5'4" Medium Heavy Glass - Casting
Ive read Tom Kirkman on placement (library reference) and did a search and gathered more info but still have some questions. The rod is short I think by most standards only 49" long in front of the fore grip. Using the charts for a 5 1/2' rod the butt guide goes roughly about 38" from the tip.
When I flex the rod, guides up, Im finding it hard to keep the line off the blank without the guides getting very close togeather, up to 8 guides and that sure seems like too many.
With the top glued on and the butt at 38" I keep wanting to add guides . Am I flexing the rod too much? I should be doing this with the guides up just as I would fish it?

Dump the charts. They do not take into consideration your handle length or reel size.

I can't really advise you where to place your butt guide - I'd need your reel here to do that. You want the butt guide located so that under what you anticipate as a full load the line between the butt guide and reel doesn't get down onto the foregrip. Generally, on a rod of that type, a distance of about 20 to 22 inches from the center of the reel will be roughly okay. Probably something along the lines of a size 16 in a low frame casting or a size 12 if a higher frame spinning style.

I'd think that about 7 guides would work, although 8 wouldn't necessarily be out of the question.

.........

Well that seems to be about right then. I was trying to make it happen with 5 guides (charts). Using 8 guides and the butt guide at 18 from the reel center Im thinking all is good. (Im using a Chronarch low profile frame)
Thanks again

easy way to figure how many is go to the higher foot. 5 1/2' would be 6 guides then depending on the blank
Try taking one away on the tip and see what the spacing is like.

I think you're on the right track.

..........

Ended up with tip and 7 with the butt guide 18" from reel center. Static tested using the 2 line method you discribed. Started at 5" apart and made one adjustment to each guide about .75" - 1" took it out and casted for about 30 minutes. Average was about 15' -20' furthur than any of my commercial rods using the same casting plug. It really felt much different and accuracy was excellent. I wrapped it and will epoxy in the next day or so. Ive been reading up on everyones suggestions regarding brush or spatula. Jury is still out. I have an identical blank that I will use and make a same rod but with a spiral wrap.
Thanks all

It's nice when a plan comes together

You could start out with the cheap flex coat brushes. Try a couple of practice runs first. Epoxy , ya put it on and it does it's thing. Not really that scary. it can be put on with a stick, as long as it is clean.

Have finished with the apoxy. It got a little "sticky" you could say. Looks nice no bubbles but it seemed like the apoxy had a short pot life or I was just working too slow. Did use a spatula all the way thru using the Mac's coffee stirrers. I had a thought in the back of my mind after I had begun that I didnt read the syringe correctly which may have given me 1/2cc more hardener than resin. IF this were the case would it tend to shorten pot life? What should the pot life be?
If I thin with acetone will i get a longer pot life? I know it means 2 coats if thinned. The 6 rpm drying motor seems too slow for applying and I will look for a motor about twice that speed or a variable speed motor..
I took it out this morning and did some more casting and realized that the additional distance I thought I had gained over my commercial rods had all to do with where I was standing when I was testing guide location but I seem to get the distance with less effort.

Tom,
Maybe I can help with the sticky part.
I always make sure I have Paper towels and alcohol close when I set down for anything except wrapping.
also some of the best advice I got on this board was with epoxy - it's not how much you put on but how much you take off.
I cover the wraps well then come back after I start turning and take the sags out down to the amount of finish I want left on each wrap.
Too Much Information. I just felt extra helpful today.
Mike