Guides on! just need the dryer

[Coop]

Well I started putting on the guides this evening on my stripped down tica...12' tica cut down just a tad for a little extra stiffness. I am still waiting for my flex coat kit, but had the itch and started anyway with just guides, thread, and reel seat that I got a couple days ago, no wrapper or dryer yet. So I just put the rod in between two chairs and used a large book for tension. Didn't take long and has turned out great. I am just more worried about applying the finishing coat (going to wait for the dryer). Hopefully that part will turn out just as good as the wrapping. Didn't use any trim and kept it simple for the first one, one color for the guides. The butt end is a little fancier, using metallic gold with the red. I did throw a little gold metallic on the tip top. I'll post pics of the finished product. A few pics of the wrapping.

[fish-aholic]

Very nice!!!!! man you're putting me to shame, here I am just building the tools I need to get it done!!!!!Hopefully my rod kit shows up soon....

[Steve]

Wow, now that's a tight wrap!!
Looks so good I could swear it's tape!
That thing will really look spiffy with a clear coat on it!
What guides did you use?

[Coop]

Steve, I used Forecast (Batson) guides.

[fish-aholic]

I was reading up on building the rod this morning. The book I have mentions having to file down the guides to allow the wrap to transition smoothly from the blank to the foot. Did you have to do this? Wow, gotta edit this now that I've read further...here's what it says "As supplied line guides have a rather blunt edge on the end of each foot and the wrapping thread will not want to climb over it easily. Thus we need to reshape each foot edge so that the thread can mak an easy transition onto the foot"......then it explains how to do it and the next part "Finally your guide feet filed to a shallow edge and all burrs and sharp edges removed, you should check to see that each guide will sit perfectly flat on the blank surface. Use fine-nose pliers to gently bend and shape the guide feet so that they sit flat on the blank. Wrapping tension is cumulative and if onlyh a small area or point of a guide foot actually contacts the surface there wil be a tremendous amount of pressure placed on a very small area of the blank's surface. Again, failure can be the result. Think of someone standing on your hand while wearing a flat-soled shoe as opposed to a woman's high-heeled shoe." So, did you know this and fix the problem or is it just over stated in the book to make sure you pay attention and know how to handle a problem when you come across it?

[Coop]

Jeff, I did do all that. I think I have read more about rod building than what I read in all my years in school. If you look at the pic, I grinded down the guide foot to almost like a blade (silver color) and made sure all guide feet were completely flat on the blank with no burrs. If you do not do this, the thread, especially size A, will not ride up the foot correctly. I sanded the bottom of the guides to eliminate the burrs. From what I have read, proper guide prepping must be done on all guides. So far, I have found this to be the most time consuming part of building. The thread goes on easy and relatively quick. I will be building all my surf rods with no underwrapping which makes guide prepping very important. I have heard and read arguements to underwrap or not to underwrap. The majority, and some very expereinced builders say the underwrapping is not necessary for surf rods and are more of a cosmetic feature and the guide foot, if properly prepped, will not dig into the blank, but there are a couple builders say it's a must "why chance it?", but they are the minority. Those that never used underwrapping never had a guide dig into the blank when prepped right. I personally love the clean look without the underwrapping and like lighter rods, even if it's only miniscule amount, it's still lighter. Now thick sticks for offshore, underwrapping is a must and will be building a couple for my pop before the season begins.

Jeff, be careful, this hobby can get addictive .

[Coop]

BTW, I use a dremmel tool for guide prepping. Makes it faster and easier.

[fish-aholic]

Ok, now that you told me you did, I went back and looked at the pictures and see that its been done......I have a dremel, the book i read warns against it, and says its too easy to take off too much and ruin the guide

[Coop]

Jeff, If you have a variable speed dremmel tool, shouldnt be a problem. I never thought about using mine until I read that some builders use the tool for prepping. Still gotta be careful tho.

[Sam]

Looks good, Scott.

[Coop]

It's all done except for the finish, darn dryer won't be here until friday. Decided to add gold trim to the guide wraps:

[fish-aholic]

Man I hope my first one looks that good......Great job...hopefully my kit will be here tomorrow.

[mdram]

very nice.

[esoxangler]

Very nice Scott!!!!!

[Steve]

Oh come on Scott!!!
We know you had that professionally wrapped by a master rod builder!

He-he, most excellent job Scott!
That looks fantastic, how can you possibly get better at it?