What are rod sets made of?

PVC – Some rods in a rod set are made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which is used because of its flexibility.PVC also gives a smooth finish to the rods, making them easy to handle.

Glass reinforced plastic – Most of the rods in a rod set are made from Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP), also known as fibreglass. Fibreglass is a lightweight, strong, and robust material.

GRP rods are strong and durable, whilst being light enough for one person to handle with ease.Historically, fibreglass would come off on the skin of anyone handling rods. Some people found that the rods were uncomfortable to handle because the fibreglass irritated their skin. So, rods are now coated with a synthetic resin that prevents splinters of fibreglass coming off on the hand of the user.

Synthetic resin is a solid or liquid synthetic organic polymer used in a wide variety of plastics and other products, for example as a coating for the PVC in a conservatory.

Fluorescent rod –

Most rod sets contain one fluorescent rod. This rod is used to illuminate dark spaces or cavities and helps the user to direct more rods and cables through the space.

Polyester -Some rods in a rod set are made from polyester, which is cheap to produce, quick to dry, and resistant to mould and mildew. Polyester rods aren’t as strong as glass reinforced plastic rods, so they are more suitable for occasional or light domestic use only.

Nylon – The flexi leads are made from nylon, and are so flexible they can be tied into knots – but they can be straightened again without bends or kinks.

Brass – Most of the rods in a rod set have brass ends, which are tapered to reduce snagging and achieve a consistent look using a process known as swaging.

Rotary swaging is a cold working process that reduces the diameter, produces a taper, or adds a point to a round workpiece.