Any tips on how to align guides on a fly rod?

I found that after aligning the guides visually on the guide side of the rod, I rotate the rod around to the back side and check how much of the guide is protruding from each side of the blank. The eye is very accurate when comparing how much of the guide is showing on each side of the blank.

I believe I saw this recommendation on this web site quite sometime ago and it works great for me.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

I will bring it out side and look at it The sun is a lot better then the light bulbs used Better light

Bill - willierods.com

I do exactly what Don and Bill do.

Any thoughts on a center line marking tool? I use one to mark each section on the straightest axis, then mark guide location during static test. I then wipe off the centerline except at guide locations. I always follow up with an "eye-balling" as described by Mr. Boettcher before epoxy application.

Mr, now I really feel old LOL

Bill - willierods.com

I made up a little laser device using a cheap laser level I bought on @#$%&. I took an old spinning reel and cut the foot off and attached a board to the reel foot and then attached the laser to the board. I also drilled a hole in the center of the "leg" of the reel foot to use as an aperture alignment device as well. You simply put the reel foot in the reel seat, turn on the laser and you have a beam that runs a line down the center of your blank. I use that in conjunction with the method that Don uses. Of course I also make sure the guides are level on a horizontal plane while the rod is held in a vertical position.

There is a guy on @#$%& selling a simple yet effective device for marking a centerline on a rod. it is basically a piece of plexi with a thumb screw that holds a china marker and has two legs that allow the device to center itself.

________________________________
Cutthroat Customs

A low power telescope, like cheap opera glasses, makes deviations in alignment much easier to notice.

George,
The best tip that I have used recently - especially for lighter action rods, as might be the case for a fly rod is to use a light or white wall with the tip of the section under alignment braced against the wall.

It also means having excellent light in the area when you are aligning the guides.

I find that it works best, to hold the end of the blank against the wall to make the end of the tip rock solid steady - then look down the length of the rod, - with the guides on the underside of the blank.
As you look down the lenght of the rod, and as you get your guide alignment close, slightly rotate the rod first one direction and then the other direction.

The idea of rotating the blank slightly while looking down the spine of the rod on the opposite side of the guides, is that for the larger guides you will be able to see equal sides on both sides of the blank for the larger guides. Then, for the smaller guides, you will find that all of the guides will pop into view, as the rod is rotated first in one direction, and then in the other direction. If the guides are perfectly aligned, you will see the sides of the guides pop out from under the blank at the same time and for the same amount of rotation as you rotate the rod from side to side.


I look down the ring side of the guide initially to do the quick initial adjustment, and then rotate the rod over so I am looking down the spine of the blank with the guide rings on the opposite side for the final tweak.

Good luck
Roger

Gary I was thinking of doing something similar can you post a photo of that for us to see? Thanks much!

I always put the handle and seat on. Then alien the tip top with them. Once the top is on I set the rest of my guides to it. Of course checking to see if I am Turning a little. when getting to the seat.

I also wrap from the tip to the butt. The tip is always the pain then it gets easier as you go to the butt.

Bill - willierods.com