 | So you've made the first step and bought a new pole but what do you do with it now? Poles do not come ready elasticated unless it is part of the deal or you can manage to wangle the shop owner to elasticate it for you, but this can also work out expensive especially if you've got a few top kits as part of the package. Added to that the task of elastication is a lot easier than it at first sounds and you'll get that satisfaction of knowing that you've done it and with the materials of your choice. So what do you need, here's a list:  | Junior hacksaw |
| Fine sand paper (600 grit wet and dry) |
| Scissors | | Stanley Knife or similar
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 | First things first, choose a clean, spacious area to work, there's nothing worse than trying to step around everything and this will only lead to disaster. Lay all your top sections out on a flat surface and decide what grades of elastic you need. A guide to this is: | 4 - 8 Small fish such as Roach, Rudd, Skimmers |
| 8 -12 Medium sized fish and small Carp |
| 12-14 Carp up to 10lb in snag free waters | | 14- 20 Big Carp and snaggy waters |
Make sure you also check your Pole rating first - Don't exceed it's maximum rating otherwise damage will occur
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 | Next, go buy all your bits if you haven't done so already For this you'll need: | Elastics - there are many types available so ask around for other opinions and recommendations | | Bungs - winder bungs are best because it gives you a few options |
| Bushes - Internal or External? External gives you more flexibility and requires less cutting back of the top kits | | Connectors - Again several choices available or use a 'Crows Foot' and dispense with the connector
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 | Here we go.... Take a Bush and offer it side on to your pole top section and try and locate where the section diameter equals the internal diameter of the bush Mark this point with a pencil
(Tip: Use the same size bushes for all tops based upon the largest you'll need)
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 | Next using the Junior Hacksaw, gently pull the hacksaw blade backwards over the line to cut using the hacksaw's own weight to apply pressure - Do not push down or force it or you will split the carbon. At the same time slowly rotate the section and you'll find that you'll cut a nice, neat groove into it.
Keep doing so until you have removed the part you don't need |
 | Try the Bush for size and if it's not a nice, tight fit, remove another 2 centimetres until it is |
 | After that and your nerves are now calming down, gently clean the face of the cut with the Sand Paper to achieve a square face with no sharp edges |
 | Next, put the remaining sections together with the first and mark them all and repeat the above steps so that the sections are all cut to the same length. Sand the faces, push on your Bushes and that's the first step over |
 | There you have it, your tops all cut to the same length and ready for the elastic |
 | Next step is to trim the Winder to the correct size... Take your next section and push it into one of the top kits to see how far it goes in. Make a note of how far it goes in, you'll need to know this later |
 | Winder at the ready... |
 | Place it into the top of your next section so that it sits in without pushing it |
 | Mark the point where it meets the pole with a pencil, remove it and cut at this point.
You now need to put it into your top section and gently push it in just beyond the point where you previously made a note of.If it doesn't go far enough in, don't force it, trim a little more off until it fits just right
(Tip: Remember you can always take some off, but you can't put it back on) |
