Hi Guys,

I am just about to make up a Thomas & Thomas LPS563 blank. I contacted T&T and they were nice enough to furnish me with information about the rings and winding check so I can order them before the blank arrives.

Therein lies the problem - the winding check - they told me it needs to be 0.190" bore. I cannot find anythings less than 0.2"

Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Dave

David,

You are lucky then. You may find that as blanks do vary a bit in practice that your 0.200 inch will do just fine at the place you want to put it.. You only have 0..005 inch clearance all the way around. Now this is a good glue line thickness for epoxies. You can always make up with thread or more probably in this case strands of oo size thread to make up. Personally I don't like to fit metal winding checks that are a close or even tight fit.on light fly rods.especially where the action comes right down the blank. The winding check can set up a shear edge. I know it's unlikely but I am still wary. I never heard of a rod breaking in this way it's just me. I do thread checks.

Regards

Mike O.

Thread Checks, Thread Ramps .
Epoxy Ramps, with Thread Over-Wraps.
Foam or Cork "Bumpesr" or Fenders
Drill a hole to-size in your favorite denomination coin or other
circular disk. Checker or Poker or Casino chips, Tokens, ... whatever

Or just use - nothing - since "winding checks"
are usually optional anyway. IMO, -Cliff Hall+++

Thanks to both of you. A small point though, the clearance is 0.010" not 0.005".

I think you are right that this will allow a reasonable glue "line" that should be hidden with the thread and epoxy anyway. T&T were quite specific about the size, although it must surely be determined by the taper of the blank and the length of reel seat and cork handle.

I have built rods without winding checks before, but I don't think they look as finished as ones with one, especially if it's nickel silver, which I love. I was hoping in this case to find one of the stretchy rubber ones that was bored tight enough to give a snug fit, hence my question about finding small bore checks.

Tight lines,

Dave

David,
Advice to slightly oversize metal winding checks is sound. I know of one case where a rod blank manufacturer notified a friend that the exact fit of a metal check was the cause of blank failure right at the winding check. Another reason for slight over size is allowance for buildup of epoxy against the winding check.

As for rubber, I use similar logic. A rubber check that is stretched slightly to fit won't damage the blank, but eventual drying of rubber may cause the ring to split and become unsightly.

Jeff Shafer

Dave,

The difference is 0.010 inch on the diameter. But it is 0.005 inch on the radius. Draw two circles one inside of the other on a piece of paper and it will become clear. If you used say a piece of thread of a diameter of 0.010 it would be too thick. It needs to be 0.005. Sorry I am not good at explaining this. Hope you get my drift.

Yes I agree winding checks do finish off a rod beautifully especially fly rods. Look you will rarely get closer than this with a fit and you can make it work. The alternative is to get a check slightly smaller than the blank and hand fit it by using a small half round needle file. Rarely will you ever be able to buy propriety items and they fit. That is what we do as custom builders. It's part of the reason we exist I guess.

Regards

Mike O.

Personally I think an epoxy ramp wrapped and finished like the guide wraps gives a more finished look than a rubber check. I think this is especially true if you are going to use a hookkeeper, a ramp can be used to wrap the hook keeper foot closest to the grip.

How about a small 0-ring, in conjunction with a thread hosel? 0-rings come in zillions of bores and thicknesses.

Thanks for your help guys.

The Vinyl "O" ring is an intrigueing idea and may be a "get out of jail free" card.

Regarding the bore size, I would have presumed that T&T would have already allowed for an oversize fit with their suggestion fo 0.190" bore, therefore using a 0.2" bore may be well oversize. The problem is that I am still waiting for the blank to be delivered. I should think it's going to be another week at least, so I cannot actually measure it. I was just enquiring if smaller sizes were available in any material. As far as nickel silver goes I can't find any anywhere near to either size, the smallest on offer seems to be 0.250".

I will wait for the blank now.

Your input is much appreciated.

Dave

David,

Never assume anything in this game. Did you try Strubles very nice Nickle Silver checks. I have a feeling they do small id . You may have to email them to find out. They do tarnish once on but the look is nice still. I bet that 0.20 will do it for you handsomly. You should be able to get it to fit and to fit well and look good. Optimisum helps a lot in this game. Yes like my dog is definataly not going to come into the room and shake when I am finishing wraps. LOL