Just wandering what size guide most of you go with on the stripper guide. Or do I need to test cast with different sizes to get the best size? Yes I'm a newbie and lookin to save a little time or is the time spent switching sizes worth it? The blank is a 7' M F Spin SV5 croix blank if this helps.

Thanks Rick

Guide size will be determined by reel and line size, not by rod length.

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Rick, I use this set up: [www.rodbuilding.org]
It works absolutely great. You can also go to Angler's Rsrc - Fuji (sponsor to the left) and they have a software program that is pretty nice also, depending on which brand guides you are using.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Go to the library section and read the article New Guide Concept for spinning rods. It contains very good information for guide sizing as well as placement. I am a fairly new hobby builder and I reference the article quite often.
Steve

Sorry Dave, Your post was not up yet when I submitted mine....so yea Daves link takes you where I said to go.
steve

Rick,
For that blank, I have used both the size 30 as well as the size 25. The size 30 works well for heavier line, but the size 25 works fine for lighter line.

Take care
Roger

I usually start with a 20 or 16 Minima 4 with a 2500/3000 Shimano Stradic & Sufix 832 braid. I tend to move it around a little to find the sweet spot.
If you're using mono or flurocarbon, you'll need something bigger.

Rick,
Most of the clients for which I build rods, will go back and forth from braid to mono - from light line to heavy line.

As a result, I generally need to make the rod so that it will work well with the heaviest stiffest line that may be used on the rod.

Also, most of the clients for which I build rods have the rods for a very long time. During that time, they will often go through many different reels on the same rod.

As a result, I will tend to optimize the rod for a mid sized reel, so that the rod will still work well if the reel is sized up, or sized down.

Take care
Roger

I've read Tom's book and was blown away on how much more there is to putting a rod together than I thought.

But the more indepth it get's the more i like it!!

I'm putting a fuergo 2000 on this rod. It will pretty much be on the rod a long time as I service and maintain all my reels religously.

I won't be fishing anything over 8lb fluoro on this rig. this will be my own personal stick so I'm kind of building the rod around the reel if that makes any sense. Hoping to buid one for each tech. of fishing I do, bass fishing that is.

(yey I got the bug bad!!)

thanks for the assist Rick.

It's the reel spool diameter that matters. That determines where the choker guide goes and then you can line it up and choose the right size butt/stripper guide. Normally, depending on guide height, the stripper guide should be close to 1/2 the diameter of the spool.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH