Just got my new Mud Hole catalog and noted they have a laser alignment center. Has anyone seen this first hand?

I have that exact lazer level. the onlyt problem is that the beam is a little wide and grainey.

I also tried a lazre site for other toys it was better but still a little thick.

still looking for a tight sharp beam or at least closer.

Curt


Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night!

fuzzy how far out? are we talking 3' or 8' out? I was looking at that as well but dont want it if the beam is wider than the tip at 7'.

Standing by...

Thanks

Not for nothing
but
are your eyes that bad that you need a laser
Guides up
Guides down works well for me

I put the tip top on aliained to the seat
When sure it is correct I aliened the rest with th top

Outside in GOOD LIGHT

Bill - willierods.com

Unless you have a dart straight blank, what good is a laser? I haven't seen too many straight blanks in the 10 years I've been building.

thanks for asking but I have 20/10 just have a very limited amount of time to build as of late so if I can save 20 min on wrapping it is well worth it.

Eric,
I think that Scott has it right.
A laser could work if a blank was perfectly straight.

But about 90% of rod blanks are not perfectly straight - close, but not straight.

With an eye - sighting down a rod against a light background, it is pretty easy to align the guides very quickly.

Be safe

Hi Jon,

While the CRB Laser Guide Alignment System is featured in our 2014 catalog, it is not yet available for purchase. We hope to have it available the first part of February. The CRB line of products are known for their high quality, great design, economy and functionality – this Laser Guide Alignment System is no exception and we didn’t want to rush it to market until we thought it was perfect.

As mentioned above and as we found in prototype testing – laser beams are very straight, blanks are not. But this tool is for aligning guides – not straighten blanks – so even if you blank has a bend, you can align your guides to the bend of the blank. We’re sure the subject of straightness of blanks will become very popular when this tool gets in the hands of rod builders; we look forward to the discussion.

Regarding the CRB Laser Guide Alignment System – we called it a system because it is more than just a single purpose tool. It has a vertical laser, but it also has two built in leveling bubbles for be sure you blank is level in the wrapper (helps eliminate finish footballs), it has a built in lockable metal measuring tape (inch and metric units) to help in guide spacing. We are updating the web site with addition information, but for now you can view this product at: [www.mudhole.com]

Thank you for your interest in the product, we will be making another post when it becomes available.

Regards.
Team Mud Hole Custom Tackle
Web: [www.mudhole.com]
Email: sales@mudhole.com
Toll Free Phone #: 1-866-790-RODS (7637)

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One thing I always do is put the blank on my wrapper rollers and turn it Watch the tip and if it has a bend I make the bend go up Mark that as top This helps

Bill - willierods.com

I've found my eyes are good enough to align the guides, too. For that last look down the rod before applying finish. I start like Roger, then go out one by one from there. One tip that helps me is to get above the blank and slide my thumb and adjacent finger along the blank feeling the first guide and going to the next one and adjusting by feel until the second guide feels the same to the finger and thumb. That's what I do to locate the guide before wrapping, and it is usually is very close to perfect when visually checked.

Works for me. But I don't wind rods in quantity. If I had to make a living at this I would have to charge a couple hundred dollars a rod for labor and still would make less than minimum wage.

Like a few have said already but blanks are not straight as it is. Also our eyes are probably the best, but I would in addition try the shadow method. Hold a light over the top of the blank with the guides on the bottom and adjust according to the guides shadows on the blank. Just a tip I was told recently and could help in alignment situations.

Blair M.