Hi. Just finished my first spiral wrap. I built a Rainshadow RDR86M for line counter walleye crankbait trolling. Not sure if I got it right but the static test which I used for guide spacing looks good. Used two double foot guides for the 0 and 180 rings size 12 and 10. The 90 guide is a BNUG8. This kept the line close to the blank but it never touch in a deep bend. Everything else is an BLAG8 fly guide. 11 guides total. Can't wait to try it out.

How far apart are the 0 and first 180 degree guide?


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They are 13 inches apart. The 90 splits the difference.

Okay, I'm going to suggest something else that I think will work better.

Put all the guides up on top of the rod and do your static stress test with them up there. If you do, I think you'll find your first two guides will only fall about 8 to 10 inches apart at most.

Now, with the exception of the first guide, flip them all to the bottom but do not adjust the spacing. Now go back and put one low frame guide on there at 90 degrees and exactly halfway between the 0 and first 180 degree guide.

This may sound similar to what you have now, but it's not. Your first two guides are currently far enough apart that when you heavily load the rod the 90 degree guide is going have a side load on it. With the method I outlined just above, it won't.

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And how much further toward the rod tip is the SECOND 180-degree line guide? In other words, if the FIRST 180-degree guide is somewhat non-loading, then how far is the span from the BUTT Guide to the 2nd 180-degree Guide? That span may need to be shortened (on your NEXT Simple Spiral Wrap) IF the 1st 180-degree guide is still non-loading at deep flexion of the rod blank. ... -Cliff Hall, FL-USA.

See CHRIS KARP's "The Illustrated Simple Spiral" Wrap
[www.rodbuilding.org]

He's not having that problem.

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Thanks for the info. I have built around 30 spinning rods but only 4 casting. Even then I cheated using the manufacture's guide spacing. Yes, these were my very first rods. I read everything I could before this setup but I learn better from doing or watching then I do by reading.

Yup, wrestling with a (rod-building) project brings at least as much prowess as second-hand knowledge, if not always more, depending on where you are on the learninig curve for a particular skill involved.

"See one, Do one, Teach one."

Learn, Read. Learn, Do. Test, Review & Revise.
Repeat that cycle as often as needed.
Consult fellows when necessary.
Try not to let pride get in the way.

CQI - "Continuous Quality Improvement" -

"You can lead a horse to water,
but you can't make him drink." ...

C'est la vie. ... -Cliff Hall, FL-USA.