I read Tom's write up on doing the static test and i have a question , when checking and repositioning the guides, do you want the line to just barely touch the blank or to just stay a little away from it ?

It kind of depends. I think the article was written before micro guides really began taking hold and growing in popularity. When working with wire line, or rods for big fish that make very long, very fast runs, keep the line off of the blank, as line rub can cause line or rod failure. Even when working with single foot fly guides in 5mm or larger, you can keep the line off of the blank without putting an excessive number of guides on the rod. When working with micro guides, 4mm fly guides or smaller on freshwater/inshore rods, where the fish don't make long screaming runs, a little line touch between the guides is not a problem.

Personally, I use about one more guide when working with micros than I would with larger guides, simply because I like the aesthetics of the line path better, and there isn't much of a weight penalty pay.

Joe

Larry,

Your other post shows that you are thinking about micro guides on a freshwater rod. In that case, there are a couple of points to think about. Why do we care about line touch? Friction between the line and blank. Friction requires movement between the mating surfaces, and a force pushing the surfaces into one another. When are the times that there can be contact between the line and blank while the line is moving?

1. On the outbound cast. Not much friction here, as there is very little force pushing line down into the blank.
2. After the fish is on and the blank is loaded. Here, you get to control the degree that the blank is loaded, how and when the line gets taken up. The fights with freshwater fish are short enough that you don't have to worry about heat build up.

For more info on the topic, take a look at this thread:
[rodbuilding.org]

Joe