OK. I've read Tom's book. I've read Tom's updated thoughts on static testing and guide placement here. I've read other posts. I get the desire to keep the line off the blank when stressed, and the desire to keep line slap down. I think I understand the reasoning behind placing the guides on top of a casting rod before rotating them under (180 drgrees) for a spiral wrap.

But it just ain't happening the way I figured it is supposed to.

I am building a 7' popping rod, on a GL Loomis P844-GL2 blank (medium/fast action) EVA handle, fuji reel seat, EVA fore end. Will fish it w/ 12# mono, for speckled trout and redfish. Usually 2-5lb fish, when lucky, up to 9-12lbs. Fuji guides, 4 LSG 6J, 1 LSG 7J, 1 UNSG 7J, one UNSG 8J, an LNSG 10J, and an LNSG 12J. I fish a Shimano Curado most of the time. I intend to do a spiral wrap.

When I apply 2lbs of weight to the tip of the rod (line to reel is held just taut by a casting plug) I get a fair bend down the first 1/4-1/3 of the rod. There are not enough guides to keep the line off the blank. In the area of the 3rd guide (# 1 being the tiptop) the guides would have to be about 3.5-4 inches apart to keep the line from touching the blank. This is not with a lot of flex in the rod. I have considerably more flex when fishing a decent red, and more still when netting/grabbing it. I know these guides will be underneath the rod when I move them before wrapping and finishing, but wow! What am I doing wrong here? Do you hold the rod parallel to the ground when applying the weight? Less weight/bend for figuring placement? I have been holding it in more of a natural fishing attitude, maybe 45 degrees. Am I just being a little too anal about the line not touching the blank? (Figured that would be a trait that would help me in this hobby....?)

Hate to start off my 1st rod w/ a kinda "close enough for gubmint work" attitude, but this is beginning to cost me some sleep. :-)

Help?

Steve

No, you're doing it just fine, but with such low guides, you'll need lots of them to keep the line off the blank. But, since you're going spiral, you won't have that problem.

I set up the Simple Spiral primarily to make things easy on me when I had to take a dozen phone calls each day and explain how to do a spiral wrap. Since most of the guys knew how to set up a conventional rod, I was just having them flip what they'd done there and move on. Saved me a couple hours each and every day. Still does.

So, first of all, dump all those intermediate sizes - they're worthless. Get rid of the 7's and the 8 and stick to all 6's for your running guides. Probably need a 12 for the butt guide and then maybe use an 8 for the second guide. Set them up top and get them spaced about as nicely as you can. Try it with about 8 or 9 guides plus a tip top. If the line touches the blank, try to have it touch equally between each pair of guides. Then flip them all except the first one and then go back and add a low frame #8 between the butt guide and that second one. I think you'll find it'll work out great.

...............

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Sprial ... Jay Lancaster ... 329-Views 11-Replies
Last Post 09/04/06 12:08PM

Do what you can to minimize the probability of the 1st or the 2nd Guide in the 180-degree position (the 1st or 2nd after the Bumper Guide; moving toward the rod tip) from being a NON-Loading Guide when the rod is moderately flexed. If there is a potential pitfall to any Spiral Wrap, a non-loading Guide, where the line does not pull DOWN on the ring of a guide in the 180-degree position, that is it: Non-Loading. ... Good Luck, -Cliff Hall.

P.S. -
For Spiral Wraps using Acid Rollers, the pitfall may be frame rubbing or groove jumping of the line at various flex conditions.

For Spiral Wraps using Ring-Guides, another pitfall beside non-loading may be the introduction of a torque-wrench effect on the guides in the Transition Zone.

Minimizing these potentials is the issue. Total elimination to the point of zero-effect may be impractical and is usually not entirely necessary. IMO, ... -Cliff Hall.

Got it, guys. Thanks. Wrapped some of the guides last night, waiting for more 6's to come in. Checked for non-loaded guides, all are under some tension, thanks, Cliff. Oldest son is my test casting machine. He says it casts well, has never seen a spiral wrap before, is intrigued.

Man, I am learning a lot. Thanks for all the hand holding. Great forum.

Steve