Years ago some suppliers handled very small rubber bands to sllip
over the blank while placing guides, After wrapping the guide you
simply snipped them off. Does anyone still handle them?

Thanks

Hi John. I don't know of any suppliers. I use the black rubber tubing for aligning bow sights on small diameter blanks. You can get one for about a buck at an archery shop or good sporting goods store. Cut them up with a razor blade,will make about 100 or so. Also, fuel lines for model airplanes are good. Surgical tubing for large diameter blanks.This stuff is cheeeap.

Like Jay said, You can pick up vinyl tubing in various diameters at any hobby shop. It's used for fuel lines, etc on model airplanes and is very inexpensive. A few feet, a cutting board and a razor blade and you have a couple years worth. I always slide them on (with a few extras) on the blank before I glue on the tip. Makes guide placement/adjustment a snap! Just touch with a razor and they fly off

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

There is a Scuba Dive place which sells teh tubing. I haven't tried it, but was recommended by Ed Smith here on teh board. If you search teh archives you should be able to find the name of the place.

John,

I’m not sure who has the rubber bands you’re looking for but I use surgical tubing.
Most of the time you can find the tubing at your local tackle shop if not check with the sponsors at the left.

Lynn

Try velcro cable ties. That's what I've been using. I wrap them on above the guide on the narrower section, They then tighten nicely when I slide them down in the area I want to hold the guide feet. I think mine were originally 8 inches log. I cut them to about 3 inches, which is the most I've needed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2007 09:17PM by Dave Hauser.

You can get it @ Wal-mart in the hair @ beauty area .It cost $2 for a whole bag.Good luck

John,
For a discount on building his fly rod i got bags and bags from my sons Orthadontist. He also gave me about 300 pair of suture scissors which some will attest to as I was handing them out last year at the big show. Those suture scissors as a side point are the best they are like razors cutting braided line and thread with ease. Anyway talk to the local orthadontast they use them for braces in many sizes and hand them out. Im sure he will sell them or even give them to you. Billy

I got a couple of bags at the local Orthodontist. The call them "elastics" and they are used for keeping dental braces tight.
I offered to pay for them but they didn't really have pricing so they just let me have them.

They work pretty well.

Walt Natzke
Ripon, CA

Just wondering, have any of you tried the Flex Coat guide foot adhesive. The stuff is so quick and easy, and you can get the hang of it in probably 5 guides - good stuff and easier than anything else.

Just my $.02
Marc

Maec,

The reason that I use the rubber bands instead of adhesive is because I never know the final guide placement until the rod is in a rod holder on my bench and a static test is performed. With the rubber bands, I can have the rod flexed and easily move the guides around until I get the line path that I want and can even test cast if I want and make guide adjustments "on the fly" I don't think that I could do that if my guides were glued on.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Billy - if you have a spare pair of the scissors, I'll take one or two. Please just let me know the price plus shipping.

Meanwhile, we use a milspec 1/4" tape for placing guides. Quick, easy, and no residue. But I don't know what the civilian equivalent would be.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2007 12:15AM by Russ Pollack.

I occasionally use the hobby shop fuel line tubing and dental bands, but I generally prefer to use blue masking tape strips out of old habit. Tried the guide adhesive and didn't like it. Like Mike, I like to be able to move them around. Never got the knack of locating them at a first whack.

Your email is hidden. If you don't have any local sources, I would be happy to send you a 6-12" section of .125" ID tubing. Shoot me your address and I'll send you a chunk that should keep you in business for a few rods at least.

J. Stockard Fly fishing has them; 100 for $2.65

I also use surgical tubing. Just snip it into sections that are about 1/8" wide.

I have tried the tape and many other things, the other day i went to the dollar store and purchased a bag of rubber bands for a $1 I also pickup some rubber tubing to use with the rubber bands has been working great.

I just use dollar store assortments. When I put them on, I drop the loop over the ring, pull it to the opposite side and around the bottom of the rod, and loop it back over the ring in the opposite direction. That way I can just remove them without cutting. If I don't have one short enough to hold the guide tight, there is usually one that can be doubled and do the job.

On very small diameter blanks, I sometimes have to double one over a second or third time. but can usually make them work.

I use the model airplane fuel tubing also, but I push a piece of rubber band through the short piece of tubing, leaving a loop on one end. That way you can tighten and loosen the clamp. As you are wrapping the guide, you can touch it with your eXacto, and it falls off.

I use the model airplane rubber bands, the ones they use to hold on the wings. #57, I believe. I can get 3 clamps per rubber band, and have been reusing the tubing for quite some time.

Spinnerbait rubber band collars or rubber band jig collars is what I have used in the past.

Elastic sewing thread works great. Sewing section of Wal Mart, or JoAnne Fabrics. $1.50 per spool. Two loops and an overhand knot - maybe a few wraps if it is a really big guide.