I would be interested to read peoples opinions about the best way to keep single foot guides aligned and secure during wrapping (or 'whipping' as we all it in the UK!).

Hi Paul,
I use blue painters tape. All i do is tear of small strips then tape guide foot down when my thread is close to the tape pull it off.
hope this helps Marcel

I cut a rubber band in half and ty on about 4" above where the guide will be with a double knot. Then slide it into place

Pick up some Flex Coat Guide Foot Adhesive.Once you use it a few times you'll wonder how you got along without it(especially on single foot guides).

It's basicly a hot glue stick for rodbuilding.You just heat the guide foot with a lighter and then rub the foot over the glue stick to apply a thin layer to the bottom of the guide.Then before it dries(if it dries then just heat the guide foot up again to melt the glue),stick it onto the blank where you want it.

It will hold snug enough to wrap over but I usually over wrap the guide foot with a thin(1/2 the foot size so I can wrap up the guide foot to hold it) strip of masking tape(a rubber tube band would work just as well).Once the tape is on you can wiggle the guide around and easily break the glue bond to straighten the guide out if needed.

The glue also adds a thin layer of protection(without adding extra weight) between the guide and blank,which is an especially nice thing to have on fly rods.

Narrow strips of masking tape are excellent. The problem most people have lies in trying to tape the guide to the blank - you have to approach it from a different perspective.

Tear or cut some narrow tape strips. Apply the tape the guide foot (forget about the rod blank for the time being). You want an equal length of tape extending on both sides of the foot.

Now hold the guide ring and lower the guide to the blank. Use your other hand to press the tape, which extends from either side of the guide foot, to the blank. There is no need to wrap the tape underneath the blank - that only makes it harder to remove.

.............

Tom's trick works the best for me and I'll just add that you can get thin rolls of high quality pin stripping masking tape from automotive paint supply stores. You might even be able to talk a body shop into selling you a roll. The tape I use is 1/8" wide and 1 roll lasts me about a year. I'm guessing the roll has about 500 yards.

Brilliant - thanks everyone!

Paul

i buy packages of the smallest electrical zip ties i can find. these allow enough room on the foot to wrap about half the foot. i then cut them off with diagonal cutting pliers. i cut the little square part where the ties go together and they just pop off. i have tried tape and i prefer the electrical ties.

Guide foot adhesive requires to additional masking. I would add that after the glue goes onto the foot, heat a second time and smear the excess onto a paper plate, etc. A very thin coat is all you need. There is no difficulty breaking the guide free to adjust the guide after wrapping.

If you develop the slight amount of skill necessary to use the guide foot glue successfully other methods will seem cumbersome especially on the small single foot guides.

I'm just a beginner at this hobby, but I've found that small slices of surgical tubing of the correct size works the best for me. Use smaller sizes for the smaller sections of the rod, just enough to make a snug fit. The guides can be moved around easily for alignment prior to wrapping, then just cut it off carefully with a razor blade when you have wrapped enough of the guide to hold it in place. (do this over the guide foot so as not to risk damaging the blank). I like to use two bands per guide, larger bands for the larger guides, and thinner for the smaller guide feet.
Murf

After a prieviouspost on this subject , I purchased a stick of Flex Coat guide adheasive. With a little practice , It's the best method I've used yet . On the larger guides I still use the pin striping tape , but on the little single foots , the glue is the best, IMO. John

I make small rubber bands from surgical tubbing this way I can adjust the guide while I wrap. and when I reach the band I just snip it off and continue wrapping
Good Wraps Bob

Paul, from my experience, the glue works the best. It gives cushion to the guide, single or double foot, and you can wrap the guide without having to stop and remove tape, or anything else you might have used. Flex Coat sells the glue, for around $2.00 a stick and you can build a lot of rods with that one stick. I use a Deluxe Wrapper from Flex Coat, and regardless of how fast I spin the rod the guides remain in place, and once you are through wrapping you can adjust the guides for alignment also.

Kit Harrison

The glue may work for some. But when making tests you will be moving the guides around. Now you have to heat it to remove. With the bands you just slide them to where you need them. I start from the tip at 4" then go to 5" - 6" - etc. This way I have a general place for them. Also the bottom of the guides should be well done!

I use blue masking tape and/or elastic thread. I test cast the rod and might move the guides 2 or 3 times before settling on a final location.

I prefer the bands. I buy pieces of tubing in various diameters at a hobby shop (it is used for fuel lines on models). Very inexpensive and can be quickly and easily cut into thin "rubber bands". Holds the guides very tight for test casting and is easily slid around on the blank. A touch with a razor blade and it pops right off.

Mike

I cut small rubber bands out of gasline for small gas engines used in model airplanes. It's available at hobby stores, or from Mudhole. You slip on a rubber band and slide (more like roll) it up the rod and over the foot of the guide. When you have wrapped enough of the guide to hold it in place, cut off the rubber band. Works great. I have much better luck using this method than by using tape, and I can adjust the placement of the guide while it's held in place by the rubber band, which I can't do with tape.

Go to your Dentist and ask him for 3 mm orthodontic bands used for braces. These are awesome and will work from tip to butt.

I like the 1/8th in. pinstriping tape. Ralph