bigjohn358
Well-known member
I have thin line masking painters tape for automotive use that I use for the guides.
Rod Build Thread
- Thread starter JimNovo
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6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
I always start with the tip section since I want to get the hardest wraps out of the way.
For single foot guides, I'll wrap a cut-to-width strip of masking tape on the foot at the bend between the foot and the guide - in the direction opposite to the winding direction. After I walk the winding up the ramp, I'll pull off the tape as I'm winding.
Two-foot guides are easier since you can use masking tape to secure the off-side.
I also have a wrap of tape near all the guides with alignment marks (at the spine) to allow constant adjustments while wrapping.
In any case - DO NOT - glue the guides to the blank. Hot-melt glue is okay since it never holds a guide on narrow diameters anyway. After wrapping, you can use a burnisher or thumbnail to carefully make adjustments after wrapping and before finishing. (Just be careful to avoid loosening the locking tags on the wraps. They tend to back out at the bend if manipulated too much... and don't horse it so much that you bend metal, pull out the guide, or break the blank.)
I have a 3-foot length of a broken lightweight spinning rod which I run through the tip section guides/tiptop to check alignment. I've also run a length of white or orange backing through the assembled rod to sight the whole thing from the reel seat to the tiptop.
Don't fret too much about it since adjustments can be made up until you lock the wraps with epoxy or varnish.
It's not a fight. Have fun.
BradFromPotter
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the little rubber bands for dental/ braces.
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
They may work for some but the ones I got from my son after he had his braces removed allowed single foot guides to move around on the small end of the blank. They may work for me now that I always file down the on-ramps. but tape and final adjustments work well enough for now. The fewer times I come close to my wraps with a razor blade, the better.
That reminds me... JimNovo, don't forget to file your guide feet to make a gentler slope for the thread to ride up on. If you're removing black paint, it can be touched up with a Birchwood-Casey bluing pen in matte black.
tomgamber
Well-known member
I used small dabs of bees wax. Had just do exa pool table slate which gave me the idea.
Proof has rolls of 1/8" stretchy tape. About $3 a roll. I love it.
JimNovo
Well-known member
I am using that tape and it just doesn’t hold the guide on the thinest part of the blank well
BradFromPotter
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Been using them for 30 years. You have to get the smallest ones . Never had a problem with single foot guides.
JimNovo
Well-known member
I changed to the masking painters tape and it worked great!!! Thank you all for the advice!
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
The blue stuff is good for removing dust from the blank and wraps before finishing. Don't wrap and pull off tape... just roll the areas that need cleaned on the sticky side.
bigjohn358
Well-known member
Glad I was able to help! I get I think its either 1/8 or 1/4 inch size and on single foot guides I can build up a section at the front the guide to stop it moving forward. Sometimes I have issues when trying to wrap the guide and it keeps wanting to push forward from under the tape when the thread starts to try to climb up the foot of the guide. Creating a small ramp in front of the guide so it can't do that really helps!
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
I expect my next builds will be for my grandsons. Since my father-in-law built rods for my sons on (American Tackle) Matrix blanks, I'd like to use the same. Does anyone know if these are made any more? I can't find any and the "Contact Us" button on the ATC website doesn't work. I really like the twill design, and the rod action has served us well on these rods.
czechmate18
Member
They are no longer made, Mudhole and American "merged" their blank offerings. I will see if i can find their explanation.
John
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
Thanks, John.
No explanation is needed. If they don't have them, they don't have them. I just think they look really cool. I have one in dark green that was built for me and could only find one in charcoal (which also looks cool) when I wanted to build one myself. That was many years ago. I'll look at what's available from custom flyrod crafters or hook & hackle. I try Jann's Netcraft periodically, but their availability for 3 wt to 6 wt rods consistently says, "out of stock."
Regards, Glenn
czechmate18
Member
I use hook and hackle often, they have a few batson blanks half off since they are switching to seaguide.
You can also check Ebay, I think i saw few recently
You can also check Ebay, I think i saw few recently
PennKev
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Anyone considering building a small stream rod should go pick up a 7'6" 4wt Rx6 blank right now!
PennKev
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JimNovo
Well-known member
PennKev
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- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
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Yeah that rod is over 20 years old at this point...
I've learned that my hand writing will never be good enough so I've gone to decals. My finish work is light years ahead of that also.
That is a USA made Batson Rx7 blank though. I managed to find a 4 piece USA 7' 6" 5wt Rx7 blank a while back that I need to get finished. I had a 2 piece version of the blank that I unwisely sold a long time ago, so I'm looking forward to finishing it.
