Lou-man after my own heart. I can't imagine an easier way than satisfying my own eyes. As long as I can see the end of the rod- they do seem to be getting a whole lot longer as I get older!!

Putter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2004 11:18PM by Randy Parpart (Putter).

Mick,
I share your view of compromise, but there is no way to exist without it. You sound like a student of philosophy. You said "Perception is Reality". That is an Aristotelian argument. Plato would argue exactly the opposite that truth and reality can only be achieved through pure reason and that perception, or empirical evidence, only misleads you. Are you familiar with epistomology? It is one arm of philosophy. It is the theory of knowledge or what can be known and what can not be known or what is real and what is not real?
What the @#$%& this has to do with alligning guides though.

The eyes have it. I'm beginning to sound like Putter and Bill, and that's not bad.

Stan

Lots of patience. This is a step that I devote a lot of time to because I can spot slight deviations after I have settled down to observe the overall alignment and how each guide relates to the tip guide as well as each other. I hold the rod up to a wall that is well-lit and contrasts the rod to easily view it. I view from the guide side as well as from the opposite side of guide placement.

I don’t see how a jig could align guide at any stage. The guides would have to be so loose as to be hard to keep them aligned after removing from the jig. If it is a stage that you find inconvenient or difficult to master, you just have to keep working at it and realize it is just as important in the process as wrapping or finishing.

Sorry, but this is a stage where it really does illustrate that rod-building is indeed, a craft.

Patrick Vernacchio

I USE A STRAIGHT LINE LASER LEVEL MOUNTED ON AN OLD REEL BODY IT PROJECTS THE LASER LINE DOWN ON THE BLANK.
MOST LASER LEVELS JUST SHOOT A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH YOU HALVE TO LINE THE GUIDE SOME WHAT
WITH THE STRAIGHT LINE LEVEL THE RED LASER LINE IS ONE THE BLANK NO MATER IF THE BLANK IS STRAIGHT OR NOT
19.00 AT HOME DEPOT IT LOOKS LIKE A TAPE MEASURE

Emory, I'm not really a student. I know just enough philosophy to be a real PITA to myself and others! Personally, I agree with Plato. I believe that truth should be used to show reality to change the perception. Unfortunately, most people "believe what they see", that a crooked rod is bad and have no patience or desire to listen to why it isn't neccessarily so. If it looks bad, it must be bad. It's back and forth but in the end, too many folks will not accept a rod with a slight bend to one side and one crooked guide is unacceptable to pretty much anyone... especially myself.

Emory -
So far this laser is not killing me on batteries. It uses two AA's. Of course I haven't used it very much either. As for the shop alignment -- well the tops are all level in both (all directions and plumb with the floor). Unfortunately as anyone who has done any remodeling (or framing) a truley "squared" wall is a rarity. So - the front alignment of the work surface curves about 1/16" of an inch over 9 feet. Since I built the original wall I'll live with it as I have no one to "blame" for the out of square corner.
What I like about this laser is that it doesn't project a "dot" but rather a "line". I tried the "dot" laser with a handheld level and cellophane "transparent" tape across the guide openings. Too painful - unless the rod is perfectly level with no bends between the supports setting the guides will drive you nuts. This one has some promise because the "line" is visible across the blank and top/bottom of each guide (where it isn't blocked by the preceeding guide - so sighting from the tip to the handle is preferable.
Is it worth the time/trouble? I think more "toy" than "proof positive". As above - on the rod I checked the difference was absolutely minimal from original "by eye" alignment - and had the blank been warped the guides likely would not have come out "in a line" anyway. In other words the catfishermen would have been "displeased" with the "misaligned guides".

After you have your guides wrapped and as straight as you can eyeball, put a levelwind reel or reel frame on. You can straighten the guides with perpendicular reference to the reel locked the reelseat. Sighting down the reel seat hoods can become FUBAR.