I thought I read some where the other day someone had a way to hold small and micro guides in place until you get the thread on. On 1 and smaller guides if I use tape then there is no room for the thread to get started, I have some surgical tubing and I have Flex Coat guide glue kind of messy, maybe I use to much.

If someone could tell me how they hold the small and micro's on till they get the thread started would be of great help.

PS I have BIG FAT FINGERS some times they get in the way,LOL.

Cant help you there, I got midget fingers, and can actually juggle 3 size 2.5's!!!. Do a search on the M+M threads for methods of tying those down. Very very small electrical ties appears to be the method of choice for most...do you have children with non fat fingers?

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.

First of all you have to file the toe of the guide foot needle sharp so the thread will wrap up on it easy. If your little rubber bands are small enough, put one over the guide foot and one jammed up behind it, under the ring. That will hold it until you get some thread up on the foot.
Any time I'm wrapping small single foot guides or fly guides , I always got an extra rubber band or two on the rod for that purpose. Try it , I bet it will work.

.....or double stick thread?

NERB that types with a bar of Ivory soap in his mouth.

I've only done one rod with these tiny guides; my fumble fingers had no problem with the surgical tubing, doubled up, with one wrap over the foot and the other wedged behind the guide like Jay mentions above. Here's a link to a pic... [www.rodbuilding.org]

I use the surgical tube rubber bands. They work fine where there is some diameter to the blank. For the real thin part of the blank, I use masking tape, cut into 1/16 inch strips, to hold the small guides in place. Some guys use guide foot adhesive. Some use cable ties. See what works best for you.

James, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I got it from Chuck Mills about a year ago when he made a post about it. I can't remember birthdays and anniversary's but I can remember important things.

just put one together with the small cable ties. they worked so well i'm gonna use them on regular sized guides also. made it much easier to test cast and load test as they were more secure than tape for me

I did use the strips of tape with a cork backer.

I've found the zip ties most effective now. Hold tight enough for static, test casting, and tying.

I do modify my zip ties. I take my dremel, with the sanding tool, and sand off about 1/2 to 1/3 of the zip tie right behind the clip.

You get about 5 good wraps with size A up the foot, take a pair of clippers, snip the tie off, wrap on up.

-----------------
AD

Has anyone tried orthodontic rubber bands? Would be a little stronger than the surgical tubing.

I suggest you do not take any more off the feet then is absolutely necessary to allow the thread to run up the foot. The feet are small to start with removing too much may cause stability problems.

To your fat fingers add: old, blind and with the shakes:

Works like a charm:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

After watching Bobby Feazel use this stuff with micros I have started using this method of guide attachment on all builds.

When using the Forhan locking wraps on these small guides you can place all guides, perform final alignment prior to wrapping. When you try to tune the guides after wrapping the little devils want to rotate around the locking wrap.

You also need a very sharp pair of cutting snips to cut through the band near the locking hub on the tie wrap easily.

[www.swamplandtackle.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2008 08:24AM by Bill Stevens.

Hay guys:
If these guides are hard to tie on to a blank -- what about guide prep ? Even the best factory foot prep always needs a little more. How are ya holding them when prepping.

I have never found that the Fuji 3.5 needs to be prepped. Size A climbs the foot easily and won't move when using the tie-wraps. I get about 7-8 thread wraps before cutting the tie off and I don't find any need to modify it. The smaller 3" size that Lance has at Swampland works better for me that the 4" previously used because they are thinner and seem to snug down tighter toward the tip of a rod.

Bill,
Whenever I prep smaller guides, I use a tapered stick.
I typically use the handle of an old artists brush that I am done using. I chop off the brush part and am left with the handle.

Then, I will chuck the end of the handle that I just cut and chuck it in an electric drill. I will run this over my rotating belt sander, removing any excess wood and making a nice taper on the handle.

I like to have the guide near the end of the pice of wood, so I make up several sticks with different tapers to hold the guide.

When prepping, I simply pop the guide on the stick - it is a jam fit - and use my one inch belt sander with 320 paper loaded on it. I keep the sander at 90 degrees to me and it is trivial to prep the guides using the stick as a holder.

I just keep the sticks by the sander - ready for easy use to hold the guides.

No cost for the holders and they work very well.

Take care
Roger

I just touch them on a Dremel polishing wheel. [www.rodbuilding.org]

This is what's been working for wrapping them lately. [www.rodbuilding.org]

Lastly - Don't buy cable ties like these. They don't cinch closed enough on the tip end. [www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2008 08:58PM by Chuck Mills.