Hi,
I think I'll try my first static guide placement.
I've read a lot in the forum but can't answer one question…
When I understand right the ferrules are not wrapped when I do the static testing. Is it necessary to secure the ferrules (with tape…?) before I put a load on the rod? I'm afraid to destroy the ferrules when loading to get the blank to bend into the butt.
I've found pictures with a "good" static placement. Do you know if there are pictures with a less perfect placement availible?
Thanks again.
Stefan

Always wrap the ferrules before doing the static test. Tape does not do a good enough job .

Stefan,
Older ferrules, particularly older glass ferrules, would split fairly easily and needed to be wrapped before deflecting the blank. However, modern graphite ferrules are much, much tougher. For your piece of mind and just to be on the safe side it is probably a good idea to wrap the ferrule before dong your static testing. But it is not really necessary. I deflect blanks almost every day and have not had a ferrule fail while deflecting the blank in several years.

I put at least several ( tight ) turns of 1/4" tape on them

Stefan. I suggest putting a guide on every female ferrule and static adjust the rest. If you have a very good idea which size guide will end up on the ferrules, you can wrap them first and eliminate that worry. I deflect without tape but I suppose I am risking breakage.

Where did you read not to wrap a ferruale? The ferrule is part of the static test so you have to incorperate its restance in the rod function. It must be wrapped ether with thread or tape or the female section well split when any amount of tension is applied.
Good Wraps Bob

I always temporairly wrap both the ferrules and guides with size c thread, no finish. I can then test cast the rod and make any adjustments to the spacing. It takes less than an hour to do this on a 8 or 10 ft -4 piece rod. Some might think this is a waste of time but it works good for me and I always have a few spools of thread that I will never use for permanent wraps.

Bob

Bob B. It simply isn't true that ferrules always split during a static test, although I will not argue with the precaution. I have fished rods where I found myself on the water with an unwrapped ferrule with no problems. On rods where I did wrap the female without a guide it was a very short wrap. But of course these are my rods, so if they break I know exactly who to blame.

Hi Don What I guess I am say is that a the cost of a a high end graphiteblank, I would not take the chance of have it split. Once graphite starts to split there is know stopping it. you have to remember graphite fibers are only held togather with resin. Graphite is not like glass where the fibers are inter-locked
Good wraps Bob

Thanks for your help!
It seems to me the disadvantage of wrapping the ferrules first is that I'm not free to position a guide on the ferrule later when the static test tells me to do.
I think I'll wrap the ferrules but don't coat them and put some turns of tape over the uncoated thread. That should work.
Stefan

Stefan. Either tape the ferrule or put a quicky wrap on it and put the guide on top of that either with thread or more tape. Then static test. There is no one best set up for the static test. You want a guide on every ferrule, if you can. . Put one there and only move it off if you cannot otherwise make the static test work. I have never had a blank where I could not get a guide on every ferrule (except section 2 with more than 4 pieces.