I am proceeding well with my first attempt at rod building and as such I have decided to make my first one a spiral wrap. After locating the spine I have mounted the butt cap, lower grip, reel seat, and foregrip with rod bond (the grips are cocobolo that I turn). So far, so good, rod bond is sturdy stuff.
The blank is a Calstar 196L with an Aftco aluminum reel seat for mounting an Avet MXL 4.5
On the conventional bait casters the quantity, size of guide and spacing seem to require more and larger guides than that which would be needed for the spiral wrap.
I guess my question is: Can I get away with fewer and smaller guides due to the fact that they will be on the underside of the blank? It would seem that this would be advantageous to keeping the weight down out towards the tip (smaller guides and farther apart). I would think the spacing could be farther apart because the line will not have a chance to contact the blank.
I have 8's, 10's, 12's, and 16's with a #6 tip. I was going to use a 16 for the stripper guide and an 8 for the bumper guide. Would I go back to a large guide such as a 12 after the line has made the 180 degree transition to the bottom of the rod and proceed as I would if I were to wrap a conventional bait caster? Should I move the stripper guide closer to the reel seat to accomodate the transition? I subscribe to rodmaker magazine but so far the answer to this one isn't jumping off of the pages at me.
On another note. The guides I am planning to use are titanium sic's. They claim to be preground for wrapping....this a stretch of the marketing imagination, they need grinding and filing.

Thanks,

Curtis

Hi Curtis,
I have built many conventional live bait rods like the one you discribe but just completed
my first "bumper" spiral type. Although I am no expert in regards to the "bumper" (or any
other type of spiral system for that matter) here is what I have learned.

1) Yes, you are correct when you think you will be able to use less guides and space
them farther apart.
2) Always use the smallest guides possible. The guide sizes you mention are perfect!
Although I don't know the reel you will be putting on. You may have to adjust stripper
location or frame height.
3) You could use a #6 for the bumper and as it does not transition the line,( just keeps
the line from rubbing the blank ), you should use one with as low a frame as possible.
4) Yes, go to the #12 and the "bumper" guide should be in the middle between the
stripper and the #12.
5) You may have to play with the location of the stripper guide a little depending on the
frame height and reel height ( too close and the line wil rub the top of the ring too far and
the line will contact the blank at full bend.

The way I built my bumper was to build the rod as a "standard" bait caster ( spacing
and stress testing as well with the guides on top) then just rotated the guides down
and re-spaced and flex tested. I was able to use 1 less # 8 guide so I just removed
it from the tip section and used it for the bumper 1/2 way between the stripper and
the first 180*

Good Luck and Have Fun!!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..

I forgot to mention the library, FAQ, if you do a search for "bumper system"
you will find many posts! Lots of great stuff !!

Raymond Adams
Eventually, all things merge, and a river runs through it..