Okay, I've searched on this, but couldn't find a good thread that answered this for me. I'm about ready to start preparing the guides for placing on the rod. Is there a trick to handling (holding) the guides while filing/sanding/dremmeling the guide feet? I'm using size #6-#8 guides, so they're kinda small to hold in my left hand while using a tool on them with my right.

Anyone have another suggestion for how to do this?

Bobby, I made a tool from a Nylon bolt to hold little guides while I dress them. I turned the threaded part down til it just fit through the insert. Rounded off the head and also made it thinner. I then cut a little notch in the head so it would fit around the guide leg. I left the head larger in diameter than the guide ring. You hold the nylon stem while filing or grinding. The head of the bolt completely covers the guide ring and leg for protection. The notch keeps the guide from turning on the Nylon stem while you dress it. The only thing protruding past the head is the guide foot. Kinda hard to describe it and I didn't take a photo of it. Hope it makes sense to you.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

You can use a nylon bolt and nut or you can buy something like this [www.mudhole.com]

Bobby....lots of ways. A nylon macine screw and nut works well for the sizes you mentioned. Carry a size or two to local hardware dealer..pick a screw size that fits ring closely. On the smaller 3s and 4s I use a pair of square jawed mini pliers that I glued inner tube rubber to the jaw faces to both grip and protect ring while prepping. Faster than using the screw and nut-no threading and unthreading. May be able to hold them securely just using the screw and no nut.

Forgot to mention this - I found a nylon tipped tweezers used to hold small beads at a craft store. It has recesses in the sides and works pretty good for 3mm guides.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2009 04:32PM by Chuck Mills.

Nylon Bolt See Here [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!!

Locking forceps.

DR

Swearing a lot is part of my routine. I have huge hands.

I, too, have large hands. Never tried the nylon bolts. I pinch the guide ring, so that it lays flat between the thumb and fore finger, with the foot or feet resting on the finger tip of my thumb and/or the side of my finger. This exposes the guide foot perfectly for filing, and suppports it amazingly well. Hold the file in the other hand. Sometimes I move the guide foot down the file. Sometimes I stoke the file acoss the guide foot. The main thing is to move in the right direction. Files only cut in one direction. You can feel when they are cutting properly. It only takes a few correct strokes to remove quite a bit of material. Go slowly and move in one direction. If you go back and forth, back and forth, it wll dull the file, and not remove material from the guide foot very well.
I have been able to hand hold down to a size 04 ceramic SF with no real hassle. Do have to be careful not to file off bits of my finger tips...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2009 08:09PM by George Forster.

Gary Henderson Wrote:
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> Swearing a lot is part of my routine.

Yes sir that and some single barrel.

Thanks everyone. I like the idea of the nylon bolt. Gonna be going by Lowe's on the way home from church today; I'll see if I can find what I need there.

Thanks again.

I use the nylon - recessed head- bolts from Home Depot. They can be found in the bolt section in the draws under all the nuts and bolts. Cheap. or pick up the guide holding tool from one of the sponsors.

Bill - willierods.com

I found another device for holding small single foot guides that I prefer to the nylon bolts.

There is a bit that comes with most Dremel type tools as well as the large assorted Dremel type accessory kits which has the screw in the end with 2 nylon washers for holding the thin cutting discs.It works just like the Mudhole tool but instead of a full handle there is just the shaft that usually goes in the end of the Dremel tool.I usually just hold on to the shaft and this bit allows me to hold small single foot guides pretty tight without damaging them.

I thought about making a little handle for it but the tool from Mudhole looks great and is pretty inexpensive so I think I will be getting one of them soon.