I have seen many posts about using surgical tubing to hold your guides in place. I have been using strips of masking tape so far with minimal problems. My question is do you cut the surgical tubing in strips or in rings and use some type of needle nose plier to open the rings when placing on the blanks?

Thanks
Fernando

i have not used surgical tubing. i use small zip ties used for keeping bundles of wire together. they are easy to use. hold well and can be moved when needed. i clip them off with diagonal cutting pliers by cutting the little junction block. never hurts the blank. the smallest size leaves the tip of the guide foot open so you can wrap about 15 turns of thread and then remove the tie with your dikes.

I wet and then ty on rubber bands

You don't need surgical tubing, just the latex tubing used for model airplanes, get several diameters, cut rings and slide them down the rod (before you put the tip on) untill they are snug in the area you want the guide to be, slide the guide under the ring. Once the guide is wrapped down enough to hold the guide, just slit the ring with a #11 Exacto blade knife along the guide foot and up away from the blank. I make rings with a Widget, single edge razor blade in a hideaway holder.

You can also use elastic thread that can be found at any store that sells sewing stuff. Cut of s short piece and tie the guide on and then touch it with a razor blade after you have wrapped up the guide foot a ways and it comes right off.

Hi Fernando,

To answer your question - cut the surgical tubing in bands with a knife, cutters, razor blades, etc. You must be think of something different than Surgical tubing. Surgical tubing is the same as latex tubing. After you cut the tubing into whatever width bands you like just roll the bands onto the guide feet. Works great.

Hope that helps



Hank
On The Rocks Fishing
Wells, ME.

The reason I use tubbing is when I readjust the guides I just slide them where I need them. I also just wrap up to them and snip the rubber off. I make mine acording to the size of the guide so the average is about a 1/8 of a inch thick.I get a verity of sized tubbing and cut a bunch of rings while whatching the 6 Oclock News. I being from the Washingtom State get my tubing from a sporting goods or hadware store. Up here we use the tubbing for drift lead holders, Cut a small peace of lead put it into a tub, hook the tub to a snap ring and cast out
Good Wraps Bob

I use the surgical tubing method, here's how I work it.
First, I get my tubing from MudHole, get both sizes, small for the tip section and the larger size for the butt section. Second, I cut it into 1/8 inch bands using an "anvil" type pruning shear NOT the scissor type but anvil, where the cutting blade comes down and meets a flat surface, if you can get the Craftsman "Handi-cut" it's the best for this. Third, I use a needle nosed plier that is bent at a 90 degree angle, Harbor Tools 99 cents, to pick up and spread open the bands then while the band is still on the plier I carefully slide the band into position. CAUTION needs to be exercised here as there maybe sharp edges on the pliers and you wouldn't want gouges and cuts into the rod surface. You'll find when you place the bands over the foot of most guides you'll position the band on the back 1/3 of the foot near the "elbow". If placed too far back the toe will rise up and make it difficult to begin the wrap up the ramp.

tight lines and good wraps,
David A. Fuller
Great Basin Fishing Rods

After trying lots of methods, my vote is for tubing. Model/hobby shops have it in different diameters. I cut up a ton of little pieces and just slide them on to the blank. Quick and easy to put on and I can't think of a quicker way to move/adjust the guides while testing. A quick nick with a razor ant they fly off.

Mike

Some of the tubing they sell for putting on hooks is NOT what you want to use, as it will split. The good stuff is tan/yellowish and very flexible. I used to buy it in 3 different thicknessess & that worked for everything from 4 tip fly rods to Tuna & surf rods. No need tfor pliers or anythign like that, just slide them on teh blank & roll them into place.

Thanks for all the input, I will be experimenting with different diameters in the very near furture. I did have some tubing that I used on lures but it is very small in diameter. I will be ordering different
sizes.

Fernando

No need to order the tubing - just visit your local medical supply store! It's cheap, buy it by the foot. Just use a razor blade or scissors, no need to be exact - cut some real thin ones and cut some fat ones. You'll soon learn what size to use. I typically use only 3 bands for an entire rod. Just keep sliding them up the blank.