I was asked to rewrap a Browning bass rod for a friend. I removed the guides. The thread appeared to be a size D. Very large dia. I thought. The first 2 guides were casting guides. No wear on the blank. The remaining 6 guides were fly rod guides. The old finish was cracked and was pealing off the end of the warps. I cleaned off the old finish and discovered that there was a groove worn through the finish of the rod and exposed raw blank fibers. These grooves were under the starting threads in front of the guide. There was no wear under the guide itself.

Any comments on what might happened? The rod has seen a lot of fishing time and is at least 15 years old.

This is a long shot but is it on both ends of the snake guides or just one. If it's just on one, I have seen it done where they may have used a fine file or the likes to mark where the foot starts. Actually XXX XXX shows this on his rod building DVD. Your not suppose to cut through to the fibers though, just the top finish.

Just a thought
Harold



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2010 12:04PM by Harold Dean.

I just rebuilt a St Croix heavy Bass rod with a similar problem. The blank finish was worn completely away where the toe of the guide foot sat. This wear was only with the SF guides. The original thread finish was cracked and peeling away around the toe of the foot allowing moisture to get underneath the finish thus weakening the thread and rusting the guide foot. This rod has caught and landed many good sized Bass. My guess was that the guides were moving under the thread wrap wearing off the finish, sort of a pivoting side to side motion when fighting a fish. I rebuilt the rod using new guides and of course with a good Static Load test the guides definitely did not go back in their original locations. Luckily there wasn't enough wear to cause any fiber damage.

J.B.Hunt
Bowling Green, KY

Also check the bottom of the guides for bad guide prep. The bottom should be as smooth as a baby's backside.

Bill - willierods.com

Harold, each spot was at the threads leading up to the front of the toe of the single foot guides. No wear in front of the eye of the guilde. I'm going to take of look at the guide feet.

A spiral wrap will cure that problem.

Could be many things. Not the right tension on the wraps. Size ( A ) D not needed. Running guides may be I have seen, single foot Spinning Guides. They sit higher then fly guides and put more pressure on the guides so they may be moving back and forth. marking with a File ?? WOW. bad guide prep.

Builders are using micros with no problems, I have heard.

Bill - willierods.com

Bill, I agree. I've never done it that way, just stating that it was shown on one of XXX videos, and if the wear is infront of the foot like Mark says and not under the foot, hmmmm.

Harold



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2010 12:05PM by Harold Dean.

I'd take some REAL good pic's and/or show that customer the worn areas, otherwise if the blank ever fails at one of these areas, you know who's fault that will be: yours!

I'd likely refinish that rod, you probably already plan too.

DR

maybe you can get a complete build. just make sure he knows what -May - happen.

Bill - willierods.com

The worn area was not below the guides but under the front threads before the toe of the foot. This is an old friend, but even if it was a stranger, I would point this out before proceeding any further. I wrapped 3 guides on it today and found what appears to be fibers proturding from the worn spots. That iced it for me not to proceed without a counsel with the owner.

Thanks all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2010 09:49PM by Mark Marshall.