I am in the process of building a bunch of ice rods.
Many of these rods have very very very fine tips. i.e. tips of about size 2/64th.

As a result, much of the rod is like trying to wrap a wet noodle.

Since the tips are so fine the conventional rod rests - either in the form of a v block or support wheels really don't work very well.

As I was getting ready to wrap the next batch, I glanced around the shop and noticed some of the cut off ice rod fiberglass solid blanks. ie. some of the blanks needed trimming to meet requirements.

I thought, that perhaps these cut off blanks might work as a tip support.

So, I trimmed a couple of the blanks to the needed height, and then used my abrasive cut off wheel - similar to a large dremel tool - to cut notches in the end of each fiberglass blank.
I used the sander to smooth all of the edges.

Then, I simply drilled a couple of holes spaced about 3 inches apart in a block to act as a rod support.

Now, when doing a wrap on one of the thin tip sections, I place this pair of vertical notched rod supports under the tip. The 3 inch spacing is about right to span a guide that is being wrapped, but allow room to put the wrap in place.

p.s.
The small size of the vertical rod supports - about 1/4 inch - gives one plenty of room to get up to the fine diameter blank for these delicate end wraps.


When I get the camera out again, I will post a picture.

Take care
Roger

I have added a few pictures of the tip - fine blank stand in the equipment section:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

This holder worked very well when working with these very fine 1-3/64th blanks.

Sometimes, I almost feel like I am trying to wrap a wet noodle - with these very fine limber blanks.

Take care
Roger

Thanks for sharing a great idea. It's bound to help somebody out.

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