I'm building an Angler's Roost 11' 6/7wt switch rod (completely on the blank; no butt extension) and have been unable to find any info on guide spacing.
Does anyone have any experience with this blank ?

Even if you get a response, a static test set up is the best way to go. You can do it from scratch.

Thanks Phil,
I'm looking for a starting point to tape the guides on, then will do a static test to dial it in. Failing specific info, I can take general info from one of the online guide calculators, then do the static test.
Just thought I might luck out here.

Rick

Rick,
What is the estimated distance from the upper casting grip location to the rod tip ?
Assume the upper grip center is the casting grip location.
Need not be exact, within 2 inches will work fine.
Will also require the estimated number of guides.

Hi Eugene,

The total grip is 17.5" long, so top of grip to tip is 114.5"
I've read number of guides should be rod length plus 1, so, I'm thinking 12 guides.
(I'm open to advice on this number, as well)

Rick



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2013 03:12PM by rick humphrey.

here is a starting point
[search.yahoo.com]

Bill - willierods.com

Rick,
This should get you going

12 guide spacing from tip ( Conservative build )

4.1 8.6 13.5 18.9 24.7 31.1 38.1 45.6 53.9 62.9 72.7 83.4

11 guide spacing ( slightly more agressive )

4.2 8.8 14.0 19.7 26.2 33.3 41.3 50.2 60.1 71.1 83.4

If you have Excel
[www.rodbuildingtutorials.com]

Thanks very much for your help. I will use this as a starting point.
One question: Would you explain what is meant by conservative/ agressive build?

thanks again

Rick,
Depending on how heavy a tippet you are using determines how much stress is placed on the rod blank.
Heavily loaded rods require more guides to distribute stress.
After review of factory builds in that size rod I've found both 10 and 11 guides utilized generally I would assume this to be a conservative build.
Most of the builds I make are slightly agressive meaning I'm looking for a little better performance at the risk of stressing the blank higher.
This removes one guide from the factory build.
If performance is the main priority and the tippet is light or the rod can be considered at risk I'll remove 2 guides from the factory build.
Since I've found 10 guides utilized on a factory build you may reconsider the use of 12 guides.

10 guide layout

4.3 ; 9.3 ; 14.9 ; 21.3 ; 28.6 ; 36.9 ; 46.4 ; 57.2 ; 69.5 ; 83.4

Removal of guides and the reduction of guide weight in the tip third reduces the rod swing weight and improves rod response.

Pick the option you are most comfortable putting your name to.

Great info!

I think I'll go with 11 guides, tape them on, then do the static test to dial them in.

Thanks again for your help,

Rick

Depending on your blank, I've had some interesting static test results for guide placement on switch rods. On rods with flex primarily in the upper 1/3, the static placement (using the story pole method) tends to put more guides on the tip section and leaves you a pretty large distance between the 1st and 2nd stripper guides. Adding another guide still puts more guides in the upper 1/3. With a deep flex, the tip drops out as expected and you'll need to reposition some guides in the mid section where rod bends most in a deep flex.

Just posting this to let folks know it's always good to test the guide spacing under various loads to make sure that guides are positioned both for rod loading and for casting. A large gap between 1st and 2nd strippers can cause line slap when shooting (which you do a lot) so you either need to redistribute or add a line tamer.

Terry

Just checking:
I began marking off guide locations on my blank. Having the bottom stripping guide at 83.4" from the tip leaves me with 48.6" from butt end up to the first guide.
Seems like a lot. Can this be right?

Rick,
Good pick-up, my bad.
Entered wrong value for rod length


11 guides

4.1 ; 8.7 ; 14.0 ; 20.0 ; 26.9 ; 34.7 ; 43.6 ; 53.7 ; 65.2 ; 78.4 ; 93.3

Got'er !

thanks,
Rick

Rick,
Really sorry about that.
Just glad you spotted it so I could review the numbers and correct.
Hope it didn't cause too much inconvience.

Gene

Not at all, Eugene.

Just turned the cork on the blank ( a big leap of faith for me) Actually, found it easier than doing it on a metal rod, then reaming the whole thing, especially since I wanted it fairly thin.
Looking forward to doing the guides now.

Rick