I'm putting a set of winthrop express 80 to 130 roller guides on a (60 to 130 ) calstar baja boomer. I have my guide spacing all worked out, and am very happy with everything. My problem is that the feet on the roller guides are so long that when the blank is bent to a 90 degree angle(believe me, that takes two hands) the front edges of the guide feet are off of the blank, and I am concerned that they wont flex enough when under heavy load, thus causing the epoxy to crack in front of the feet.Is there something I can do to solve this problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated............Thanks........Rance.

Hi Rance,
That's been a problem on game rods for quite awhile. You can grind the last 1/4 inch of the feet down so they are really thin and will flex more easily. Some guys have put a coat of thinned (with acetone) finish on so it doesn't go really hard and then a couple of normal coats on top with success. I don't like to thin finish and haven't tried it but it works for some.
You'll get a number of replies to help you.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Col Chaseling Wrote:
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> Hi Rance,
> That's been a problem on game rods for quite
> awhile. You can grind the last 1/4 inch of the
> feet down so they are really thin and will flex
> more easily. Some guys have put a coat of thinned
> (with acetone) finish on so it doesn't go really
> hard and then a couple of normal coats on top with
> success. I don't like to thin finish and haven't
> tried it but it works for some.
> You'll get a number of replies to help you.

Thanks very much.

Don't be afraid of the grinder.

make sure you but an under wrap on the rod under the guides so when the rod flexes the guid move on the under wrap an not wear on the rod some people don't do the under wrap
but over the long run you will find it works great on the heavyer rods

I agree with Jay.

Rather than thin a epoxy use Aftcote Epoxy, I have never had one crack yet. Thin the feet of the guide. Aftcote is a more flexible epoxy. I have a thin disk of left over epoxy from a glass application dish that is now 6 years old and I still can bend a 90 into the disc without it breaking or cracking.

Thad
Dutchman's Creek Tackle

Jay Lancaster Wrote:
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> Don't be afraid of the grinder.


With the guide feet being so long, would it hurt, or change the way the guide works to grind the feet down(or back) to where there 1/4" shorter?

I don't generally shorten guide feet. My grinding is typically to thin the feet so they flex easier.

I also use Aftcote...it fits my application style. My first rod or two was finished with FlexCote then I graduated to LS Supreme. Never could get the LS to act like I wanted so I tried Aftcote. I didn't change my technique, but the Aftcote just fell into place. I used it ever since. I did purchase some Threadmaster about 6 years ago...I think it's still around here in the original, unopened package.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2013 11:53AM by Jay Lancaster.

Jay Lancaster Wrote:
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> I don't generally shorten guides feet. My
> grinding is typically to thin the feet so they
> flex easier.
>
> I also use Aftcote...it fits my application style.
> My first rod or two was finished with FlexCote
> then I graduated to LS Supreme. Never could get
> the LS to act like I wanted so I tried Aftcote. I
> didn't change my technique, but the Aftcote just
> fell into place. I used it ever since. I did
> purchase some Threadmaster about 6 years ago...I
> think it's still around here in the original,
> unopened package.

Thanks Jay , and everyone, this helps me a lot.