I static tested a sc5 today and when i got it just about 90 degrees the line slightly touched the blank between the 2nd and 3rd guide. Do you guys think this will be alright or should i change it?

Slightly touching the blank under full load isn't major cause for concern.

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Should not touch. IMHO You may have blank failuer in between them I would adjust them.
Her is the article: [www.rodbuilding.org]

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2009 02:18PM by bill boettcher.

Unless the guides are much too far apart (the line would do more than touch the rod - it might even pass below it if this were the case) then this isn't likely to be a problem.

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The line on all my rods "slightly" touches the blank between all guides. I have yet to have a blank failure as a result.

Another point to consider... how often is a blank truly fully loaded in real world fishing conditions. May depend on the type of fishing you are doing.

What type of guides?

Here are some posts where it's been discussed:

[rodbuilding.org]
[rodbuilding.org]
[rodbuilding.org]
[rodbuilding.org]

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2009 03:06PM by Alex Dziengielewski.

I would still adjust them How much Work is it ???

Bill - willierods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2009 03:37PM by bill boettcher.

To me it isn't the amount of work but the impact on blank performance related to the weight of additional unneeded guides, wraps, and finish - which all impact performance. I feel a lot depends on the technique, application, type of guides, etc.

As with most parts of rodbuilding, there is a trade off that you have to weigh between performance,characteristics, priority, etc. It's a balancing act. I haven't seen any proof where a line slightly touching a blank means bad performance by my gauge of performance (long casts, lightest weight, maximum sensitivity). But I can look on a scale and see the impact of adding or reducing the number of guides has on my builds.

So I ask myself... is adding one more guide really needed when I have no proof that a slight touch of the blank between two guides has not shown detriment to the rod? (Keep in mind I am a minimalist and then break my own rules by adding things back - usually per client request!)

Another thing to consider, have you tried moving up the stripper guide and then the guides above to get that 1 - 3mm movement it would take to get the line completely off the blank if that is important? How about moving the 1st guide from the tip that little bit to get that line up a little?

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An SC 5 ain' t cheap.

Bill - willierods.com

No they aren't! But why buy a high end rod (like an SCV) then put on extra guides and diminish the performance? If durability is the concern, go lower grade blank or spiral wrap. With a spiral, the line slightly touching the blank should pretty much become a moot point.

If I'm sinking the money into a SCV, I'm buying it for maximum performance - so I'm putting only the minimum on it so I have increased sensitivity, reduced weight, and as close to natural action of the blank as possible so the blank can do what it was designed to do. To me saying use extra guides is like saying I bought a Ferrari and I'm only going to drive it slow so I don't crash it. First thing I'm going to do is drop the hammer and see what it will do.

It comes back to why are you building the rod and what are you trying to achieve.

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I'm with Alex on this one. Build it for the best performance you can get out of it. To me, that would be a spiral wrap to completely eliminate the line touching the blank and build it as light as possible, like split grip no fore grip and an blank exposed seat, or even a two pipece reel seat. There is no sense getting a blank like an SCV and weighting it down with excess guides, epoxy, and handle material...

Could just use Ugly Sticks-The World's Strongest, Most Sensitive Rods-if you're worried about it breaking

Chris,

LOL!

Mo