So what is everyone's favorite way to prep guide feet. I'm getting tired of the file and thinking of a rechargable dremel or something

I've always used a 1" belt sander I have in the shop. Using 320-400 grit paper, can be very quick. Just be cautious, it can take more if you aren't paying attention. It leaves a smooth finish, is usually contoured, works great.

Shea McPherson

I had been using file and Dremel until I tried the bench grinder... I'll neve look back!

I use the Dremel tool in a Craftsman rotary tool workstation. (Dremel makes a workstation just like Craftsman's... or is it the other way around?). The workstation allows you to use the Dremel as both a mini-bench grinder and a drill press. After rough shaping with the Dremel, I use a combination of an inexpensive jewelers file and Klingspor cloth-baked abrasive glued to a tongue depressor for final dressing. Regards, Vance

Ted,
Like mny of the others I use a grinding wheel, which is very aggressive. If I'm not careful, I over grind and have to toss a guide. Recently I read a copy of Rodmaker where Tom Kirkman uses a sanding pad attached to a lathe. I think that might be the best solution.

When I finish the rough shaping, I switch to 1200 or 1500 grit emery cloth and smooth the surface. I finish by polishing with a small square of crocus cloth. This final polishing allows me to pack the threads easily when wrapping.

Mike Blomme

I bought an electric hook sharpener at a fishing fleamarket this winter and it works great. It has a thin fine grit grinding wheel. Tried the file but this is much faster and easier.

Sanding is quickest and easiest. Although file, used properly, is nearly as quick.

Give a sanding belt or disc a try. You're apt to like it. 100 to 120 grit is all you need.

.......

I use a 1" belt sander which was a fine grit, but after "MANY" years of use still cuts great and I now don't have to worry about too much material being removed if I don't pay attention.

I use a very small grinder with a unified wheel that I found at Harour Freight cheap. You can grind the feel then use the unified wheel to dress them and smooth any burrs. It's variable speed to boot. Works great.

Bill in WV

What do you use for a Fuji titanium frame single foot size 6 and smaller fly guide? After working a few of these on a belt sander I am in shape to crack open safes with my bloody finger tips.

I use a diamond disc on a dremel on size 6 and smaller single foot guides and use a belt sander at times on larger ones.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

For small guides I use a small Exacto blade holder. Way back in the stone age when money was tight. I got a old electric can opener that had a knife sharpener.. I cut the shield off and low and behold. I had a guide foot grinder that cost me 5 bucks. The stone I the one I have is a fine oil stone. After grinding I just take a mixture of Denatured Alcohol a little liquid soap and water, wash off the guides and dry them and go wrapping. Oh yes as for the bottom of the guide feet I use a fine flat file and finish off with a fine oil stone
Good Wraps Bob

I use small nylon bolts of various sizes and a Dremel in stand. Works great! Easier to show pic than try to explain [www.rodbuilding.org]

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!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2008 04:08PM by Mike Barkley.

Bill Stevens Wrote:
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> What do you use for a Fuji titanium frame single
> foot size 6 and smaller fly guide? After working a
> few of these on a belt sander I am in shape to
> crack open safes with my bloody finger tips.

Good one! You crack me up sometimes. I use the small nylon screw like Mike B. for my fly guides, but anything size 4mm and smaller I just hold them and hit them with a rubber polishing wheel on my Dremel. Yes, sometimes I hit my fingers, but it is a very fine grit. For larger guides I start with disk sander.

Thanks guys lots of good ideas - I might try a mini bench grinder some day ot maybe the belt sander. I did find a nifty product from Dremel called the Stylus - cordless, but the charging base can be used to hold the tool. I used an alum oxide disk and dressed the end of an extra guide - nice and slick. Uses Li batteries as well. For now I think I'm set. Now it time to rebuild the bench - make it bigger and better.

Chuck,

"Good one! You crack me up sometimes", only sometimes!?!?! I am rolling on the floor on almost every one of his posts, except the really serious ones. I just love that cajun humor. If anyone has ever heard of Rev. Jessie DuPlantis, he has the same humorous way about him while he's preaching. He was born on the bayough (sp?) as was Bill.

Bill in WV

Vance - Dreml "private labels" the units for Craftsman. Craftsman hasn't made anything of their own for many years. And the lifetime warranty isn't lifetime anymore - just try to turn something back to them sometime.

We use the holder sold by Mud Hole and several other sponsors. We like the disc-sander on a disk/belt sander with about a 220 disc. For final dressing you can use a small jeweler's file.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Bill

For the small Titanium and others similar single foot guides, I just hold the guide rings by having the ring under the finger nails of my thumb and forefinger.

Kerry

The 30 inch - 1 inch wide belt sander works great.
This sander is such a universal tool that if you do much of anything, you will find a use for it.
It can sand any type material, fix guides, sharpen knives, shape wood etc. etc. etc.

Get a selection of belts - ranging from 80 grit to 450 grit. Us the coarse grits for fast heavy material removal and use 450 grit for final knife sharpening, or remove earlier scratches.

[www.harborfreight.com]

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When prepping guides, I have a few different wood artist paint brush handles to pop in the guides to hold the guides.
The paint brush handles are tapered. So, I use some small handles to take care of the smaller guides, and then use larger handles to take care of the larger guides.
Of course the large guides are easily held in your fingers.
However, the use of the 4-8 guides wor much better with the use of the tapered wood sticks to hold the guide as the foot is being prepped.

Take care
Roger

1" belt sander then, hit it with a unified wheel. Perfect every time and it takes about 40 seconds a guide.