Using Tom's static guide placement from the library. I have a 8ft medium saltwater spinning rod.
This is a mass produced factory spinning combo that i have redone(in other words, el cheapo wally world)
in the article, it starts from the 2nd guide since tip to 1st guide distance is already known(4-6 inches). My question is, what determines the distance for what the tip to #1 guide should be? Originally it was 71/4 inches. and if I did put the 1st guide 71/4 from tip, then should i space the other guides 71/4 each to start out?

2nd question: does it matter how i load up the rod? Instead of holding the butt to flex the rod, could I put the butt in something like a spine finder and pull down on the tip end to load the blank?

Hi Daniel,

Inexpensive rods usually use fewer guides, so they are spaced farther apart. That's why the original was 7 1/4 from the tip. If you read Tom's library article carefully, your questions will be answered. On the rod you are talking about, precise placement of the 1st guide from the tip isn't super critical. Start with 5". Place the other guides about 5" apart along the rod and string a line through them. Hang a small weight on that line just to keep tension on it, about 1/2 oz is fine. Use a different line to flex the rod and follow the instructions in the article.

Shoot me an email if you have questions or post more here.

Terry

On a spinner rod I would use the new guide concept style placement.

Tom,
Common sense and a bit of paitence easily dictates guide placement.

Lets say that you start with a bare blank with the handle in place - ready to place the guides.

Gather a bunch of strips of narrow tape to mark the blank.

Starting from the tip -= flex the rod. At the spot where the rod flexes first =- place the first guide.
Then, divide the distance from that spot to the tip - in half and place a guide at that spot to carry the line.
Then, working back toward the butt of the rod, continue to flex the rod, and place a guide wherever necessary to insure that the line has support at points of blank curvature.

Generally speaking, again working from the tip = the spacing between guides will gradually grow larger as you move from the tip to the butt of the rod.
If you have a very fast tip rod - and or casting rod - you may find that several of the guides near the tip are equally spaced to allow the line to be properly carried around the curvature of the blank. Then, as the blank gets stiffer, the guide spacing will increase since the curvature of the blank is less.

Finally, after taping all of the guides in place, mount a reel that is similar to the type reel to be used on the rod. Thread up the rod - and check to see how the line flows through the guides.
Insure that you have good line support so that the line follows the curvature of the blank.


YOu will be in good shape.

Take care
Roger