As a novice rodbuilder, I've learned that one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten was from Tom Kirkman's rodbuilding book, and that is to ignore spacing charts, and to determine guide placement (and what size they should be) through experimentation and trial and error. If we strive to be craftsmen as rod builders, and to construct better products than the factories, we need to be recognize ways that we can build better rods, and test casting/experimentation is perhaps the main thing that will set us apart from the mass producers, whether we're building rods for ourselves (like me) or for others.

I've come to the reluctant conclusion that a necessary corollary of this philosophy is that we, as rodbuilders, must have many guides of many different sizes; without a large array, one may be stuck without that one crucial guide during testing, and lacking the "final piece" of the puzzle (usually a fifty-cent guide), you may be forced to improvise, which, of course, leads to less-effective results.

Since I build only surf rods, I've settled on Fuji aluminum oxide guides, which I actually use on my finished rods; I carry many of them from size 8 to size 50. But surely there must be a more cost-effective method -- to test cast with cheaper guides, and use better stuff when you're actually building the rod.

Any thoughts?

Find some old used, broken rods, etc., and strip off the guides. Most guides on rods these days are of one or two very popular styles - the Fuji casting or spinning frame style (NSG or SVSG type, double and single foot styles). Used guides in the full array of sizes are just as good as new ones for set up purposes. As long as the rings as sound so you can test cast, the overall look or condition of the frame won't matter much.

On the other hand, doing what you did and considering it the same buying a "tool" for guide spacing and placement, can be considered just one of the small start up costs when getting started in rod building. I think it's an excellent idea although I'm sure many will still see it as an expense they'd rather not bother with. So, used take-off guides could be the answer.

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Chris,

Your email address is hidden. Fix that in "My Control Panel" at the top of the posts, and I'll send you something that may interest you.

Bill in WV

Chris,

Check your email. I sent you a link. Just another note, some folks strip these down and sell the guides and handles on one of the popular @#$%& sites.

Bill in WV