I am having trouble with very small guides. I cannot get the tape to hold the guide while I wrap. any help appreciated.

I think you have to just keep on practicing. I use a lot of 3mm guides, and hold them on while wrapping with masking tape. Tried the rubber tubing, cut into small pieces, but couldn't find a small enough tube to hold guides on the very tip end of a blank.
So, I just went back to tape. For the tip, I cut a piece, with scissors, across the width of a 3/4" roll of blue tape. Cut it very thin. It holds the guide well enough so that I can get a good bit of thread on the guide foot before removing the tape. After hundreds of guides, I can do these as easily as a 6mm.

1/16 inch Auto motive pin stripping tape works for me

This is going to sound odd, but I'd suggest you swap tape brands. Some do work better than others.

Also, tear a narrow strip and place it on the guide foot, then place the guide foot on the blank and press the ends of the tape against the blank.

..............

Jim,
A very common problem when taping guides - something that I constantly have to correct for myself - is touching the tape before using it to hold the guide.

the problem is that if you touch the end of the tape that you are going to use to hold the guide, the skin oils keep the tape from sticking.

To solve this problem, I start off cutting pieces of tape off of a roll.
I grab the end of the tape with my fingers to get the tape started.

I pull off a bit, then cut the end of the tape - long so that there is a good deal coming off of the end of the roll.
Then, I use the roll to move the free end to the side of the work bench. Pull the tape off and continue cutting strips, with no finger contact.

Then, when you use the untouched tape to hold the guide, grab the tape at one end - getting skin oil on it, but use the untouched end to affix the tape to the blank and to the guide.

Take a couple of wraps, and trim off some of the excess.

With no skin oil on the end of the tape, the tape will stick just fine to the blank and to the guides.

But with skin oil on the end of the tape, the tape will almost never stick very well to the blank and the guides.

Good wraps.

Roger

I use orthodontic bands. I have both the really small ones that are used for brackets on braces and the slightly larger ones used on the wires for braces. It helps that my youngest son has braces so I have access to these. They also sell them on some websites. They work really well for me. Do a search on this topic and also look in the pictures posted here. There are many different ideas for securing micros while wrapping.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

When you have a chance use the search feature and you'll find a couple additional ideas like using monofilament and tying a uni knot around the blank and then slipping it over the foot and tightening it up, Also cutting a rubber band and tightly tying in around the guide is another method . Then there is Flex Coat Adhesive.

Bill Davidor

I have found latex tubing small enough to hold the guides, most RC hobby shops will have some.

Consider trying G-S HYPO CEMENT. The 1/3 oz tube has a precision needle point applicator and the cement dries clear and remains flexible.

This might work I use them extensivly Jim

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Rick H.

rwheil@msn.com

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Flex Coat guide foot adhesive to the rescue!! Give it a try it really works.

I have had good luck using twist ties from a common loaf of bread bag.

I share your problem. I did what others here suggested. Get your wrap started....3....5 turns, whatever you can manage. Then hold the guide on top of your wrap and wrap right over it. After about ten wraps wiggle it and pull it forward as needed. You will pull a few of them totally out until you get the hang of it. Align the guide and burnish/pack as needed and then finish the wrap off as normal. For me it was easier than trying to bother with tape. My fingers are too fat!

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

I go with the guide foot adhesive also. or, you can pick up f a roll of fuel line tubing for just a few bucks at the Hobby stores for model airplanes and cars.

My roll is not marked but I would guess there is at least 25 feet and I paid under $5.00

Bill

Ohio Rod Builders

Canton, Ohio

can you e-mail me? John Sams your e-mail was undeliverable. Jim



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2011 10:04PM by jim ellis.

No it is working find from my end.

Based on advice I received here, I also started beginning the wrap, making about five turns and then sticking the end of the micro foot under the wrap. Holds fine and then you just proceed on up the foot. This also lets you align the guide perfectly before the wrap is complete. Just stick the end of the foot under there and and align and then finish wrapping. Easy as pie.

James,
Is that a good analogy?
As you walk down the halls of life, how many really good pies have you eaten?
How long does it take to make a really good pie?
It takes my wife about 20 minutes to make an excellent pie.

So, since you said that "it is easy as pie", does that mean that it takes 20 minutes to wrap one guide; or 200 minutes to wrap 10 guides on an average rod?

I am sure that that is not what you meant, but I thought I would ask.

Be safe and do enjoy your pie, whether it is Peach, cherry, or raisin pie. They are all great when made correctly.

I am sure that all of your rods look great as well since I am sure that you wrap them well as well.

Take care
Roger

p.s.
Great idea on the use of a few wraps to hold the guides. Have used that method before and it does work very well!

Guide prep and1/16 inch graphic art tape from the hobby store works for me.
steve

OK, We will forget the old saying, easy as making pie since it looks like there is some question as to whether its really easy to make a pie or not. But it is easy to wrap a micro guide.