Hi all,

I am about to do my first micro guide train (although I have done a microwave set). Does anyone bother with filing/grinding down the feet for these things? They are american tackle size 4's. They already seem so tiny and thin that I think the thread should have no problem with transitioning up from the blank. They are after all much thinner than normal guide feet even when those have been given the file treatment. Even if I skip the filing I probably will sand off any potential burrs, but that is about it.

Thanks,
Jay

Buff the bottom of the guide foot to make sure there are no sharp edges and leave the top alone unless some treatment is found to be necessary for proper thread wrapping.

Hitting the top edge of the foot with a file will do no harm and can help prevent cracking at the very edge of the foot-thread junction. I'd take just a moment to do it.

..............

I second Mr. Kirkman's comment.

Never had a crack there. If it isn't broken, I don't fix it.

Sometimes the thread will still jump around on micros when it meets the foot if not filed or ground. If you like to try to wrap fast, take a minute to smooth them down a bit.

Ya could just hit the feet with 220 wet/dry paper makes for better grip for the thread

Bill - willierods.com

I typically prep all of my guide feet. As much as anything, I like to have tiny grooves running across the guides to better grip the thread. I do this by holding the guide foot perpendicular to a 1X30 inch belt sander with 220 grit paper on it.

The paper cleans up any issues with the feel and the foot is left with tiny horizontal grooves which better hold the thread - rather than a smooth surface.

Be safe

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I have noticed on some micro guides, depending on how the foot is ground at the tip, there will be a slight burr pointing up. I usually take a small diamond dust file (flat) and hit the end on top and check the bottom for any new burrs I might have made by hitting the top. Takes hardly no time at all to prep.

Mark,
I keep a fine knife sharpener stone handy for cleaning up burrs. After the guide has been checked and or prepped, I run the guide foot across the stone to be sure that the bottom of the guide is flat and free of burrs.
Generally, one or two passes is sufficient to take care of any of these small issues.

Be safe

I use a Buck Knife Arkansas stone for de-burring as Roger mentioned, it's a small stone that fits the hand as easily as any file or sandpaper. Maybe 3 X 1 1/2 inches and 3/8 inch thick.

I shorten the feet by about 1/3 and reshape. Cuts 15 to 20% off weights.