I have been building a lot of ice rods recently with some very very fine tips.
I have also been using some very small guides with very short feet on the rods.
As a result, it has been a bit tedious to get the guides held in place while wrapping the guides.

Based on some feedback that I have received from this forum, I decided to try using elastic bands to hold the guides to the rod.

Great - not looking back.

I came across a source for some very inexpensive elastic bands that have in id of .1 inch.
This is the perfect size for the tips of these fine tipped ice rods. (The tips use a 2.5/64th size).

I put a group of bands on the rods, necessary to hold the guides. Slip the appropriate guide foot under the binder. Then, moved up, down , or around the rod to align it and then wrap as needed.

This is really only necessary for the first or the first couple of tip guides when working with this feather thin tips. However, a great time saver and is working much much better than any other method that I have ever tried, including tape, glue, tie wraps or any thing else.

One of the biggest advantages is that the width of the binders is about .06 inches so that very little of the guide foot is covered by the tiny binder and thus makes it trivial to wrap the guides as needed.

Just do an internet search for such binders and go for it.

Take care
Roger

Sewing supply stores sell elastic thread which works quite well for holding guides in place for wrapping. One or two turns of the stretched thread around the blank and guidefoot, a quick square knot, and away you go. One or two turns of thread take up vey little of the guidefoot, and when you have wrapped far enough the foot to secure the guide just touch the elastic thread with a razor and the thread literally jumps out of the way. Best of all, the thread is easily available, and cheap.

Can you help me narrow the search parameters?

Rodger--------Why not just tell us where u got em, rather than make us search?

I use surgical rubber tubing you can get them from 32nd of an inch to 1 inch. I get mine from a fish sporting goods shop, We use the tubbing for holding on pencil drift lead. or go to a medical supply house, even Wal Mart in the NW carries a large supply. The tubbing is sold by the foot. Selling price is like 20 cents a foot. If you find that the the band is to loose near the tip just double warp it around the tip. I cut small bands from the tubbing

Good Wraps Bob

Hillrie,
Here is the site from which, I purchased the various sizes of elastic bands:

[www.auctiva.com]

Take care
Roger

That's what I thought. I got some from my dentist and they work perfect for tiny guides on bass rods on the upper half of the blank.!

I use the same thing. I get them from my local Fleet Farm / Farm and Fleet or Tractor Supply (TSC) in the equine/horse section. They are just thin rubber bands. I take the rubber band and cut it with a pair of scissors. Wrap it around the blank twice then just tie a granny knot. Trim the excess off of it. Slide the foot of the guide under the band and you are ready to wrap.

After you get about half way up the foot I take my metal thread pick, stick it under the rubber band, grab my scissors and cut the rubber band. Continue wrapping.

Been doing what Mike does for years. I buy a bag of kids bands you can get most any where

Bill - willierods.com