I was frustrated trying to make SMALL and neat alignment dots in rod sections until I tried the scrap end of a piece of .053 stainless welding rod. I just touch the tip of the welding rod scrap to paint, wipe the outside diameter of the tip free of paint, and touch it to the blank. It leaves a small and symmetrical alignment dot. I think it works well because there seems to be a small indentation in the tip of the welding rod.

For years tying big trolling flies and having to paint eyes on them I used the head of a 10d nail for the outside of the eye and then clip the end of small finish nail,flatten it,bevel outside edge and then use that to the pupil. That is what I now use to do alignment dots with.

Great idea. I wish I had heard of it prior to years of unsatisfactory experimentation. The flattened and beveled finishing-nail head surely has that slight indentation which seems to be the key to making small, neat alignment dots.

There was an article in a not too distant RodMaker issue that detailed how to make an alignment dot tool - it put both dots on the rod at the same time, guaranteeing perfect alignment.

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Tom, I don't remember that article - if you run across it, please post which issue, thanks,

Volume 14 #4.

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Thanks, Tom, will look it up.

I have found that very tiny rhinestones I get from Michael's work fantastically. I put them on the ferrel wrap on one side and the rod on the other.
Then coat over them with finish and they are there permanently. In bright sunlight, you cant fail to see them--for all you guy who are old like me.