I met an old gent that has me doing guide spacing by placing the blank in pvc at a 45 degree angle.
Attaching the guides with thick tube rubber.
running line up the guides and attaching to a 2 pound weight.
reel down and adjust guides to follow arc of the blank.

It has worked really well, but I seem to use a lot of guides. Say up to 9 for a 7.5 blank

See any problems with this method?

Not necessarily, but remember that the flex in a blank changes as you put more or less pressure on it. What looks like good placement under some amount of load, may not look so good under more. But it's certainly the way many folks have done it over the years and most are pleased with their results.

Here's roughly the same method with a bit more thought behind it.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

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James, I'd change one thing and attach the weight to the tip top only. I'd use something that is easy to add weight too, like a bucket with water or a zip lock with pennies. Attach the reel as nornal and string the line through the guides. Only a small split shot is needed on that line.

The idea is to place the guides to follow the natural bend of the rod. To make an extreme example out of doing it your way.....say we put the tip on and only one guide down next to the reel. If we put a good amount of weight on the line the rod would want to bend so the tip touched that guide near the reel. That isn't a "natural" curve for the blank as it wouldn't bend that way if loaded at the tip only.

I might reduce that angle down some...like 30 degrees too. Nine guides sounds right for a 7.5 foot rod.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

James,

Also don't overlook some of the theories like the New Guide Concept or KR concept for shorter reduction trains that have a distinct "choke point" and statically placed running guides. Guide layouts like this can increase casting distance, overall balance, and sensitivity.
[www.rodbuilding.org]

Thanks all. I have lots of questions, but will hold off. I have been building for about 1.5 yrs and basically it's been trial and error....Making some nice stuff now and loving it....I'm sure it can get better.

Tight Lines !!