Hello,
I'm first time build the rod, and I have some difficulty with static distribution test.
1. In the article on this site Tom Kirkman recommend use the separate line to load the rod instead of the line coming from the reel, but in the Tom's book he suggest to use the line from the reel. What's the right method ?
2. What angles that line makes on the guides are good and what are bad ? How this angles should change under the load increasing ? Is these angles should be egual from the tip to the butt, or not ? I have angles near 170-171 degrees, some of this angles becoms more sharp under load increasing - about 167-169 degrees.

Regards,
Vladimir

Either will work, but loading the rod with a separate line from the tip top will put the rod into it's natural bend. Articles from the magazine are generally much more in-depth than in any rod building book.

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I also pull from the tip and just let the line from the reel dangle with a little weight attached. Personally I pay no attention to actual measured angles. I look at the line with my eyes and make my own judgments without pulling out the protractor. When loaded, if the line touches the blank I adjust and/or add a guide. If there is a major flat spot between guides I adjust and/or add a guide. If there is a smooth arch where the line perfectly follows the curvature of the blank I leave it alone or take a guide away and adjust the remaining guides.

I usually perform my static tests by pulling on the tip with at least 1/2 the breaking strength of the highest pound test line the rod may see in actual use.

Jay

Jay Lancaster Wrote:
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"When loaded, if the line touches the blank I adjust and/or add a guide".
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How can the line have a chance to touch the blank - is the blank invertered with the guides on top? A while back I asked if inverting the blank during the static test was an acceptable process and got shot! Thanks.

Oops...did he specify what type of rod he was building? I took for granted it was a casting rod...maybe I'll read it again & more carefully this time. I DON'T WANT TO GET SHOT! I have heard of people that turn spinning rods upside down to run the static test so I guess that theory is widely debated also.

Jay

I'm building spinning rod.

Vladimir