I decided to pull this up from another post:

How many rod builders regularly either grind off or other wise round over the small "teat" found on most guide feet? -- You know those annoying sharp transitions that tend to make the thread separate? They seem to have become a 'standard' on all guide feet. I understand the concept - holding a single foot guide in place (absent Rich Forhan's locking wrap) - but I personally hate them.

Heck I almost thought this post was for short people?? I always take them off. Now with the forham wrap don't think they are needed. Guess the factories still use them?

Ken,
I agree with you completely. I dislike them as well. It seems to me that they are partiularly unnecessary especially on double footed guides but some still have them. I usually take them off because it is almost impossible to get the wrap to pack properly unless you take them off. However, when you take them off if you are not careful and while grinding or filing them off you hit the guide above where any epoxy will be most guides will eventually rust at that spot.

Count me in, OFF THEY GO!
Ray

Alright, I'll show my ignorance...

What the heck are you guys talking about?

"...sharp transitions that tend to make the thread separate..." We aren't talking about the end of the guide foot, are we? That always has to be ground down.

Please enlighten me!

I grind down the sides until they disappear and then work on tapering the remaining foot.

Off with their "teats"... that's what I say!

LOL

I only find it worth the time doing (by hand with a file) on the smaller guides that are going on the thinner end of the rod, say, below 3/16 inch diameter. Otherwise, I don't necessarily like them but they don't slow me down or affect the wraps. I might re consider if I had a grinder or sander set up.
==dave==

Author: nick brunetti (---.ipt.aol.com)
Date: 12-01-04 19:20

Alright, I'll show my ignorance...

What the heck are you guys talking about?

"...sharp transitions that tend to make the thread separate..." We aren't talking about the end of the guide foot, are we? That always has to be ground down.

Please enlighten me!


Nick -
If you think of the front edge of the guide foot as the toe (which everyone shapes down to a taper) the "teat" I'm speaking of shows up near the heel of the foot (near the guide ring). Its a very sharp transition that was seen as an improvement about 22 years ago that seems to have been adopted by all guide manufacturers.
Ken

Ken , I just round them off and make a kind of oval shape , more like a long oval shaped foot. I always use a locking wrap , or at least 4 or 5 turns past the guide. You are right , there is no need for them.
John

I also grind them off. Equally bad are the Pac Bay "N" guides. I won't ever use them again, I should say try to use them.

Gerry

OFF!!!!!!
Mike

It depends upon the manufacturer. I prefer the shape of the Fuji guides and grind them down until they're rounded enough to where I can wrap over them without the thread separating and, I think, they're actually functional. I can't seem to grind the PacBay guides to to a point that pleases me so I find that I have to grind them completely off. As a result, I've developed quite a dislike for the PacBay guides and don't but them anymore - I stick with the Fujis.

Jeez, you guys are nasty!!! Off with their heads!!!


Putter

Take 'em off, usually. Really depends on length of guide foot and size thread though. Size D can cover a lot of stuff, and on a lot of double foot guides i just stop my thread at that point. This gives me space to put in a nice inside clear ring, too, so doesn't look awkward on most of the guides. For doing the filing; Dremel tool with heavy duty cut off tool.... they go off quick! Just don't crank the speed up too high, and then go play!

I always get rid of them, no need for them with a locking wrap.

If I understand your question correctly, I take two different approaches. I'll either end my wrap there, or I'll pack the thread so tight that it mitigates their presence. In either case, I would prefer they don't exist and I don't understand why they do. I assume it's a necessary part of the manufacturing process? I don't like to grind lots of material off, so I don't do anything to them.
Patrick Vernacchio

As a short (5'6") non-Pole but claiming other southern European slavik ancestry (Serbian), I feel qualified to say:

Teats do make wrapping annoying although they make getting milk from a cow a lot easier. However, on many of my personal rods I have used PacBay Hialoy guides and opted not to remove the teats since 1) It's my rod and I don't care if there is 1 thread gap per guide in that spot (black thread helps); and 2) Serves the same purpose as the Forhan locking wrap and reduces guide prep time. On someone else's rod, I would remove them to optimize aethetics and use a locking wrap.

hmmm.... that must be the new "cross-your-heart" guide with the underwire design?

hand me the dremel! weg von mit ihnen!

I grind em. Far less time in prepping guide foot then wrapping, bunishing, rewrapping etc

Buzz