Quote Originally Posted by Schmoopie View Post
For those interested, I contacted B'n'M about the TCB rod. Here is the info I received:
TCB65 has dynaflo stainless insert guides
The tip is hollow
The blank is 98% graphite and 24 ton modulus

24 ton is fairly low on the strength scale when it comes to rod graphite fibers. I can't find information on the percentage of graphite in other rod blanks, such St. Croix or G. Loomis. However, if the blank is 98% graphite, that leaves 2% for fiberglass and/or resin.
Not sure what you mean by “pretty low on strength scale”. A 24 ton is inherently more durable than 30 ton....36 ton.....and so on up the scale. The higher the tonnage the more sensitive the rod but the more brittle it will be thus easier to break than those of lower ratings. Twenty-four ton graphite can make a pretty sensitive rod...which the TCB is. Higher tonnage blanks are a lot more expensive to make.....at least for a quality rod. Years back Shakespeare had some UL Agility series rods advertised as IM 10 graphite....which does not mean much except it will have higher graphite content than an IM 7 blank. IM ratings are basically useless. But the rod was sensitive off the charts....but broke easily while fighting a fish. Of course they were only I think 25 bucks but they eventually quit making them. I broke 3 of them on bluegill. At the price point the TCB rod is a very good buy. A lot of the JDM rods many of us purchase have blanks up to the high 50’s in tonnage.....they are masters at creating high tonnage blanks that you can actually fish with.

Regards


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