Good Point!!

Have you seen the really small pegs sold at some craft shops?

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

They are the right size for holding micro guides onto small diameter blanks.

Same idea as alligator clip but wooden so won't scratch the blank, and has a small semi-circular cutout on each jaw which aids it in sitting nicely on the blank.

regards
Dave

This forum introduced me to micros a few years back and I tried to attach them using tape which wasn't good. Someone here suggested sewing elastic and that was so much better it wasn't funny. Haven't tried the beading elastic but my wife has plenty of that and I have thought it would be ok, just haven't got around to trying it but the sewing elastic is good for static testing, easy movement and binding. It needs the addition of tape for test casting or the guides will come out easily but it works so much better than tape that I would never consider going back to that method.
Sewing elastic combined with a bead and used with Barry Chapman's method should also go well but haven't tried that yet either.
Builders need to find something that suits them but tape is terrible for attaching and moving guides on small diameter blanks.
I use a dremmel tool with a chain saw sharpening bit to shape the feet but I always use some 400 wet and dry to remove any burrs before binding.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2013 07:20AM by Col Chaseling.

Another very simple but effective method that I have used is a regular one inch or larger rubber band pulled through a steel bead (used on buzzbaits) . This can be placed where the guide is positioned and cinched up on the guide to keep it in place. Advantages are that it can be used over and over and if it breaks you can pull another rubber band in place. I use D thread to pull it through. I normally have several on the blank at a time and alignment is very easy.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Tom

If you think you have trouble wrapping the tip guides on UL rods, you should try wrapping guides on one of Dale Clemens' Apogee rod blanks. They were the thinnest tip sections you would ever see!!! Difficult doesn't quite describe it.

Randy,
Try wrapping 100-- microlite ice rods that have a 2mm tip out of very flexible fiberglass. Your Dale Clemen's blanks will feel like pool cues.

Here is a wrapping aid that I use when wrapping very small diameter, very small flexible rods. Both conventional as well as ice rods.
The advantage of using the slotted solid piece of fiberglass resting in a hole in the base, is that you can wrap right beside the support as well as in between the supports and hold your hand behind the supports if needed:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Be safe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2013 12:20AM by roger wilson.

the easiest thing that i found that works the best for me is heat shrink tubing that you would use on electrical wires. you can buy a pack of very small tubing at home depot or lowes with very small diameter. cut very small peices and you can slide it down the blank. put it over the guide foot and slide it into place. holds it very well and will come off easily with a razor.

Roger, sounds like fun!! For you, not for me!! ;>)

Roger

I hope you made some money on them
Sounds like more of a pain then worth it

Bill - willierods.com

Bill,
Generally, you can completely build an ice fishing rod in about 20 minutes with prebuilt grips and 4 guides.

Be safe

LOL

I have read many post about this subject ever since the micro came on board ! I even posted pics of what I use for the critters. I have come to the conclusion................We deal with it ! Its our craft! its our job! LOL enough said !

Lots of great ideas posted here we all pick the one that works for our fingers! and for some our minds!

Rick H.

rwheil@msn.com

Website
[www.facebook.com]
[home.comcast.net]

I build alot of ice rods with small guides and very flexible tips. I use fuel line for R/C applications. Comes real small. I cut about a 1/16 inch off it and roll it up on the guide and blank. After i start wrapping i just cut it off. Cheap a foot costs about a buck and i get hundreds of bands.