I'm building a surf rod and have been weighing the pros and cons of using underwraps. There seems to be two schools of thought on this. Some say underwraps are only good for decoration and do not add any protection; while others believe underwraps are a good buffer between guide feet and the blank.

I wonder if a few coats of Permagloss under the guide feet would provide a good layer of protection for the blank. It's a lot lighter than a thread underwrap and would barely affect rod performance. The only area covered would be directy under each foot; none in between the feet.

The question is: how much protection would it provide and how many coats do you think is advisable?

Thanks for all input.

This is what happens when your mind has been overtaken by the rod building virus. The CDC has no cure for this bug and never will!

Dave

What's the difference if you underwrap a surf rod? You're not going to add weight or affect the performance at all.

Billy,
I get your point regarding the surf rod. So how about the Permagloss undercoat on a light weight rod? The question remains: Will it provide a good layer of protection for the blank?

If the guides are properly prepped, it's not going to matter one way or the other. I would worry about prepping the guides properly more than if PG or thread provides enough protection or not.

David,

Exactly what are you trying to protect the blank from? If the guides are nice and flat, you're applying any load across broad area. If they're not nice and flat, neither thread nor PermaGloss is going to change or protect anything.


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I prep the underside of my guides to be as smooth as glass. and with a nice curve to match the blank. My thought was that over many years of use the metal to graphite contact might conceivably be a point of wear. I gather from your responses it is not. So now it's just a matter of choosing wheter to under wrap for decorative considerations. You have convinced me that under wraps will not protect a blank but will hinder the performance the lighter weight rods.
I thank you.

Dave

There won't be any wear between the guide foot and blank, if the guide foot underside is flat and smooth. The guide isn't sliding back and forth on that area. The will be some extremely minute movement, but not the type that would cause any wear.

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I may have to disagree with you guys about the guide feet against the blank not causing any problems. I recently got a graphite rod back that broke under the guide foot. I wasn't able to figure out if the blank had a problem or if the guide foot wore into the blank. The blank manufacture did cover it under warranty, however I do suspect that the foot may have a role in the rod breaking. The metal foot won't flex the same as the blank when under a load. Maybe the guide foot can damage the blank. Tom are you suggesting that the underside of the guide foot not follow the concave of the blank? Is that what you mean by making the foot flat? I leave my guide feet round on the underside to fit tight to the blank. I am building mostly saltwater rods though.
Rob

If the foot isn't flat, or if is has a sharp bump or burr, it will damage the blank. But neither an underwrap or coat of finish will stop that.

A smooth, flat guide foot will not harm nor wear into the blank.

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Tom, I just want to male sure I get this right. Should I grind the underside of the guide foot flat then? It would appear that grinding the guide foot flat would weaken the guide. Or are you talking about how the foot lays against the blank? I try to achieve, a parallel foot to the blank.
Rob

Boston, MA

Tom,
I just look at your Rod-Building Guide and saw the photos of what you are talking about. I thought you were talking about grinding the guide foot flat thus eliminating the concave shape. Never mind, getting the guide flat against the blank is what I do.
Rob

Boston, MA