Hi tom first thanks again for a great show the only bad thing was the money i spent. There were such deals every where I just couldnt pass up that i spent over $3 grand by the time i was done! yeeeks. Anyway my question would be what was the guide alignment tool you mentioned earlier in other posts? That is the one thing that takes the most time for me and is just not fun. I saw your tool selling on the @#$%& site years ago but its gone. I cant find the plastic to build my own but that was the perfect answer. Any way where is this fantom tool?

Billy stay tuned. I got to see it and was shown first hand how it operated. It's an ingenious little tool that once you see it you would say, now why didn't I think of that. Instructions are being drawn on up on its use and hopefully we'll have it available in the very near future.

Lance

Thanks Lance whos putting it out? and thank you for your help at the show. You guys were awsome and hope you got some rest and your trailor unloaded. The kind of business you run your more focused on getting back driving all night and filling orders on monday rather then sleeping. That shows and wont be forgotten. The guys at Swampland are still "service oriented" even if they don't know how to talk lol. Tell Bill I didn't get a chance to show him how to make a Court Boulion last weekend!lol

How much do you think it will cost and about how long before it's out

Can it be modified to locate spiral wrap guides?

I talked to a rod builder last weekend at a fishing expo in Wisconsin and he told me that he just uses an old fly rod blank. Slides it down through all the guides, butt to tip. If you really need a tool, you can't get much simpler than that.

Jeff, its what i do too. Old 2 weight goes even into micros without a problem. Most handy when going from reel to choke and trying to locate the guide/s inbetween.
Of course those little laser pointers can be useful for some things when you add some duck tape.........

But end of the day my eyes tell me its all OK for the final tweak.

best thing to do IMHO is to alain them from tip to butt Just make your top on the money !-- As You Wrap -- It is a lot easyer and quicker to alain with a half wrapped guide then a completed guide .
Even if your not on the money when your done - you will have less to move

Bill - willierods.com

Also, for spiral guides, I searched "degree wheel" free download and printed out an automotive degree wheel about 4" in diameter. I made red lines at 0, 60, 120, and 180 degrees. I put a 1/4" hole in the middle along with 4 radial cuts to form rod gripping fingers. I line up the 0 mark with the reel seat and rotate the rod until the 60 is vertical and mark the rod, repeating this for 120 and 180. I used photo paper which is stiffer, made the red lines and then put clear laminate over the whole thing to protect the lines and also make it even stiffer.

When I do a spiral I put the guides on quickly spaced
Then static test and get the runners correctly spaced
Then run a line though.

Let the line tell me where and what size the guides should be First 3 or 4 guides are turned so the line lays at the bottom of the ring closest to the blank mark where it hits the blank , add a bumper
Static test Adjust as needed making the streaghtest line path possible

Bill - willierods.com

Bill: Thanks for the tips - they are clear and practical. I always wondered how to space spiral guides.

Another thing about them is reeling in line Depending on the reel always check to make sure you are not getting stacking onto one side of it

Bill - willierods.com

The original post was referring to a guide alignment tool -

Very few have the ability to think outside the box - fewer have the ability to build practical tools for rodbuilders daily use.

Few precision tools are available that actually simplify and speed up building.

This one works!

When it comes out of the closet they will be available from Swampland.

This one is different - most will realize the are not smart enough to have ever come up with this one!

A clue as to the origin "This one is not his First Rodeo!

Hey Bill when we get some time I will show you how to make a court boulion lol. Thanks for the update thats a tease. My bet is backlash tools has another great product that will make my life easier! btw before I can show you how to make one you have to learn how to say it not cooo boooyo! You guys were great at the show as usual. Thanks for all the help and the great deals on top notch products!

Swampland Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Billy stay tuned. I got to see it and was shown
> first hand how it operated. It's an ingenious
> little tool that once you see it you would say,
> now why didn't I think of that. Instructions are
> being drawn on up on its use and hopefully we'll
> have it available in the very near future.

have we gave up on this idea? I saw this tool and it looks very helpful!