J.M., keep us updated, I for one will watch this topic

This sounds like a great opportunity for you. This maybe a dumb question, but, are there any rod manufacturers in your area you could visit to get an idea of the process?

Keep posting on the project, it would be interesting to hear how you did.

This sounds like a great opportunity for you. This maybe a dumb question, but, are there any rod manufacturers in your area you could visit to get an idea of the process?

Keep posting on the project, it would be interesting to hear how you did.

That's a pretty good idea 

Saw them making a rod the other day on the TV show "how its made" it shows the whole process of making the blank. You might get lucky and catch it on, or DVR it if you have one.

Go to Dobyns Rods' website and send them an email. It's the off season and I bet Gary would be willing to give you a little advice. He has been designing and building rod blanks for 20+ years. I know it's a shot in the dark but you never know until you ask.

Thanks for all the advice fellas, but unfortunately building a 7 foot fishing rod got the X by my professor. I think I am going to start with something small. I am going to build a custom ice fishing rod. (I live in Iowa and ice is on the water 6 months of the year). I have an interesting idea to start with a small nickel guitar string core and use composite threads to wrap it, if I can I will take the core out if I can figure out a release system for it. It will be good practice if in the future I want to build rods.

Unfortunately, my professor killed my rod building idea all together. He said that the time frame was unreasonable and the equipment available would not be enough to create even a small ice fishing rod . Oh well, it was worth a shot, maybe I will just buy a blank and build one or two at home.

Very sorry to hear the news Justin.

Tell your instructor that plan B is a kayak.

Dave

Why not build a lure? 

Good suggestion J Francho, but I have to come up with something more "engineering related" and have some sort of property to test ("does it float?" won't count). I like the idea of a kayak, but that might be a bit ambitious for now. Now I need to think of a new idea and write a proposal for Friday. I am open to suggestions (doesn't necessarily have to be fishing related, but need to have some property to test i.e. strength, stiffness, energy absorbtion etc...)

Lots of engineering go into to lures, but he probably wouldn't understand.....

How about a tool, like a lip gripper or something?

I like that idea as well, but moving parts and composite materials don't necessarily go together well (epoxy makes that hard to do) and he definitely doesn't understand all the engineering behind fishing tackle, I was trying to make him see it, but he wasn't budging.

It may be possible to build a new handle or something for one of my reels, but not quite sure what I would test it against.

I'm thinking about something like this:

http://www.thefishgripandmore.com/product/6256923%20B1

Alternatively, what about a shiv, er...I mean letter opener?

I got plenty of shiv....letter openers i could use If i wanted to go that route, it would be possible to make something quite sharp though i am sure.