I have a Rclb80l that I chopped off 6". My issue is figuring out how to place the guide. I know the answer is Static test but cant find any videos how to do this. Also, and videos of how to do spiral wraps?

Sorry, but this is my first build and would like it to at least turn out decent!

use the search function above and you should find All the info you need

[rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/01/2012 08:39PM by Barry Thomas Sr.

One neat little trick I picked up off of here for static testing is to use elastic thread, you can find it at your local sewing shop or wally world if you must. just use 3-4 wraps around the guide foot finished off with a regular old square knot and you'll be able to slide the guides where ever you need them, it also holds good enough to start tying them on, once you get to the elastic just touch it with a razor and it will fly right off. No messing with tape, no sticky residue, and much less headache! Good luck with your first build, but beware, you will be addicted after this!

Mike,
Generally speaking when I start to figure out how to place a guide on a blank that I have not used before or one that has been modified is the following.
1. I take a roll of 1/4 inch wide masking tape and cut a bunch of short strips to use as temporary markers.
2. I take the blank and start with bracing the tip on the carpeted floor. I begin to flex the blank by putting pressure on the tip, much as if you are starting to fight a fish.
3. I take note of where the blank first starts to flex and put the first piece of masking tape at that point. Normally this point will be a foot or so from the tip of the rod.
4. Then, I continue to flex the blank and from the amount of tip and blank deflection decide if I need one or two more guides between the first one marked on the blank or two. Then mark the blank accordingly.
5. Then, relieve the pressure off of the tip and begin to flex the blank further down the blank by putting pressure on the blank from the carpeted floor down about a foot or two from the tip. Then, continue to mark the blank in the normally expected increasing spacing from the tip to the butt of the rod.

Generally, 2 or 3 minutes will give you some pretty good marks for defining the overall taper of the rod and the necessary positions to wrap guides.

Then, take a set of guides, tape them in the marked location, put a reel on the rod, and string the line off the reel through the guides and the temporary tip on the blank. Use an appropriate amount of weight on the end of the line and see if you have the line flow and blank deflections as you would expect on a well built rod.

Normally, all of this can be done on a new blank in about 10 or 15 minutes.

Roger

I do it like Roger suggests. Exactly.

Let the flex tell you where the guides go.

easy way is to put the guides on with some kind of rubber bands Use a spacing chart for the size of rod
Static test and adjust

for a spiral wrap put the guides on in spinning fashion turn the but guide up
then run a line Let the line tell you where the guides go Adjust to fit

Bill - willierods.com