Has anyone considered use the Micro Wave casting guide set in a spiral configuration. It looks to me like the butt guide would be a solution to the reel line side stacking problem.
Would like an opinion before I order a couple sets.

will work just like any other spiral wrap, but will not make a difference if you are having a "line stacking problem". For rods rods having a line stacking problem because of not be set up properly or due to extra wide spools.

The problem is occurred on the retrieve, not the cast. And as such the larger part of the guide aft of the smaller part has not effect on the line when it is being retrieved through the smaller restricted ring first.

I have set up a casting rod as a spiral wrap with this guide set. Take your time spacing the guides and transitioning to the bottom and it will work well.

Chris Richer
Iroquois ON

Larry,

If reel stacking of the line is a concern, (deep diving crankbaits, etc), just offset the butt guide, (opposite direction of the spiral), such that the inside edge of the ring in on the centerline of the rod. This will eliminate the line stacking problem and should not affect the casting distance of the rod.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

I personally have built around 50 casting rods using the MIcroWaves in a spiral wrap.... they work great.

I feel with the stripper guide ring location being a little higher off the blank it helps to get the line going around blank a little better.

_______________________________
God Bless, Don Morse

800-516-1750 ext. 1207 / don@americantackle.us

Rod Building..... It's What We Do.

Has anyone considered that the advantage of spiral was discovered when we were using casting running guides of sizes 10's and 12's? But now we are using casting guides generally in the micro to 5mm range? The advantage of spiral is to eliminate torque caused by the guides above the blank. How much torque is there when the guides are low micros or low 5's? In my opinion, not a heck of a lot. Not that a little deviation from a straight line is important in casting sets, since the reel level wind "guide" makes a big deviation, but what can be straighter than a line from the level wind guide to the tip right along the top of the blank? I just don't see any justification for spiral any more.

OK, folks, tear me apart.

Small guide size does nothing to eliminate torque when they are placed on the top of the rod. Even though the guides are smaller, they still want to move to the bottom of the rod. That problem is only eliminated by placing the guides (small or large) on the bottom or under side of the rod. Torque increases with load (fish size). If a 5 pound fish is large for you, then torque is minimal. If you are expecting to catch 250 pound fish or bigger, torque becomes a huge force to reckon with. All the logic to spiral wrap a rod is still there. If it is YOUR rod and YOU want the guides on top or you just don't think it's logical, by all means put them where you want them.

Micros don't eliminate torque entirely but they have to reduce it because they are so low, the lever arm is probably less than 1/3 of the old guide trains.l I am not talking about salt water rods, just bass rods for fresh water. I did not say they eliminate the torque, I said they reduce it. And I stand by that. As the torque is reduced the reason for doing spiral is reduced.

If the torque on a bass rods does not bother you Build them with guides on top
But you are correct there is less with the smaller guides Now when you get into saltwater and very large fish larger guides more torque That is when they shine and are needed

Bill - willierods.com

Agree, Bill.

Just another thought but having a thin tipped blank you will get a twist and bending at the tip Being thin maybe a cause for breakage With the spiral no twisting

Bill - willierods.com