Sounds feasible Spess.

Not to sure how the hacksaw would go cutting through the blank. You would need a high TPI blade (lots of small teeth) to get a fine cut. However I've never cut through a blank before.

Aralditing the butt cap is a piece of cake but make sure you line the gimbal slot up correctly. You might need to build up the blank diameter with a few rings of thin masking tape.

John

Yeah ive read about that big john (tape and that). Good point about the blank though, maybe a very sharp knife?

PS: cheers john for the info on the cap, i didnt even think about lining it up :)

Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!

yep....cut down blanks with a TPI blade hacksaw or very fine tooth Hobby saw.
Wrap a piece of masking tape around the blank before you go guts with the saw to stop the blank fracturing....so it doesnt throw off fibres/crack.

before you cut the hyperlon....run a bit of tape around as a guide so you cut it off nice and straight.....use 24hr two part epoxy for your gimball....

just be aware that you could stuff up the balance of the rod......you should be able to balance the rod and reel on one finger (on the grip/rod) directly below the spool

Cheers salmo.

Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!

First rule is to remember you cant stick a piece back on after you've cut it off!
(Loadsa tools for cutting bits off - none for puttin em back on again).

So the golden rule is - "measure twice and cut once".

Okay off we go.
Measure:
 1) the length of the rod handle you want it to be when finished (check on a rod you like the handle length is as good a method as any) this is measurement = A.
2) the overall length of the gimbal and subtract the depth of the hole (where the blank goes) = B.

Subtract B from A and this is where you cut the blank = C.

Subtract the depth of the gimbal hole from C and this is where you cut the hyperlon/cork handle = D.

Stand the rod upright and holding a pencil against a firm object rotate the rod so you mark a line all the way around the blank (on masking tape as previously advised) at the D measurement.
Cut this gently with a not too sharp knife down to the blank, (the blank must not be cut into that's why a bluntish knife is a good start) and strip off the waste handle material. 
Repeat the marking process for measurement C.
Take a sharp file, a 8-12inch half round (that's the one with a flat side and a convex side) in FINE cut and lay the sharp edge of the file on the line C with the flat face of the file towards the rod - slowly file down into the blank with smooth strokes, all the way around the blank until you part it off from the rod. 
Don't use a saw to cut the blank, a file makes a far better tool and doesn't cause the blank to splinter (which can be terminal on graphite) as a saw does.

If you want to balance the rod push a slug of glued paper up the inside of blank and hammer out a piece of lead so it just enters and balances to your liking, glue it with the same as you use to fit the gimbal.

Any probs comeback.
 

Thanks Mick B im pretty cluey with cutting and measuring stuff as ive just renovated my 2nd house by myself! But all of your infomation has been very helpful and well used. Thanks foe making it seem simple which i knew it would be, shit cant be that hard i thought!lol. Cheers Mick B thats what i was after. Cheers Chris.

Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!