my friend is building some rods to sell and is thinking of putting the guides all on top like factory rods. he asked my advice on how many guides to use and as i haven't built one in like 20 years i'm not sure. he said he taped on 10 using size 4 runners and it rubbed the blank so i was wondering how many micro guides do you guys put on a 7' mh baitcaster and is it okay if the line touches the blank when loaded. thanx

With such low frame guides, you may need to use a few more than what you're accustomed to. The line touching the blank isn't a big deal, but you wouldn't want the line actually passing below the bottom of the blank under load. On a 7 foot baitcasting rod with very small, low frame guides, don't be surprised if you need 10 to 12 guides. But due to their very light weight, it's okay. There isn't much of a weight penalty to pay.

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Robert,
Go ahead and use the number of guides that suit you and any clients.

The general feeling with low frame micro guides that it is not a big deal for the line to rub on the blank, or even be below the blank. Just be sure that the blank is uniformly loaded.

Remember, the rod isn't bent on casting so the line will not rub on the blank during casts.

Also, when landing a fish, normally most folks use a pump and reel technique, so normally the line does not really rub on the blank, it just comes in contact with the blank.

Your choice.

Be safe

thanks guys, as we just started selling a few rods my friend thinks a baitcaster would be more likely to sell by appealing to more people with the guides on top versus being spiral wrapped.

Robert: you are sort of right on that appealing to more people with guides on top.
But then you are in competition with big box store.

If you intend to sell rods for profit and for any length of time, your friend may need to look for a different type of client.
You cannot compete with the big box stores as a custom builder.

But big box in turn cannot provide rods for the guy who knows he needs a spiral wrap or other specialized cutom build.
Local maangers at a big box store in my town use my rods,with their in store discount they can buy their stocked product cheaper than you can get the parts......

2c worth and probably overpriced at that.

good stuff to think about. my friend has a couple 843 imx blanks and he is going to build one spiral wrapped and the other he built with the guides on top (by the way he put on 11 kr's and says it doesn't touch the blank). his plan is to put both for sale online which rhymes with ehey and see which sells first.

make sure he puts a Reserve Price or he may have to sell it for next to nothing

Bill - willierods.com

these rods are no slouches what with the imx blanks, fuji titanium sics and custom made carbon fiber handles he's probably at least 150 if not 200 into each one not including labor. what do you think its worth in todays market online?

Hi Robert,

Where is he going to sell these? Do you have any pictures?

Thank You,

Chris Tulk

he is going to try to sell them on the bay. i was wrong as i guess the conventional wrap has a cork handle. he's just wrapping the guides on the spiral today which has the carbon split handle so i'll have him send you some pics tomorrow and maybe you can tell me what they are worth.